Criterion Film Club: Suggestions and General Discussion

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#1426 Post by **Mr Sausage** » Fri Jan 15, 2021 10:33 am

We're Voting!

#1427 Post by **Mr Sausage** » Sat Jan 30, 2021 1:58 am

Here are five films that nearly won.

therewillbeblus · Sat Jan 30, 2021 2:32 am

I surprised myself by voting for The Rock.. this stars project makes me want to view the film as a culmination of Sean Connery's entire persona, especially playing off of Cage whose emotional lability directly contrasts his stability, yet they're somehow bound intimately, reflecting their strengths in the other by the end of the film

soundchaser · #1429 Post by **soundchaser** » Sat Jan 30, 2021 2:45 am

I just ordered The Philadelphia Story for the Cary Grant project. Seems like a good opportunity for some forum section crossover.

#1430 Post by **Mr Sausage** » Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:29 pm

As one of our recently voted members of the year, therewillbeblus was kind enough to supply a list of films this vote.

therewillbeblus · Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:53 pm

These are the five films that first came to mind when I looked into my heart (what heart?)

#1432 Post by **DarkImbecile** » Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:56 pm

Any chance you could let the less research-inclined among us know the best options for streaming/physical editions for these, should they be inclined to seek them out?

therewillbeblus · Fri Feb 12, 2021 3:22 pm

DarkImbecile wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 2:56 pm Any chance you could let the less research-inclined among us know the best options for streaming/physical editions for these, should they be inclined to seek them out?

I intentionally chose films with accessible releases (though perhaps not as friendly to the 'free streaming' world). All except Ema are available to rent for a couple bucks on Amazon Prime Video.

Assassination Nation has a region A blu-ray release from Universal
Ema has a region-free blu-ray release from Mubi
Margot at the Wedding has an R1 DVD release from Paramount
Mauvais Sang (i.e. Bad Blood) has a region A blu-ray release from Kino
Miller's Crossing has a region A blu-ray from Fox, that isn't outrageously priced yet (though if this wasn't a title prioritized during the Fox OOP crisis, I'd jump on that now regardless of your vote)

It also seems like Assassination Nation is available on Hulu for free for those with subscriptions, but I don't have one so I can't be 100% sure. Additionally a few other films here are free on Hulu with some add-on subscriptions like Showtime or whatever. I don't have TV channels or HBO Max or anything, so I can't comment about what's on there.

#1434 Post by **domino harvey** » Fri Feb 12, 2021 3:26 pm

Margot at the Wedding was on Netflix, not sure if it still is

therewillbeblus · Fri Feb 12, 2021 3:30 pm

domino harvey wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 3:26 pm Margot at the Wedding was on Netflix, not sure if it still is

I checked on my phone app earlier and it didn't pop up

Sloper · #1436 Post by **Sloper** » Fri Feb 12, 2021 4:20 pm

Miller's Crossing is my favourite film (tied with The Heiress and Dreyer's Michael) so it gets my vote.

Also worth mentioning that the Region B blu-ray has a crucial music cue missing from the moment twbb alluded to in his post above - I'd be very interested to know if this is the case on the Region A version. The soundtrack is intact in the version you can buy on Amazon Prime Video, and I'm happy to settle for the downgrade in image quality.

therewillbeblus · Fri Feb 12, 2021 4:33 pm

Sloper wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 4:20 pm Also worth mentioning that the Region B blu-ray has a crucial music cue missing from the moment twbb alluded to in his post above - I'd be very interested to know if this is the case on the Region A version.

Huh, can you describe the music cue in a spoilerbox? I'll definitely double-check my copy when I get home and report back.

Miller's Crossing was one of my favorite films as a kid that somehow I moved away from over time and only over the last few years have I started to compulsively watch again and consider it an all-time favorite again.

[Full disclosure: I was aware that it's Sloper's (and Swo's, I believe) favorite movie and will probably vote for it myself if only to get at least one banger post about the subtle complexity going on (outside of the plot!)]

Sloper · #1438 Post by **Sloper** » Fri Feb 12, 2021 4:42 pm

Spoiler for the climax of Miller's Crossing here:

Spoiler

When Tom cocks the gun and starts walking towards Bernie, there's a slow build up of ominous music, climaxing very similarly to the earlier (corresponding) scene in the woods. In the Region B blu-ray, there's no music at all. It could be a revision requested by the Coens themselves for all I know, but I can't imagine why - the scene is much more effective with music.

#1439 Post by **Mr Sausage** » Fri Feb 12, 2021 4:50 pm

Miller’s Crossing was my favourite Coen Bros. movie back in highschool and something I put on frequently. Like twbb, it’s a movie I’ve fallen away from over the last decade for no special reason.

therewillbeblus · Sat Feb 13, 2021 12:26 am

Sloper wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 4:20 pm Also worth mentioning that the Region B blu-ray has a crucial music cue missing from the moment twbb alluded to in his post above - I'd be very interested to know if this is the case on the Region A version. The soundtrack is intact in the version you can buy on Amazon Prime Video, and I'm happy to settle for the downgrade in image quality.

The region A is also missing this cue

Sloper wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 4:42 pm Spoiler for the climax of Miller's Crossing here:
Spoiler
When Tom cocks the gun and starts walking towards Bernie, there's a slow build up of ominous music, climaxing very similarly to the earlier (corresponding) scene in the woods. In the Region B blu-ray, there's no music at all. It could be a revision requested by the Coens themselves for all I know, but I can't imagine why - the scene is much more effective with music.

Spoiler

So I didn't realize you meant no music at all in that scene which is unfortunately true on the region A blu as well. I've watched the film twice in the last year and each time explicitly remembered this scene feeling 'off' for this very reason and I gaslit myself into thinking maybe I had misremembered each time. I just popped it in again and sure enough, no music. I know the Coens toyed with Blood Simple for the better, but this choice is curious. Anyways, glad to know I'm not insane, and I'm spoilering this mini-rant so that newcomers to the film don't go into the climax waiting to be disappointed when the scene is profoundly effective regardless.

#1441 Post by **swo17** » Sat Feb 13, 2021 1:19 am

So what's the best release that has it the old way? And for that matter, what's the best release of Blood Simple pre-director's cut?

therewillbeblus · Sat Feb 13, 2021 1:32 am

swo17 wrote: Sat Feb 13, 2021 1:19 am So what's the best release that has it the old way? And for that matter, what's the best release of Blood Simple pre-director's cut?

For Blood Simple I'm pretty sure it was a VHS before the Coens got the rights back. I recall seeing that version a few times as a kid, once on TV, and I only remember it because the transition cue to Neil Diamond's I'm a Believer playing over the end credits was so jarring and felt so wrong. Even as a star-eyed kid having the opportunity to see these films many years before my peers, willing to bow down to these Coens as gods that were blowing my mind, I was stumped at what they were thinking. I caught the same version a few years later when showing a friend, but didn't notice any differences in the cuts, just the music cue at the end again and it played even worse.

As for Miller's Crossing, I'm pretty sure past DVD versions had the music cue, but I know the VHS I watched growing up did. I can't seem to find this change documented on the internet, while Blood Simple's is disclosed transparently.

#1443 Post by **Mr Sausage** » Fri Feb 26, 2021 3:27 pm

Feihong, as member of the year, has kindly curated this round of voting.

knives · #1444 Post by **knives** » Fri Feb 26, 2021 3:34 pm

I’m assuming that’s the Cox Walker?

therewillbeblus · Fri Feb 26, 2021 3:41 pm

I'm assuming the Żuławski Possession too?

feihong · #1446 Post by **feihong** » Fri Feb 26, 2021 6:35 pm

Yes to both.

#1447 Post by **Mr Sausage** » Fri Feb 26, 2021 7:49 pm

I edited the poll to hopefully make it more clear.

#1448 Post by **Mr Sausage** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 3:31 pm

In all the years running this thing I’ve never actually curated a vote. So here are five of Imamura’s narrative films that have for one reason or another had a real effect on me.

If you’re curious, I excluded the documentary work because it seems better discussed in toto.

Michael Kerpan · Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:59 pm

Is there any adequate subbed release of Eejanaika? I'm voting for it because it is less well-known yet very fascinating -- and is set in the same local as Pigs and Battleships (100 or so years earlier) and also involved the USA's impact.

#1450 Post by **Mr Sausage** » Fri Mar 26, 2021 7:13 pm

Michael Kerpan wrote:Is there any adequate subbed release of Eejanaika? I'm voting for it because it is less well-known yet very fascinating -- and is set in the same local as Pigs and Battleships (100 or so years earlier) and also involved the USA's impact.

I think it’s on the Criterion channel, tho’ someone else will have to confirm. I saw it on an old, imported non-anamorphic DVD from the library. Un-ideal, but better than nothing. I put it up because I’m curious what others have to say about this strange and marvellous film.

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