The Criterion Collection

[catch_33]

Originally Posted by lDlisturb3d

Bottle Rocket (Criterion)

What a nice pretty little film. Doesn't make you laugh too hard but still keeps you evolved with the flick. The Owen brothers are pretty good in this movie about dorky rich robbers. The movie really has allot to offer, comedy (really dont know how to describe it. I dont know if its dry or stupid humor or a mixture ) i did enjoy it though.

I think the thing that stands out the most about this film is Wes Anderson's ability to direct. This is the second film i've seen that he's directed and i can say he seems pretty solid. Overall nice well done little film that makes you chuckle here and there.

Recommended

3.5/5

I know some love this movie but i thought it was good but not a 5/5

I seriously burst a lung everytime I watch this film. To me, it is Wes' funniest film. The characters bounce off each other so effortlessly, and the strange, slightly pathetic humour is so refined and subtle you constantly discover newer elements or quips that you didn't notice last viewing. Wes improved visually both in regards to composition and overall design (set design especially) in subsequent films, but personally Bottle Rocket is where its at in terms of fresh, confident filmmaking from Wes Anderson.

Shit yeah, I wanna watch that bad boy right now. Still haven't watched the Criterion blu yet...

[rkish]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

at the Brass quote. Have you seen some of his films kndy?



But those Zeitgeist films have me very interested.

Here are the ones I'm interested in (if anyone can give any opinions on them if you seen them, thanks.):

Le Combat dans l'île (already getting it)

Chantal Akerman's Tomorrow We Move & La Captive

Abbas Kiarostami's Ten (surprisingly, I have never seen it)

How about that! EVERY one of these films is streamable on NetFlix!

Added to Instant queue!

Many Thanks!

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

Thanks very much Pro-B. Icing on the cake for me. I found that Louis Malle produced the film as a criticism of Godard and other New Wave directors and their support for the French occupation of Algeria and for the OAS and their campaign of terrorism and assassination in mainland France. So just a question, did Cavalier direct this fully or do you see Malle's view on my last sentence in this film? I like Malle's films alot, and don't care if this is a "bashing" so to say on Godard and others, just curious about the situation and wondered if it had an effect on Cavalier's film.

Mr. Malle might have produced the film but the description of his intent for it, which someone left at IMDB, is pretty suspicious. Unlike Italy, where at the time practically all of the big directors and known intellectuals supported the Communists, in France a lot of the progressive directors (read socialists) did not. Godard's "communist" films, for example, really aren't as red as some people would have you believe. If they were, the Soviets would have taken great advantage of them (I am unsure if you know, but many of Godard's films were banned in the U.S.S.R).

As far as I know, Fire and Ice is Mr. Cavalier's film.

Pro-B

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Godard supported the occupation/terror campaign in Algeria?! I thought Godard was a staunch leftist/socialist. Or was he not always one?

I found that from IMDB's trivia page of this film, so take it for what it's worth, until someone finds more about it.

But here is some stuff:

"One of the most interesting things about the politics of the Cahiers group was that while through their antagonism of the Left they defined themselves as somewhat "right-wing", their actual beliefs and the beliefs espoused in the content of their films were a lot muddier, and certainly not ideologically "Right"."

"Godard's Le Petit Soldat, released in 1961 and banned in France for many years, is in some ways the epitome of right-wing anarchism. Created almost entirely on the fly, with Godard often coming up with action and dialogue the morning before shooting, there was little or no rehearsal for the actors. Le Petit Soldat is often called "chaotic" and "undisciplined" in style and some consider it an exercise in almost absolute freedom."

"The Algerian war was ongoing when Le Petit Soldat was released, and the French government was not happy with the way its army was portrayed, especially the film's exposure of both the army's and the FLN's use of torture on its captors. Censors who banned the film explained, "At a time when young Frenchman are being called upon to fight and serve in Algeria, it seems quite impossible to allow this oppositional conduct to be exposed, presented, and finally justified. The fact that [the protagonist] is paradoxically engaged in a counterterrorist action does not change the fundamental problem."

"Godard has always been fascinated with the losers of history - or rather, those who have been made wrong by history. But instead of trying to explain or justify a particular political point of view, he was really just interested in exploring the complexity of human nature. People are sometimes static, sometimes indecisive, sometime unheroic, sometimes all of those things and also their opposites. Le Petit Soldat is confusing, because people are confusing. Sometimes, neither Left nor Right have got it completely correct, and sometimes destruction results from both ideologies and non-ideologies alike. The world is a complex place, and Godard was concerned with exploring that complexity, without trying to engineer a filmic reality to fit a particular conception of it. Many of the other Cahiers directors were of a similar mind, whether or not they signed the Manifesto of the 121. "Left" and "Right", to them, were "labels that politicians used to conveniently parse up reality," explained de Baeque. These labels were used to simplify conflicts, to stir up support, and to divide people without enlightening them, so that they could be controlled. "What politicians say does not necessarily encompass what is true," said de Baecque. Thus the New Wave viewed the 'political spectrum' as too simplistic to be an accurate reflection of the more multi-dimensional map of real orientations and beliefs. It would be wrong to call their films apolitical. It would probably be more correct to say that just as the New Wave were stylistically and narratively inventive, they were politically inventive as well."

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by rkish

How about that! EVERY one of these films is streamable on NetFlix!

Added to Instant queue!

Many Thanks!

I need to get Netflix. Having no job is bad right now trying to buy movies.

[lDlisturb3d]

Originally Posted by catch_33

I seriously burst a lung everytime I watch this film. To me, it is Wes' funniest film. The characters bounce off each other so effortlessly, and the strange, slightly pathetic humour is so refined and subtle you constantly discover newer elements or quips that you didn't notice last viewing. Wes improved visually both in regards to composition and overall design (set design especially) in subsequent films, but personally Bottle Rocket is where its at in terms of fresh, confident filmmaking from Wes Anderson.

Shit yeah, I wanna watch that bad boy right now. Still haven't watched the Criterion blu yet...

Yeah i agree with most of your post. Did you see Fantastic Mr. Fox? I thought this was slightly more funny. In addition the pathetic humor was great, allot of times a caught my self saying "Are you serious" lol. Like i mentioned before the direction was flawless and this is wat really attached me to the film. Dont take the 3.5 in a bad way. I rate films as follows.
1- Hated
2- Didnt like it
3- Ok
4- Liked it
5- Loved it

[IronFingaz]

Got Charade and The Thin Red Line this week (and American Beauty)

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Mr. Malle might have produced the film but the description of his intent for it, which someone left at IMDB, is pretty suspicious. Unlike Italy, where at the time practically all of the big directors and known intellectuals supported the Communists, in France a lot of the progressive directors (read socialists) did not. Godard's "communist" films, for example, really aren't as red as some people would have you believe. If they were, the Soviets would have taken great advantage of them (I am unsure if you know, but many of Godard's films were banned in the U.S.S.R).

As far as I know, Fire and Ice is Mr. Cavalier's film.

Pro-B

Thanks alot for clearing that up. Just didn't know where that Malle/Godard crap came from and didn't know if it had an effect on this film. I just now posted info on the New Wave political views. And I agree, I don't think Godard's films are straight "communist" propaganda films, but more of his own feelings towards socialists views and incorporating the history (Marx, Soviets, etc) of it in his films. He was more like a teacher than a preacher I feel with his images of such views (La Chinoise being a big example).

[SpiderBaby]

Also for anyone interested,

here is an interview done by the legend Dick Cavett with Godard in 6 parts. It is prob the most calm and fun interview could you prob find of Godard in the U.S.. the 3rd part of this is funny (about 6:30 in part 3) when they talked about new scripts and Godard pulls out 2 notebooks for 2 scripts he is writing, then Cavett tries to pocket them. Pretty funny exchange, and funny that on a interview set, Godard has 2 working scripts in his pocket. Always working. Well here is part 1, but part 3 being my fav as they also talk about Jerry Lewis in part 3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93HCe...next=1&index=1

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by IronFingaz

Got Charade and The Thin Red Line this week (and American Beauty)

Already? I know Best Buy sells Criterion films about a week early at times but The Thin Red Line isn't supposed to be out for another 10 days.

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

Already? I know Best Buy sells Criterion films about a week early at times but The Thin Red Line isn't supposed to be out for another 10 days.

Where did he say they came from Best Buy? His location says Denmark.

CC

[kndy]

For those who are looking forward to Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times" from Criterion, I just want to plug Richard Patterson's Chaplin documentary "The Gentleman Tramp". He is the only documentarian that Chaplin gave access to his home, to use footage from his home movies, his past films, etc.

Mr. Patterson is releasing the 78-minute documentary from its original master on DVD for $10 but he's only producing 800 limited edition copies and that is all. It's not Blu-ray but this is probably the only time you are going to get a chance to get this. Previously it was on VHS only and 25 16mm prints. Go to Amazon and search for "Gentleman Tramp" and you will see it for $10.

For more info, click here.

[McCrutchy]

Originally Posted by kndy

For those who are looking forward to Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times" from Criterion, I just want to plug Richard Patterson's Chaplin documentary "The Gentleman Tramp". He is the only documentarian that Chaplin gave access to his home, to use footage from his home movies, his past films, etc.

Mr. Patterson is releasing the 78-minute documentary from its original master on DVD for $10 but he's only producing 800 limited edition copies and that is all. It's not Blu-ray but this is probably the only time you are going to get a chance to get this. Previously it was on VHS only and 25 16mm prints. Go to Amazon and search for "Gentleman Tramp" and you will see it for $10.

For more info, click here.

Seriously cool, kndy. Ordered a copy!

[rkish]

Originally Posted by CassavetesGodard

I need to get Netflix. Having no job is bad right now trying to buy movies.

$11.99 a month to have (1) film out at a time, blu-ray rights, and endless streaming possibilities.

I've got the timing down...in my area at least. I get films every Wednesday and Saturday. If I mail the film back Wednesday night...I get the next one Saturday morning. With the Saturday film, I have until Sunday night to get it in the mail.

It's saved me loads on buying films...especially CCs.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by kndy

For those who are looking forward to Charlie Chaplin's "Modern Times" from Criterion, I just want to plug Richard Patterson's Chaplin documentary "The Gentleman Tramp". He is the only documentarian that Chaplin gave access to his home, to use footage from his home movies, his past films, etc.

Mr. Patterson is releasing the 78-minute documentary from its original master on DVD for $10 but he's only producing 800 limited edition copies and that is all. It's not Blu-ray but this is probably the only time you are going to get a chance to get this. Previously it was on VHS only and 25 16mm prints. Go to Amazon and search for "Gentleman Tramp" and you will see it for $10.

For more info, click here.

THANKS kndy! I just ordered a copy as well!

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by rkish

$11.99 a month to have (1) film out at a time, blu-ray rights, and endless streaming possibilities.

I've got the timing down...in my area at least. I get films every Wednesday and Saturday. If I mail the film back Wednesday night...I get the next one Saturday morning. With the Saturday film, I have until Sunday night to get it in the mail.

It's saved me loads on buying films...especially CCs.

That seems like a longer wait than I have, rkish. Maybe not, though. My Netflix discs take one day each way plus the processing day, so it might be the same. If mail on Monday, the disc is at their closest processing facility on Tuesday and then my next disc arrives Wednesday.

CC

[rkish]

Originally Posted by ccfixx

That seems like a longer wait than I have, rkish. Maybe not, though. My Netflix discs take one day each way plus the processing day, so it might be the same. If mail on Monday, the disc is at their closest processing facility on Tuesday and then my next disc arrives Wednesday.

CC

Yeah...that's the same for me...

My processing facility is in White Plains, NY. I live in Dutchess County...about 45 mins to an hour away. In essence, I'm mailing my Saturday disc on a Monday morning (I've tried mailing before 5:00 PM on Saturday...same result), the disc gets there either late Monday/Tuesday and they ship Tuesday to get to me with the Wednesday mail. If I watch that disc on Wednesday and put it in the mail that night, it goes out with the Thursday mail, gets to them by late Thursday/Friday and they ship the next disc Friday, which I receive on Saturday.

The only time this gets screwed up, if there is a Monday holiday.

[SpiderBaby]

Originally Posted by rkish

$11.99 a month to have (1) film out at a time, blu-ray rights, and endless streaming possibilities.

I've got the timing down...in my area at least. I get films every Wednesday and Saturday. If I mail the film back Wednesday night...I get the next one Saturday morning. With the Saturday film, I have until Sunday night to get it in the mail.

It's saved me loads on buying films...especially CCs.

I had Netflix years ago, but canceled it, and it was also way before they started the streaming stuff. So I might do it again.

[rkish]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Seriously cool, kndy. Ordered a copy!

Looks like Mr. Patterson is selling these one at a time on Amazon. I hope that everyone that wants one can get one.

I've got to believe that 800 copies will go pretty quickly.

Thanks again to kndy for the heads up!

[horseflesh]

Originally Posted by rkish

Yeah...that's the same for me...

My processing facility is in White Plains, NY. I live in Dutchess County...about 45 mins to an hour away.

I'm just being nosey, but is that anythng to Dutchess City?
A friend of mine, who's married to a NY girl, moved there a few weeks ago (Wingdale specifically).