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Best French-Language Release in The Criterion Collection?

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Best French-Language Release in The Criterion Collection?

Old 09-28-07, 05:36 AM
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Best French-Language Release in The Criterion Collection?

Which film would you rate the Greatest French language movie in the Criterion Collection.

To rate this, consider the actual movie + DVD Transfer + Extra Features = End Result.

Using this, my decision is that "Children of Paradise" is the best one yet.

Whats yours?

And if I were to choose two French Criterion DVDs to get, which ones should they be....
Old 09-28-07, 05:49 AM
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Thats a pretty tough decision, but i'll go with Hiroshima Mon Amour.

and if you were to get two.......get Rules of the Game and Army of Shadows.
Old 09-28-07, 08:43 AM
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Neat question. Certainly can't deny the importance of The Rules of the Game but if I had to choose one to buy it would be Contempt. I just love that movie.
Old 09-28-07, 08:45 AM
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The Battle of Algiers
Old 09-28-07, 09:39 AM
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Old 09-28-07, 09:49 AM
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No question here: The Beauty and the Beast (second edition). The film has been significantly restored (French restoration or the French version, as opposed to the previous American restoration of the American print) and some of the extras which include incredible interviews with the surviving cast members can't even be found on the French editions. The first edition was an embarrassment. The second is an embarrassment of riches (in spite the new Philip Glass opera track - beuaark!).

Last edited by baracine; 09-28-07 at 01:17 PM.
Old 09-28-07, 09:55 AM
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Jacques Becker's masterful Le Trou.
Old 09-28-07, 10:15 AM
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Le Samourai.
Old 09-28-07, 10:20 AM
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Rules of the Game

Runners-up:

Contempt
The Orphic Trilogy
Le samouraï
all of the Bresson films (esp. Pickpocket)
The 400 Blows
Jules et Jim
Playtime
Old 09-28-07, 10:24 AM
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Wages of Fear (rerelease)
Old 09-28-07, 10:48 AM
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I agree with baracine. Beauty and the Beast is fantastic. The Rules of the Game and Playtime would be next, for me at least.
Old 09-28-07, 01:43 PM
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Pickpocket
Old 09-28-07, 04:49 PM
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The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Old 09-28-07, 05:08 PM
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The Double Life of Veronique

Eric Rohmer: Six Moral Tales
Elevator to the Gallows
La Haine
La Jetee / Sans Soleil
Old 09-28-07, 09:07 PM
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Antoine Doinel movies, specifically Bed and Board is my personal favorite.
Old 09-29-07, 01:47 AM
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Rules of the Game is hands down the best French film ever made. In my opinion it is also the best film ever made as well. As to the DVD package it is nothing short of spectacular.

Pro-B
Old 10-01-07, 02:49 AM
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Hmmm, someone said Umbrellas of Cherbourg but as far as I know thats not a Criterion release.

As for Le Samourai, yeah its a good movie but the DVD was BAD. VERY few extras - almost an insult really.

I see no love for Hiroshima Mon Amour though - someone said I should get that over all else.
Old 10-01-07, 12:08 PM
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Children of Paradise\ Carne|

The two I would suggest would be:1) Elevator to the Gallows\Malle
2) Touchez pas au grisbi\Becker

Last edited by gialde123; 10-01-07 at 12:18 PM. Reason: added content
Old 10-04-07, 06:04 PM
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I forgot Pepe le Moko: Great influential film, great transfer, great extras.
Old 10-08-07, 03:03 PM
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No one picked "Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie"?

Gotta agree that "Rules of the Game" is a phenomenal movie, and phenomenal release, although I was somewhat disappointed with the disc 2 features on that. "Band of Outsiders" is also a great package, as are "Beauty and the Beast," "Forbidden Games," "Jules and Jim," and the Rohmer and Malle boxes.

Can't forget, too, "Breathless" comes out this month, could push its way to the top? And it's not TECHNICALLY in the Crit collection but the Eclipse box of Raymond Bernard is pretty stellar, if only to see those films on dvd.
Old 10-10-07, 07:29 AM
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I think the worst french movie in the Criterion Collection is ' A Woman is a Woman' - i cannot STAND watching that piece of garbage - so pretentious, so over the top, so BAD.

I havent seen Rules of the Game yet, but am making it a point to get it. I guess no one likes Criterions Jules and Jim huh?
Old 10-10-07, 02:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Buckleyesque
I think the worst french movie in the Criterion Collection is ' A Woman is a Woman' - i cannot STAND watching that piece of garbage - so pretentious, so over the top, so BAD.

I havent seen Rules of the Game yet, but am making it a point to get it. I guess no one likes Criterions Jules and Jim huh?
I mentioned "J&J"...

I thought "A Woman is A Woman" was enjoyable, if overly cute. Dvd is worth it for the Rohmer-written Godard short "All the Boys are Called Patrick," which is more like the early Moral Tales.
Old 10-11-07, 06:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Buckleyesque
Which film would you rate the Greatest French language movie in the Criterion Collection.

To rate this, consider the actual movie + DVD Transfer + Extra Features = End Result.

Using this, my decision is that "Children of Paradise" is the best one yet.

Whats yours?

And if I were to choose two French Criterion DVDs to get, which ones should they be....
I don't think the OP's intention was to ask members what their favourite French film is but which French film in the Criterion collection has the best overall presentation. If it was a question of simply liking the films, I would eliminate anything by Godard...

I stand by my choices: Pepe le Moko and Beauty and the Beast for both content and extras. I eliminate the Agnès Varda films (Cléo de 5 à 7 and Vagabond) for being bare bones.

Children of Paradise, Rules of the Game and The Orphic Trilogy are also way up there for extras, quality of transfer and as valuable learning tools.

Last edited by baracine; 10-11-07 at 06:42 AM.
Old 10-11-07, 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Buckleyesque
I think the worst french movie in the Criterion Collection is ' A Woman is a Woman' - i cannot STAND watching that piece of garbage - so pretentious, so over the top, so BAD.
The word that comes to mind when I think of the French New Wave is arrogance. Godard and Truffaut verbally abused Marcel Carne like he was a dinosaur, but I prefer his films, but of coarse they had faster film stock and lighter equipment.

I love "Children of Paradise", another good one is "Drole de Drame"
which is out with a good release by HVE.
Old 10-15-07, 04:13 PM
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Le Samourai is an awesome choice.

But I am puzzled only two mentioned Playtime. That film is genius. I have tremendous respect for any film maker who can make a most silent film in this day. I also have to give props to the Triplets of Bellvue. Thanks to my mother on that one. She saw a commercial for it and suggested it to me, and I was not disappointed. Thanks mom!

Easily in my top animated film of all time and in my top 10 all time films. Also the soundtrack is incredible as well.

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