The Criterion Collection

[UncleBuckWild]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I just watched Elevator to the Gallows. My favorite film-noir of all time? It sure is possible!

Wow!

It's funny because I watched Zazie Dans Le Metro earlier tonight and I consider it the worst Malle film from what I've seen (Atlantic City, Au Revoir, Black Moon, My Dinner With Andre, Pretty Baby), as well as one of the worst films that I've seen in recent memory. I could not tolerate the wacky story, the annoying characters, or the editing style. However, a little while later, I watched Elevator to the Gallows and I consider it his best and a personal favorite of mine now.

Ah, you've got me interested in this film... will try to watch it tonight... BTW - Artificial Eye (UK) is releasing it on Blu-ray this year.

Kinda liked Zazie... not remarkable/masterpiece but a fun and quirky film.

Speaking of film noir, watched Rififi yesterday (for the 3rd time) and i must say just love this film... the interview w/ Dassin was equally rewarding.

[joie]

All of Antonioni's movies are about photography, still or motion, to some extent. In a supplement on "l'eclisse," he briefly mentions "Blow-up" and says it's about seeing what isn't there, but he doesn't completely give the movie away.

[Show spoiler]It's about a still photographer whose character develops extraordinarily. Initially, He can only see what isn't there with the aid of a camera and then only by printing and enlarging his negatives. But in the end he is able to see in realtime, spontaneously, without the aid of a camera: A mime troupe is playing (miming) tennis and one of the mimes hits the ball out of the court. Our photographer sees exactly where it must have landed, runs to fetch it and throws the ball back into the court!

"Blow-up" can be tedious, is awful dated (set in "mod" England), but is worthwhile for what it has to say about photographers' problem. Some say "Blow-out" is a better movie,

[Show spoiler]but I agree with Vincent Canby, who wrote that it's about recording a perfect scream, so don't think the two movies are completely comparable, because a sound man's role is unlike a photographer's role.

[*DrStrangelove*]

Anyone know where I can find a list of all the titles released by Criterion in 2014. In order of Criterions release date.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

Anyone know where I can find a list of all the titles released by Criterion in 2014. In order of Criterions release date.

DrStrangelove,

Go here:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?studioid=70

Click on the pull-down menu in the upper right corner and select "sort by release date".

All reviewed Criterion releases are also linked in the first post of this thread.

Pro-B

[deepbreathsanddeath]

Just finished Army of Shadows and holy moly, what a film. I liked Le Samourai and loved how damn cool it is, I was honestly a little let down by Le Cercle Rouge. Certainly a technical achievement and very well made, but it was tedious to sit through and it was too cold and distant.

I was expecting more of the same for Army of Shadows but it blew me away. It has that trademark cold thing going for it but it's also very emotionally affecting which took me by surprise. The acting was exceptional, the cinematography was gorgeous, the music was terrific, the story was engaging and the suspenseful scenes were really tense. Sometimes stomach turning in how tense it could be.

All and all, as well made as the other two Melville's I've seen have been, AOS stands well above them. By far the best of them.

[ultlife2013]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

DrStrangelove,

Go here:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?studioid=70

Click on the pull-down menu in the upper right corner and select "sort by release date".

All reviewed Criterion releases are also linked in the first post of this thread.

Pro-B

Nice, thanks.

[Wildcat47]

Originally Posted by ngower

Regarding Westerns, I'm still exploring that genre. I was just at a screening of a Ford flick the other night, but I'm a bit iffy on them from my experiences.

Ray—yes! I need to see The Big City. Maybe I'll watch it on Hulu tonight.

Having a minor meltdown trying to decide what to watch tonight between:

• White
• City Lights
• Amelie
• Persona
• The Big City

AHHHHHHH!!!!

If you haven't seen it yet, watch The Searchers. Yes it is a non-Criterion blu ray, but it is an excellent film to get you interested in westerns. You can probably pick it up in the 5-10$ range, or even stream it (Netflix?), and I cannot imagine anyone regretting seeing this film. I really love Rio Bravo and El Dorado as well, even though they are essentially the same movie with different actors (The Duke is in both though). These are 2 really accessible westerns and very fun to watch. Neither would be considered as great as most of the Criterion westerns, or even many of the must-own non-Criterion westerns, but I still have a lotta love for them. Maybe that will help a little with the genre. There's been quite a few others mentioned in recent posts, so I wont go overboard with reccomendations, just read back a few days of posts and try some of them out.

Ray's The Music Room was my first dip into any of his work, and it hooked me fast. Incredible movie. Ive still yet to find time to watch his other movies that Ive purchased, but it will be sooner than later. Summer is just so hectic.

And...

From your list, watch Persona ASAP. Everything you mention is pretty great, but Persona is WOW.

[Wildcat47]

Originally Posted by *DrStrangelove*

I need help choosing 3 out of the following:

Tokyo Story
Jules and Jim
Ace in The Hole
The Life Aquatic
L'eclisse
Pick Pocket
Tess
Scanners
Or just The Cassavetes Set.

All blind buys except Jules and Jim.

Cant go wrong with the Cassavetes set, but if you go the other route, my personal choices would be:

Ace in the Hole
Tokyo Story
Life Aquatic

I definitely would have put L'eclisse in there, but Im holding off watching mine until Criterion finishes the trilogy, so that's why it's not on the list...yet (But I have purchased my copy and look forward to seeing it again!)

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by Meek12345

Have you seen Cleo from 5 to 7 yet?

I have yes, several times, including theatrically just recently actually, as a part of a brief, 5-film Varda retrospective at my local arthouse cinema. I'm very fond of it, and find it more moving with every rewatch. An upgrade of any Varda would be welcome, and I'd love to see them expand upon the existing box-set if they choose to take her to Blu.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by UncleBuckWild

Awesome! the extras in particular look quite promising... now waiting for The Big Chill BD review...

Here's a dvdtalk review:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/64496/big-chill-the/

(although it doesn't have full resolution screenshots)

[adamhopelies]

Received the Demy set in the UK this morning. I can't wait to dive in to it later this evening: I'm a little overwhelmed by it all, truth be told!

[minister_x]

I watched The Umbrellas of Cherbourg yesterday for the first time - amazing. Think I'll have to get the Demy set too!

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

As we near the end of the Criterion sale I decided to go Gilliam crazy with

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Brazil
12 Monkeys (I know its not Criterion but just decided to start my Gilliam film collection off)

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by JeffTheMovieGuy

As we near the end of the Criterion sale I decided to go Gilliam crazy with

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Brazil
12 Monkeys (I know its not Criterion but just decided to start my Gilliam film collection off)

Off topic but omg have you seen that new remake of 12 Monkeys lol?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3148266/

Looks soooooooooooo bad haha

[UncleBuckWild]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Here's a dvdtalk review:
http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/64496/big-chill-the/

(although it doesn't have full resolution screenshots)

Many Thanks... Interesting thoughts on the film, while I don't agree with the reviwer - must say it gave me a good laugh.

Bummer no HD screenshots, but at least we know the A/V quality is topnotch.

[tedopolous]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Insomnia Blu-ray REVIEW

It's a while since I saw the movie, but isn't the killer portrayed by Bjørn Floberg? In the review it says Aamodt is very convincing as the maniacal killer, but that's not what I remember.

[JeffTheMovieGuy]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

Off topic but omg have you seen that new remake of 12 Monkeys lol?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3148266/

Looks soooooooooooo bad haha

You mean the tv series they are doing? Its got all the SyFy channel bells and whistles.

Gilliam really knows his way around an Orwellian future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhA1B3lVnTM

[mcvitie]

Is there any talk of an upgrade for Most Dangerous Game? Not sure if it is OOP?? An amazing film if you ask me but doesn't get much in the way of attention here. My DVD is on its last legs and could defiantly do with a spruce up

[ccfixx]

Originally Posted by jw007

I am really curious about Wise Blood. I don't recall anyone ever discussing this film in this thread. It's a John Huston film and I am quite intrigued by the premise of the story. Does anyone have any opinions about Wise Blood?

I don't think many people talk about this amazing film probably because it's a DVD-only release and there are a lot of younger people that come in here that have no desire to purchase films on DVD, especially if there's any inkling of an indication that it'll come out on blu-ray eventually. The film, however, is fantastic as far as I'm concerned, jw! If you have any kind of idea of just how crazy one person can become over religion (or any obsession, for that matter) then you will appreciate the movie, I think. Brad Dourif's performance is unparalleled in Wise Blood. I'm hoping that I can get him to autograph my copy of the DVD when he's at Rock & Shock in Worcester, MA this year.

[ijustblumyself]

I think I need to rewatch Cronenberg's Dead Ringers.

There were parts I really, really liked, but a lot of the time I felt it was fairly aimless. I think I struggled with trying to wrap my head around what Cronenberg was ultimately trying to say; there were a lot of ideas thrown around but I struggled to find a thematic through-line.