The Criterion Collection

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

[/SPOILER]

A cinematic vow of chastity.

Wow...that's hardcore.

Haha. Basically

...wait, did we just use "chastity" and "Von Trier" in the same sentence?

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

With regard to the discussion of music in film, George Romero's Night of the Living Dead (1968) has what is perhaps the most obtrusive use of music in the entire history of cinema, but that's part of its odd charm.

When it comes to soundtracks, Robert Zemeckis's Flight wins the golden turkey award from me.
Let's see...
- Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright" when Denzel Washington's character does cocaine
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Under the Bridge" when Kelly Reilly spots a heroin needle.
- Cowboy Junkies - "Sweet Jane" when Reilly is shooting heroin
- Rolling Stones - "Sympathy for the Devil" when the drug dealer, played by John Goodman, first appears onscreen
- Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" when Reilly and Washington start to seduce each other
- The Beatles - "A Little Help from My Friends" when Washington is intoxicated and his court entourage is helping him get on the elevator

Good Lord, watching Flight was like watching an R-rated Sesame Street episode.

Let's be fair though, if the same songs appeared in similar scenes from films of those eras , we wouldn't complain. The real sin is that Zemeckis chose hugely popular songs from yesteryear, songs that are already associated with other films (and TV shows) and even cultural movements.

"Micky Mousing" has only been a sin for those who do not know how to do it properly.

[bwdowiak]

Rear Window does have a score. I had a friend who got so amped up about watching the movie w/ us first timers many years ago, he was humming the score repeatedly as if to tell us, "oh, man.. I've seen this so many times. truly brilliant. you're gonna love it."

[mja345]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

With regard to the discussion of music in film, George Romero's Night of the Living Dead (1968) has what is perhaps the most obtrusive use of music in the entire history of cinema, but that's part of its odd charm.

When it comes to soundtracks, Robert Zemeckis's Flight wins the golden turkey award from me.
Let's see...
- Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright" when Denzel Washington's character does cocaine
- Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Under the Bridge" when Kelly Reilly spots a heroin needle.
- Cowboy Junkies - "Sweet Jane" when Reilly is shooting heroin
- Rolling Stones - "Sympathy for the Devil" when the drug dealer, played by John Goodman, first appears onscreen
- Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" when Reilly and Washington start to seduce each other
- The Beatles - "A Little Help from My Friends" when Washington is intoxicated and his court entourage is helping him get on the elevator

Good Lord, watching Flight was like watching an R-rated Sesame Street episode.

It had a similar soundtrack to "The Big Chill", but part of charm of "The Big Chill" is the soundtrack because it captures the era those characters came of age in.

I've always thought "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", which uses a lot of 60s and 70s songs, has a great soundtrack. It has "White Rabbit" for the scene where Del Toro is going apeshit in the tub. "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again", one of my favorite Dylan songs, is used. Also, "Magic Moments" by Perry Como, "She's a Lady" by Tom Jones, and "Get Together by the Youngbloods, etc.

Another awesome soundtrack is "Grosse Pointe Blank". One of my favorite soundtracks of all-time. "The Big Lebowski" soundtrack is terrific as well. Starts out with "The Man in Me" by Dylan and ends with "Dead Flowers" by Townes van Zandt.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by mja345

Another awesome soundtrack is "Grosse Pointe Blank". One of my favorite soundtracks of all-time. "The Big Lebowski" soundtrack is terrific as well. Starts out with "The Man in Me" by Dylan and ends with "Broken Flowers" by Townes van Zandt.

I'll probably catch some minor flak about this, but my all-time favorite movie soundtrack is for Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It's a shame and a sin that there was never actually a soundtrack album release for that film.

The Lost Boys is a close, close second, and it's my favorite actual soundtrack album.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'll probably catch some minor flak about this, but my all-time favorite movie soundtrack is for Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It's a shame and a sin that there was never actually a soundtrack album release for that film.

The Lost Boys is a close, close second, and it's my favorite actual soundtrack album.

I'll never forget the first time I watched "Bueller" when I was a kid and Yello's "Oh Yeah" got stuck in my head for days. "Oh Yeah" has easily one of the weirdest music videos of all-time.

[shadedpain4]

Originally Posted by Cocophone

I already own the three individual Whit Stillman blurays. Does anyone know if it's possible to buy separately the packaging (the box) for the box set?

Thanks.

The best way to do this is to buy the box set at a B&N 50% off sale (likely $32ish if you can find a 20% off coupon, although bad timing since I sale just ended) and then put the 3 blus on ebay where you should get $12- $15 each for them easily especially after the sale ends.

Much cheaper than $5.

[bladelia]

On the subject of unreleased soundtracks, I think that the music for Southern Comfort is amazing.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by bladelia

On the subject of unreleased soundtracks, I think that the music for Southern Comfort is amazing.

It is badass, you're right. Ry Cooder did the music on that I believe.

[ckt]

I just noticed a post on Reddit about a Criterion Stalker. There were links to screengrabs by MifuneFan that look great. Is this really happening?!?!?

[BagheeraMcGee]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

I'll probably catch some minor flak about this, but my all-time favorite movie soundtrack is for Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It's a shame and a sin that there was never actually a soundtrack album release for that film.

The Lost Boys is a close, close second, and it's my favorite actual soundtrack album.

I love a whole lot of the music John Hughes had in his films. I also wondered why a full soundtrack of that film was never released.

I heard "Love Missile F1-11" by Sigue Sigue Sputnik on SiriusXM (1st Wave channel) the other day while driving around, and I couldn't help but say aloud, "How can I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?"

I also loved "Oh Yeah", but it kind of ticked me off hearing it in other films soon thereafter ("The Secret Of My Success" and "K-9" both used it, and there may be more). Any time I hear that song, I immediately associate it with "FBDO".

And "The Lost Boys" also has an excellent soundtrack. "Lost In The Shadows" by Lou Gramm is my favorite on that album.

[Cocophone]

Originally Posted by BagheeraMcGee

I believe that you could buy the box by itself from Criterion directly for $5.00. E-mail them at store@criterion.com and they'll explain how to go about it. I've ordered some replacement boxes from them, they're a pleasure to deal with and their shipping is rather quick.

Originally Posted by shadedpain4

The best way to do this is to buy the box set at a B&N 50% off sale (likely $32ish if you can find a 20% off coupon, although bad timing since I sale just ended) and then put the 3 blus on ebay where you should get $12- $15 each for them easily especially after the sale ends.

Thanks for the help.

[bwdowiak]

Trainspotting and Rushmore have my 2 favorite soundtracks. Maybe more for the reason that I like the bands and the songs than for the way they were used in the film.

[belcherman]

I think my favorite all-time movie soundtrack is The Third Man, but that's because it's one of my favorite movies of all time. I can't imagine that movie without the zither music. It would be a different movie, in my opinion.

As far as integrating pop songs into movies, The Big Chill is probably my favorite. I love the way Kasdan uses the soundtrack to link scenes and also to make (sometimes ironic) comments on the plot.

Other Criterions with great soundtracks include:

The Graduate
Repo Man
Something Wild
McCabe & Mrs. Miller

I'm sure I'm missing some. That's off the top of my head.

edit: Holy crap, I did forget one. Easy Rider!

[Fabs]

Lost in Translation has to be my favorite soundtrack.

[Martin_31]

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

I don't think Luis Bunuel ever used a score. I could be wrong.

Ray, what about The Birds? Can you argue that The Birds would be a better film with a score? Bunuel's Tristana is haunting as a result of it having no score.

Sammy's point about the film maker's telling us how to feel with obtrusive music is a major pet peeve of mine. I believe less is almost always better in art.

But when Tristana plays the Chopin piece, it sounds haunting, melancholy, depressing. In my opinion, it adds to the scene/moment.

[Martin_31]

Originally Posted by belcherman

I think my favorite all-time movie soundtrack is The Third Man, but that's because it's one of my favorite movies of all time. I can't imagine that movie without the zither music. It would be a different movie, in my opinion.

As far as integrating pop songs into movies, The Big Chill is probably my favorite. I love the way Kasdan uses the soundtrack to link scenes and also to make (sometimes ironic) comments on the plot.

Other Criterions with great soundtracks include:

The Graduate
Repo Man
Something Wild
McCabe & Mrs. Miller

I'm sure I'm missing some. That's off the top of my head.

edit: Holy crap, I did forget one. Easy Rider!

The Graduate has an awesome soundtrack, but the same song always comes up. It gets annoying.

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Martin_31

But when Tristana plays the Chopin piece, it sounds haunting, melancholy, depressing. In my opinion, it adds to the scene/moment.

I'm sure it does, although I do not remember the scene. Sounds like that music is being created by someone or something on screen, though, so that is different.

my absolute favorite use of on - screen music in a film that has no score or soundtrack. pardon me here, everyone, as I know I've posted this before in another thread in the past and maybe even in this thread. absolute brilliance. has to be one of my favorite scenes in the history of cinema.

Crows on the Playground - The Birds (5/11) Movie CLIP (1963) HD - YouTube

[bwdowiak]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Lost in Translation has to be my favorite soundtrack.

well it has one of the coolest, most poignant (and can I add 'greatest?') song of the 1980's on the soundtrack so I won't argue that one much.

was driving home on a beautiful summer afternoon a few weeks ago and listening to Just Like Honey very loudly... I had tears coming down. felt great.

[jw007]

Originally Posted by Fabs

Lost in Translation has to be my favorite soundtrack.

I agree.

I consider this soundtrack to be brilliant, mainly because of Kevin Shields' contributions and the choice of songs selected.

I've only ever had one soundtrack in my smartphone and its always been Lost in Translation.

I think that says enough about my love for this soundtrack.

[Ray Jackson]

This is my favorite score of all time.

You could set this music to a slow motion home video of little kids playing Pin The Tail on The Donkey at a five-year-old's birthday party and it would be the most awe-inspiring footage in the history of mankind.

...also a comes from a film that is absolutely crying out for a Criterion release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1u7vzaqITMA