DVD Talk Forum - 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

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Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis McClain (Post 13591842)

Hey! I have major depressive disorder, too! *fist bump* Our paths have been similar, actually. When I participated in my first Criterion Challenge, I figured I'd scope out some Bergman since I'd heard his name in those circles. My first was Smiles of a Summer Night. I didn't fall in love with it, but I definitely recognized that this was a storyteller who could reach me. I was right! And I have often suspected that it's my depressed noggin that Bergman reaches.

We should form a MDD club! Our meetings will definitely be fun! It's interesting how my mental issues inform the what kinds of movies resonate with me. There's something about the bleakness of movies like Persona and The Passion of Anna that feels oddly comfortable to me. My brain can often be a bleak place, and it's nice to see a movie that correlates.

I love Smiles of a Summer Night and suggested to a friend that she start there when I gave her some of my Bergman DVDs. I think it's a good way to ease into Bergman's style before tackling his weightier films.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrcellophane (Post 13593048)

I can appreciate referring someone to start with Smiles of a Summer Night. It's certainly one of the lighter ones. I think my Bergman started kit would be:

Smiles of a Summer Night
Summer Interlude -or- Summer with Monika, depending on what I know about the person's taste
Wild Strawberries
Sawdust and Tinsel

I feel like Sawdust is the perfect microcosm of Bergman's storytelling. I think it does take a movie or two to acclimate to him, but once that's done, Sawdust seems to me like a strong barometer for whether that person is going to find much beyond that point to explore with enthusiasm. I would emphasize, of course, that it is recognized more as a second, rather than first tier Bergman film, so they understood that this is not the peak (though for many Wild Strawberries is).

(On a side note, speaking of meetings for MDD, a few years ago, I got involved with my local chapter of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, and it has made a world of difference in my management of my mental health. I would highly encourage anyone with such concerns to look into finding your nearest chapter.)

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

I have been working on the esthetic of my list and how to display it for this upcoming challenge. I think I'm done but I'll love to hear some of your comments/suggestions about it.

I think I'm going to subscribe to the Criterion Channel for a year. I have been thinking about it since they went live and this challenge will be incentive enough to get it.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

I have officially signed up for the Criterion Channel and ready for the Criterion Challenge.

I may have to start watching some of it early as I noticed that Swing Time will be leaving the channel by the end of August.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

I don't watch a lot of movies during this challenge but I did notice that when I put in Criterion in keywords my library has 901 choices. Obviously these aren't all Criterion releases but it looks like I have a solid beginning point for free.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Dr. Strange, The Man Who Knew too Much, Judex and Straw Dogs are early contenders.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by orlmac (Post 13594775)

Dr. Strange, The Man Who Knew too Much, Judex and Straw Dogs are early contenders.

Dr. Strange?

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by LorenzoL (Post 13594931)

Dr. Strange?

Dr. Strangelove, perhaps? Somehow I don't see Disney giving permission for someone else to make money off of Marvel!

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by LJG765 (Post 13594932)

Dr. Strangelove, perhaps? Somehow I don't see Disney giving permission for someone else to make money off of Marvel!

Okay that sounds more like it.

I already started watching Criterion movies even though the challenge doesn't start until the end of the month.

Since I subscribed to the channel, I have watched Swing Time, Dragon Inn and A Touch of Zen.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Thanks for catching that and making it Dr. Strangelove LJG. I was so immersed in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Challenge last month I guess I just shortened the name. Of course, I'll be watching Fantastic Mr. Fox to start things off. A little Guillermo del toro is possible also. At least I'll be watching any comments he has on any of the movies I watch.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

I've just checked the Channel and found the following animated films that would be dual-eligible for the last day of this month's Animation Challenge:

FEATURES
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
The Plague Dogs
The Triplets of Belleville
Watership Down

SHORTS
Asparagus
Begone Dull Care
Bluebeard
Coda
Edmond Was a Donkey
Hunger
Logorama
Madame Tutli-Putli
Monkey Love Experiments
Solar Walk
Yearbook
Yours Faithfully, Edna Welthorpe (Mrs)

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

I'm working on my Top 10, but I've been stymied because I've had to have my laptop fixed, and have been relegated to using my phone for online stuff, which is hardly ideal. My key objective for the month is to go through my unlogged Criterion discs, most of which have come from the last few B&N sales. I have 15 discs, but a cumulative 35 features including commentary tracks, alternate music score tracks, and bonus films, and four shorts. Plus, of course, a gaggle of other supplements. I will have most of the checklist covered, so there's that.

Also! For anyone interested, Lawrence of Arabia is playing in theaters as the next of the TCM Big Screen Series on Sunday the 1st and Wednesday the 3rd. It had a LaserDisc release back in the day, so that's eligible for the challenge (and that part of the checklist!).

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis McClain (Post 13597749)

Thanks, Travis! Looks like there are a couple that are listed already, but most of them seem like they are new (or new to the crossover list!) I'll post it over in the Animation Challenge as well.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

I'm trying to watch The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) and Don't Look Now (1973) before they leave the Criterion Channel at the end of the month.

Obviously they won't be counted for the challenge but I wanted to ask: Does anybody find boring The Man Who Fell to Earth? I'm 40 minutes into the movie and besides being in shock

Spoiler:

, should I stick with it? Does it get better? I find it really tedious and not really that interesting. It is my first time watching this movie.

I watched Don't Look Now long time ago so at least I'm familiar with it and look forward to watching it again.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Just for clarification purposes, any movie that is currently streaming in September on the Criterion Channel is eligible but movies that were on the service on previous months but they are no longer streaming are not? Is that correct?

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by LorenzoL (Post 13599244)

Spoiler:

I watched it last month for the first time and no, it didn't get better for me. Was not a fan at all, really. I'm glad I was able to check it off my "to see" list, but it was a tough one to slog through. It's not even the length, it's just weird...odd...bizarre.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by LorenzoL (Post 13599250)

That's...actually an interesting question! I don't recall an existing ruling on that. I can't see how this would be appreciably different from LaserDiscs that have not been issued on disc, or discs that have gone out of print. It would help if we had a reliable source of what those films are, though. Does anyone have one? I found this list on Letterboxd of the Launch Library, and I can find lists of what is currently available, but the stuff that has been added and left between launch and now would require some detective work. Thoughts, anyone?

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

They've announced the Coming Attractions for the Criterion Channel in September. Note: The movies themselves should all go live on the 1st (and some are already active). It's just their organized spotlights that will go live on the announced dates, so if there's something in there you want to see, you don't have to wait until that date to see it.

Spoiler:

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis McClain (Post 13599504)

This is what I gathered from the different threads in Reddit and I'll link the Reddit thread that has a spreadsheet with all of the movies in the service defaulted to the expiring movies first.

Quote:

Leaving end of April 2019

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (John Cassevetes, 1976 and 1978)

Leaving end of May 2019

Opening Night
Blood Simple
The Elephant Man

Leaving end of June 2019

The Columbia Noir Collection (Human Desire, The Big Heat, Experiment in Terror, My Name is Julia Ross, Murder by Contract, The Lineup, Drive a Crooked Road, Nightfall, Pushover, So Dark the Night, The Burglar)

Mulholland Dr. (David Lynch, 2001)

Paths of Glory (Stanley Kubrick, 1957)

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (John Cameron Mitchell, 2001) (very limited preview before the physical release)

Buena Vista Social Club (Wim Wenders, 1999)

Mildred Pierce (Michael Curtiz, 1945)

Ace in the Hole (Billy Wilder, 1951)

The Virgin Suicides (Sofia Coppola, 1999)

To Sleep with Anger (Charles Burnett, 1990)

Jubal (Delmer Davies, 1956)

Baby Face (Alfred E. Green, 1933)

Bugsy Malone (Alan Parker, 1976)

Hollywood Shuffle (Robert Townsend, 1987)

In a Better World (Susianne Bier, 2010)

Leaving end of July 2019

A Woman's Face (George Cukor, 1941)

Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (Paul Mazursky, 1969)

Bottle Rocket (Wes Anderson, 1996)

Camille (George Cukor, 1936)

Dinner at Eight (George Cukor, 1933)

Easy Rider (Dennis Hopper, 1969)

Gaslight (George Cukor, 1944)

Girlfriends (Claudia Weill, 1978)

Little Women (George Cukor, 1933)

Midnight Cowboy (John Schlesinger, 1969)

Moonrise (Frank Borzage, 1948)

Mother (Albert Brooks, 1996)

Our Betters (George Cukor, 1933)

Robin and Marion (Richard Lester, 1976)

Sylvia Scarlett (George Cukor, 1935)

The Last Emperor (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1987)

The Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton, 1955)

The Women (George Cukor, 1939)

Two-Faced Woman (George Cukor, 1941)

Uptight (Jules Dassin, 1968)

What Price Hollywood? (George Cukor, 1932)

White Heat (Raoul Walsh, 1949)

Leaving at end of August 2019

Akira Kurosawa's Dreams (Akira Kurosawa, 1990)

Christopher Strong (Dorothy Arzner, 1933)

Craig's Wife (Dorothy Arzner, 1936)

Damn the Defiant! (Lewis Gilbert, 1962)

Dance, Girl, Dance (Dorothy Arzner, 1940)

Don't Look Now (Nicholas Roeg, 1973)

My Beautiful Laundrette (Stephen Frears, 1985)

Our Man in Havana (Carol Reed, 1959)

Performance (Donald Cammell & Nicholas Roeg, 1970)

Ran (Akira Kurosawa, 1985)

Scanners (David Cronenberg, 1981)

Something Wild (Jack Garfein, 1961)

The Card (Ronald Neame, 1952)

The Man Who Fell to Earth (Nicholas Roeg, 1976)

The Prisoner (Peter Glenville, 1955)

The Scapegoat (Robert Hamer, 1959)

Bad Education (Pedro Almodovar)

The Skin I Live In (Pedro Almodovar)

All About My Mother (Pedro Almodovar)

Volver (Pedro Almodovar)

Swing Time

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Leaving at end of September 2019

A Room with a View (James Ivory, 1985)

Adua and Her Friends (Antonio Pietrangeli, 1960)

After the Wedding (Susanne Bier, 2006)

Hoop Dreams (Steve James, 1994)

Kaili Blues (Bi Gan, 2015)

Nights of Cabiria (Federico Fellini, 1957)

Othello (Orson Welles, 1952)

Quiet as Kept (Charles Burnett, 2007)

Rocco and His Brothers (Luchino Visconti, 1960)

Room at the Top (Jack Clayton, 1959)

Several Friends (Charles Burnett, 1969)

Sightseers (Ben Wheatley, 2012)

The Final Insult (Charles Burnett, 1997)

The Horse (Charles Burnett, 1973)

The Widow Couderc (Pierre Granier-Deferre, 1971)

When it Rains (Charles Burnett, 1995)

Leaving at end of October 2019

Archipelago (Joanna Hogg, 2010)

Claire's Camera (Hong Sang-soo, 2017)

Daddy Longlegs (Safdie Brothers, 2009)

Exhibition (Joanna Hogg, 2013)

I Killed My Mother (Xavier Doland, 2009)

Kaos (Tavania Brothers, 1984)

Meek's Cutoff (Kelly Reichardt, 2010)

On the Beach at Night Alone (Hong Sang-soo, 2017)

Padre Padrone (Tavania Brothers, 1977)

River of Grass (Kelly Reichardt, 1994)

The Day He Arrives (Hong Sang-soo, 2011)

The Fallen Idol (Carol Reed, 1948)

The Night of Shooting Stars (Tavania Brothers, 1982)

The Pleasure of Being Robbed (Josh Safdie, 2008)

The Shooting (Monte Hellman, 1966)

The Third Man (Carol Reed, 1949)

Time Bandits (Terry Gilliam, 1981)

Unrelated (Joanna Hogg, 2007)

Wendy and Lucy (Kelly Reichardt, 2008)

Leaving at end of November 2019

The Love Witch (Anna Biller, 2016) (LEAVES NOVEMBER 7TH)

Viva (Anna Biller, 2007) (LEAVE NOVEMBER 7TH)

Battle in Heaven (Carles Reygadas, 2005)

Cemetary of Splendor (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2015)

Kind Hearts and Coronets (Robert Hamer, 1949)

Marwencol (Jeff Malmberg, 2010)

Silent Light (Carlos Reygadas, 2007)

Suburbia (Penelope Spheeris, 1983)

Syndromes and a Century (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2006)

The Captain's Paradise (Anthony Kimmins, 1953)

The Decline of Western Civilization (Penelope Spheeris, 1981)

The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (Penelope Spheeris, 1988)

The Decline of Western Civilization Part III (Penelope Spheeris, 1998)

The Hours and Times (Christopher Munch, 1991)

The Lavender Hill Mob (Charles Crichton, 1951)

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (Alberto Cavalcanti, 1947)

The Maids (Christopher Miles, 1975)

The Man in the White Suit (Alexander Mackendrick, 1951)

The Plague Dogs (Martin Rosen, 1982)

The Tales of Beatrix Potter (Reginald Mills, 1971)

The Wicker Man (Robin Hardy, 1973)

Tropical Malady (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2004)

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, 2010)

Yeelen (Souleymane Cissé, 1987)

https://www.reddit.com/r/criterion/c...a_spreadsheet/

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...#gid=740795620

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Looks good to me, LorenzoL! I'll add that spreadsheet URL to the overview.

I made it out to the theater for Lawrence of Arabia this afternoon (LaserDisc #078). It's one of my all-time faves and God knows there's been more than enough written and said about it over the years and I don't have anything original to add to any of it. I'll simply make note that my new favorite thing about it is this camel mugging for the camera:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-tuNR-uD_mE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

I was on the fence about whether I was going to participate, but I decided that I might try it. I signed up for the free trial on the Criterion Channel today, and I have a good selection of eligible movies on DVD.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Incidentally, I'm later getting this together than I wanted, but here's My Criterion Top 10 List. There are notes there, but for anyone just interested in the movies:

12 Angry Men
Persona
The Princess Bride
Bull Durham
The Third Man
Ghost World
45 Years
The Phantom Carriage
M
Il Sorpasso

I could easily have just gone with ten Ingmar Bergman movies, but restricted myself to Persona. I also restricted myself to the Collection proper, excluding LaserDisc and streaming selections.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadokitty (Post 13601720)

Always glad to have you in a challenge, shadokitty! As I recall, you're really into Japanese cinema. I've recently seen and enjoyed a few:

Black Lizard
Ironfinger
Samurai Spy
Tampopo

Ironfinger and Samurai Spy are both in the "Spy Games" Collection, which I greatly enjoyed overall. The former has a sequel, Golden Eyes, which I found disappointing, but others may dig. There are also several Godzilla movies, which I think I remember you digging? Whatever you end up picking, I'm sure we look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

Pulp Fiction is playing at some Regal theaters this week. It works for the "not released on dvd" challenge.

Re: 2019 Criterion Challenge Discussion Thread

This is the first year that I'm not focusing on the checklist. As my collection starts to grow, I'm taking the opportunity to watch some of the supplements on the disc as well. I spent almost six hours on the Do The Right Thing Blu-ray the other night! Besides the high quality transfers, these additional features are what make Criterions stand out to me.