Criterion Film Club: Suggestions and General Discussion

[Mr Sausage]

Yes, another random selection of films from for you to vote from. Have at it!

[Mr Sausage]

I love Hitchcock as much as you guys, but is there really that much to say about this pretty minor film of his?

[domino harvey]

We're going to talk solely about liverwurst

[Big Ben]

Don't blame me I voted for Breaking the Waves!

[dustybooks]

I just really like spelling bees

[therewillbeblus]

I initially voted for Spellbound since I was already revisiting it for the 40s project, but after watching it again last night I changed my vote. It’s not just awful, but any discussion I can think of isn’t going to be of much more value than the film itself.

[swo17]

In conjunction with the current Shakespeare list, here are five random Criterion titles based on his plays. So vote, and vote often! Or you're nothin'

[Mr Sausage]

Here're 5 random films from the collection for you to vote for. Have at it!

[ando]

That byline is telling.

[Mr Sausage]

It's a Runners-Up vote. All the films that almost made the cut get a second chance.

[swo17]

Actually, technically, we randomly chose these five from six months' worth of votes

[Mr Sausage]

This vote's different. Inspired by the Music Video mini list project, this vote has a dual focus: here are five Criterion titles whose disc(s) contain music videos. With the exception of the first one, the vote is for both the film and the music video(s).

[Big Ben]

I voted for Armageddon with malicious intent.

[Mr Sausage]

I voted for Armageddon with malicious intent.

I assume that goes doubly for your vote for the Aerosmith video?

[swo17]

I voted for Armageddon with malicious intent.

If you actually want to discuss it then great, but if you just did it to tank film club, we're doing a fine enough job of that on our own, thanks

[Big Ben]

I voted for Armageddon with malicious intent.

If you actually want to discuss it then great, but if you just did it to tank film club, we're doing a fine enough job of that on our own, thanks

Absolutely, and apologies for not making this clearer. Regardless of my feelings about Bay ( I really, really don't like his films) I don't feel people actually discuss the fact that he has all the hallmarks of a mass produced auteur. The incoherent plots, the occasional jingoism, the quote "pornographic sensibility" as Mark Kermode puts it. If people like Fulci and Jesus Franco can be labeled as shlock auteurs why can't Bay? How does this relate to modern blockbusters today? I feel it's inclusion in Criterion's library is worth discussing even if the film is...not good.

[I assume that goes doubly for your vote for the Aerosmith video?

The Aerosmith video/song goes alongside that because it happens to be one of the most aggravating in their entire catalogue in my opinion.

[Mr Sausage]

Swo17 and I were being tongue-in-cheek.

But there is lots to discuss in Bay, including what I’ve now realized is the fact he borrowed much of his visual lexicon from late-eighties MTV David Fincher.

[Mr Sausage]

Mfunk has been kind enough to curate the following Halloween round:

So my only synopsis or statement about why I chose these five films is that, in the wake of the death of FilmStruck and the advent of the Criterion Channel, there is no better time than now to be supporting the latter so it sticks around for good. There are a ton of good films on it this month and every month, but horror films make for a better at home experience than most, and all of the following films are available on the Criterion Channel just a button press away.

[mfunk9786]

I'm going to actually participate this time, which I'm incredibly ashamed I don't do enough of with the Film Club, which Sausage tirelessly puts effort into curating week in and week out. I would encourage anyone in my boat, who doesn't dedicate nearly enough time to it as it deserves, to join me.

[domino harvey]

Sorry, I'll be too busy lighting candles and praying for all your souls to watch such devilry

[Mr Sausage]

I'm going to actually participate this time, which I'm incredibly ashamed I don't do enough of with the Film Club, which Sausage tirelessly puts effort into curating week in and week out. I would encourage anyone in my boat, who doesn't dedicate nearly enough time to it as it deserves, to join me.

Thanks for the kind words, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out swo17’s huge contribution behind the scenes. He basically co-runs it with me uncredited.

Anyway, I voted for Antichrist because I’ve always been meaning to watch it.

[DarkImbecile]

You haven’t seen Antichrist? I had already voted for it, but now I need to evangelize to the masses that it be the selection this week.

[domino harvey]

Still wish I’d bought one of the “I Survived the AntiChrist Screening” t-shirts the IFC was selling in the lobby on the original theatrical run

[mfunk9786]

I'm going to actually participate this time, which I'm incredibly ashamed I don't do enough of with the Film Club, which Sausage tirelessly puts effort into curating week in and week out. I would encourage anyone in my boat, who doesn't dedicate nearly enough time to it as it deserves, to join me.

Thanks for the kind words, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out swo17’s huge contribution behind the scenes. He basically co-runs it with me uncredited.

Anyway, I voted for Antichrist because I’ve always been meaning to watch it.

That was enough to make me outright change my vote.

[swo17]

If it makes a difference, we already did Carnival of Souls for Halloween two years ago