The Criterion Collection

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by mja345

Now, he does a ton of paycheck roles and will occasionally turn in a great performance.

And sometimes both. Christopher Nolan's Batman films are definitely "paycheck roles" for him, but he gave solid performances in all three. On the other hand, while he wasn't terrible in the Harry Potter films, he wasn't at his best, either.

[RCRochester]

Originally Posted by DaBargainHunta

I'll call Cruise underrated. Like the above poster said: Is he Daniel Day-Lewis? No. But I've never seen him give a bad performance either.

For a long time I was always sort of prejudiced against Tom Cruise because when I first heard of him in the 80s he was the embodiment of a pretty boy actor, and it's also sort of difficult to separate him from the crazy Scientology thing. But I will give him this, when he takes a part, he gives it his all. Who else would do all the crazy shit he does on the Mission Impossible films? I don't think I've ever seen any film where Cruise phones it in. I recently watched American Made and thought he was great in it.

Originally Posted by mja345

Someone I've been watching a lot recently who is as good at disappearing into roles as anyone is Jennifer Jason Leigh. I've watched her in five films recently ("Dolores Claiborne", "Kansas City", "Single White Female", "Miami Blues", and "The Hudsucker Proxy") and her ability to disappear into roles is up there with DDL, Oldman, etc. The woman is a f*king amazing actress.

Jennifer Jason Leigh has always been one of my favourites. She's definitely like Daniel Day-Lewis in that she also does the crazy method thing, I think she dropped something like 15 pounds to play an anorexic in The Best Little Girl in the World, and she was only 18 at the time. I was so disappointed when she didn't win the Oscar for The Hateful Eight, mainly because I really wanted her to get the recognition she truly deserves.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by RCRochester

Jennifer Jason Leigh has always been one of my favourites. She's definitely like Daniel Day-Lewis in that she also does the crazy method thing, I think she dropped something like 15 pounds to play an anorexic in The Best Little Girl in the World, and she was only 18 at the time. I was so disappointed when she didn't win the Oscar for The Hateful Eight, mainly because I really wanted her to get the recognition she truly deserves.

Completely agree. JJL is definitely one of my all-time favorite actresses, she has absolutely no fear.

[theater dreamer]

I love JJL. I have ever since Fast Times. Little did I know then how fantastic an actress she would turn out to be. And I agree, she’s completely fearless.

Now that Laura Dern has her Oscar, Jennifer is at the very top of my list. Recognition of her immense talent is long overdue.

[*DrStrangelove*]

So I just finished a double feature of Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill, and it hit me thinking how I would love more Seijun Suzuki Blu-ray upgrades. Maybe do a boxset, nothing huge, something like the Cassavetes 5 films set. Youth of the Beast is probably my favorite of his. Gate of Flesh is also great.

[latehong]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

So I just finished a double feature of Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill, and it hit me thinking how I would love more Seijun Suzuki Blu-ray upgrades. Maybe do a boxset, nothing huge, something like the Cassavetes 5 films set. Youth of the Beast is probably my favorite of his. Gate of Flesh is also great.

I've been posting this again and again on Arrow thread (since they've released 16 Seijun Suzuki films on Blu-ray so far), but two of my dream box sets are:

Seijun Suzuki: The Golden Years, Vol.1 - Bloody Tales of Yakuza
- Kanto Wanderer (1963)
- The Flower and the Angry Waves (1964)
- Our Blood Will Not Forgive (1964)
- Tattooed Life (1965)

Seijun Suzuki: The Golden Years, Vol.2 - Sex & Politics
- Gate of Flesh (1964)
- Story of a Prostitute (1965)
- Carmen from Kawachi (1966)
- Fighting Elegy (1966)

[*DrStrangelove*]

Originally Posted by latehong

I've been posting this again and again on Arrow thread (since they've released 16 Seijun Suzuki films on Blu-ray so far), but two of my dream box sets are:

Seijun Suzuki: The Golden Years, Vol.1 - Bloody Tales of Yakuza
- Kanto Wanderer (1963)
- The Flower and the Angry Waves (1964)
- Our Blood Will Not Forgive (1964)
- Tattooed Life (1965)

Seijun Suzuki: The Golden Years, Vol.2 - Sex & Politics
- Gate of Flesh (1964)
- Story of a Prostitute (1965)
- Carmen from Kawachi (1966)
- Fighting Elegy (1966)

Those would be some great sets! I wonder if Criterion plan on releasing anymore Suzuki, or even some more Nikkatsu films in general. I loved the Nikkatsu Diamond Guys sets Arrow released.

[Xtempo]

Any idea about a Brighter Summer Day and Rashomon be back in print for the BDs? I would have picked them up earlier had I known they would be fairly popular.

[DaBargainHunta]

I watched two Jamaican films written and directed by the same person - Perry Henzell.

The Harder They Come

This is an absolutely fascinating look at Jamaica in the early 1970s. It focuses on the hardscrabble life of a local - Ivan, who dreams about becoming the next big reggae star - and the roadblocks he encounters along the way (some self-imposed). According to The Criterion Channel, this movie "brought the catchy and subversive rhythms of the Rastas to the U.S. in the early 1970s."

It becomes a completely different movie in the second half, as Ivan goes from musician to outlaw. While the first half is a realistic look at life in Jamaica, it turns into a more cinematic and over-the-top Jamaican version of a Western after that, which I think is by design. (The characters are shown earlier on at a movie theater watching a Western.)

What an awesome hidden gem! I will definitely be getting the Blu-ray at some point.

No Place Like Home

According to the Channel, this "was shot in the midseventies but not completed until three decades later." That probably explains why it's so dull and disjointed. It's a bonus extra on the Blu-ray for The Harder They Come, and when viewed in that light, it's at least barely tolerable. If I had to describe the premise in a few words: "Bemused America white woman is exposed to the non-tourist parts of Jamaica." I have a feeling the backstory of losing, finding, and restoring the movie is better than the movie itself. (I wish the plethora of extras from the Blu-ray were on the Channel!)

No Place Like Home is notable for the screen debuts of P.J. Soles (Halloween) and Grace Jones in small roles. A young Soles shows some skin, so there's that. If I were the director, I would've called an audible and made the movie all about Grace Jones. Even back then, she had an undeniably electric charisma and screen presence.

DaBargainHunta's Decree: I love watching movies that transport the viewer into another world. The Harder They Come does that magnificently. No Place Like Home, on the other hand, is only worth seeing as a companion curiosity piece. I'm glad it was found, but I wish it had been completed in the '70s as originally intended. I wonder what could have been... Perry Henzell never wrote or directed again after these movies, which is a real shame considering just how damn good The Harder They Come is.

[theater dreamer]

Originally Posted by Xtempo

Any idea about a Brighter Summer Day and Rashomon be back in print for the BDs? I would have picked them up earlier had I known they would be fairly popular.

They’re not out of print. If Criterion’s site says “currently unavailable”, it only means they have no stock available, and are waiting on more.

Compare that to the listing for something like Chungking Express, which says “out of print”.

Check the site again in a few days, or maybe send Criterion’s customer service department a message to see if they have any estimate on when they’ll have more copies in.

[V.M. Varga]

Just went region free and found out that many of the films I'd like aren't available atm . Mulholland Drive especially.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

So I just finished a double feature of Tokyo Drifter and Branded to Kill, and it hit me thinking how I would love more Seijun Suzuki Blu-ray upgrades. Maybe do a boxset, nothing huge, something like the Cassavetes 5 films set. Youth of the Beast is probably my favorite of his. Gate of Flesh is also great.

I would love to see Arrow since they are re-releasing many of their OOP sets like Stray Cat Rock and Female Prisoner Scorpion reprint the two Seijun Suzuki Early Years sets without the extra swag:



Youth of a Beast would be nice for those who aren't region free but it's not a necessity for me I have the Eureka Region B release though it is odd that Criterion haven't released it here. Bringing this back on topic, I need to watch Take Aim at the Police Van which was on the Nikkatsu Noir set I got in the Criterion 30% off sale.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by V.M. Varga

Just went region free and found out that many of the films I'd like aren't available atm . Mulholland Drive especially.

Mulholland Drive does have a Region A release via Criterion. But welcome to the club, it was a huge liberation for me to go region free since there are so many fine titles that for whatever reason do not have a Region A release and all the great UK labels like Eureka, Arrow, Indicator, and 88.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by rip63

He was very far hamming it up in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy just a few years back. In fact, he completely underplayed it and got an Oscar nom.

Probably my favourite Oldman. The film itself inevitably suffers in comparison to the BBC series due to time constraints, although I thoroughly enjoy it. However, I think Oldman absolutely captures the understated, deliberate, and slightly world-weary aspects of George Smiley that came so effortlessly to Alec Guinness in his landmark performance.

Originally Posted by mja345

Now, he does a ton of paycheck roles and will occasionally turn in a great performance.

Originally Posted by jayembee

Christopher Nolan's Batman films are definitely "paycheck roles" for him, but he gave solid performances in all three. On the other hand, while he wasn't terrible in the Harry Potter films, he wasn't at his best, either.

I've just been on a bit of a "Gerard Butler blowing $hit up" kick, and watched Hunter Killer as it was free via my cable company. Oldman plays a hawk-ish senior US military type, complete with dodgy accent. It's the kind of role any one of a number of American character actors could have played far more convincingly, but I assume is was a decent payday and his participation lent credibility to the proceedings.

Not that there is anything wrong with paycheck roles. As Michael Caine said about Jaws: The Revenge - "I've never seen it, but by all accounts it is terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific."

[BenOswald]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Probably my favourite Oldman. The film itself inevitably suffers in comparison to the BBC series due to time constraints, although I thoroughly enjoy it. However, I think Oldman absolutely captures the understated, deliberate, and slightly world-weary aspects of George Smiley that came so effortlessly to Alec Guinness in his landmark performance.

One of (2011)Tinker Tailor's greatest strengths is the ability to cram so much plot depth, backstory, layers and detail into two hours. It was my third viewing where it all began to click, but now I've seen it 12+ times and still catch so many things otherwise missed. The ensemble cast is other worldly,and the Cinematographer's career and talents have subsequently exploded. Also, Gary Oldman does a commentary on the blu ray with the director, and they hardly talk, lol.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by BenOswald

One of (2011)Tinker Tailor's greatest strengths is the ability to cram so much plot depth, backstory, layers and detail into two hours. It was my third viewing where it all began to click, but now I've seen it 12+ times and still catch so many things otherwise missed. The ensemble cast is other worldly,and the Cinematographer's career and talents have subsequently exploded. Also, Gary Oldman does a commentary on the blu ray with the director, and they hardly talk, lol.

Agreed! Saw it in theaters, and I loved it! I got annoyed at the friend I went with because he said it was too easy to figure out because of the camera angles. I told him he was an idiot because Gary Oldman wasn’t looking at the camera angles and the point was to watch him figure it out. I haven’t read the book or watched the miniseries, but all of this movie worked so well for me and is one of my most rewatched Blu’s.

Also love the icon. Damaged is one of my favorite albums of all time! Also a big cat fan!

[Art_Vandelay]

The next 50% off sale on their site shouldn't be for several months right? The reason I'm asking is because I received an email with $10 off a purchase a few weeks back so I'm wondering if I should just use it now while they have 30% off on the site or hold out for 50%

[bonehica]

Originally Posted by Art_Vandelay

The next 50% off sale on their site shouldn't be for several months right? The reason I'm asking is because I received an email with $10 off a purchase a few weeks back so I'm wondering if I should just use it now while they have 30% off on the site or hold out for 50%

Their next 50% sale should be around mid-October. That's typically been the case the last couple of years.

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Agreed! Saw it in theaters, and I loved it! I got annoyed at the friend I went with because he said it was too easy to figure out because of the camera angles. I told him he was an idiot because Gary Oldman wasn’t looking at the camera angles and the point was to watch him figure it out. I haven’t read the book or watched the miniseries, but all of this movie worked so well for me and is one of my most rewatched Blu’s.

The BBC series is utterly brilliant, and deserves its reputation as one of TV's finest-ever dramas. It is sufficiently different to the film, and its appeal lies in the procedural, almost mundane portrayal of a spy mole-hunt. There are plenty of meetings in nondescript rooms, cups of tea, cigarettes, and prosaic conversations. Guinness is the star, but he is supported by a stellar cast of some of Britain's finest actors. If you like intelligent, low-key, and slow-burn storytelling, it's an easy recommendation.

[BenOswald]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Agreed! Saw it in theaters, and I loved it! I got annoyed at the friend I went with because he said it was too easy to figure out because of the camera angles. I told him he was an idiot because Gary Oldman wasn’t looking at the camera angles and the point was to watch him figure it out. I haven’t read the book or watched the miniseries, but all of this movie worked so well for me and is one of my most rewatched Blu’s.

Also love the icon. Damaged is one of my favorite albums of all time! Also a big cat fan!

Everything your friend thinks is gold is shit. hahaha.

I also agree with Reddington, the miniseries is solid. The commercial breaks are still kind of baked in, but the format/lenght allows more to be flushed out.

Cheers.