The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
- tolbs1010
- Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2020 7:01 pm
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
Dirk Bogarde retrospective at the end of the month. This coming after the Pinter retrospective a few months ago. Giving me hope that The Servant might be coming to the Collection soon. It's the Losey film that makes the most sense for a Criterion release. I will keep beating the Losey drum on this forum until it happens!
Surprised that Fassbinder's Despair isn't part of this Bogarde retrospective. Not that it's a great film, but it's a visually-appealing muddle and Bogarde is in nearly every frame. The last line of that film ("I'm coming out"), spoken by Bogarde, was an interesting bit of mischief by Fassbinder.
Surprised that Fassbinder's Despair isn't part of this Bogarde retrospective. Not that it's a great film, but it's a visually-appealing muddle and Bogarde is in nearly every frame. The last line of that film ("I'm coming out"), spoken by Bogarde, was an interesting bit of mischief by Fassbinder.
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- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 10:59 am
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
I recall seeing some Paramount films on the Channel. With the Paramount discs going OOP and Paramount+ launching, it looks grim that we will get anymore Paramount films on the channel.
- aox
- Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2008 12:02 pm
- Location: nYc
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
The Hawai'i Shorts are up. Any recommendations?
- DeprongMori
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:59 am
- Location: San Francisco
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
I see the titles from the 5 Films About Christo and Jeanne-Claude collection, directed by the Maysles Brothers and previously released by Plexifilm, now streaming on the Channel, open with the “Criterion” and “Janus” logos, even though they don’t show up on the Janus Films website. However, Interview with Christo, Jeanne-Claude, and Albert Maysles from the Plexifilm DVD set was not being streamed as part of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Collection on the Channel.
Did anyone notice whether the other Maysles documentary on Christo that ran briefly on the Channel, The Gates (2007), also had the Criterion and Janus logos?
The versions of the 5 films that are currently running on the Channel are still in need of restoration (poor scans, subtitle typos, etc.), so I’m looking forward to these potentially getting a new release at some point.
A larger and much more complete set that included the Hissen Brothers documentaries, the Blackwood Productions documentaries, and the Walking on Water (2018) doc by Andrey M. Paounov that ran briefly and Antonio Ferrera’s 2007 memorial doc about Jeanne-Claude would be extremely welcome. I suspect we’ll only see a re-issue of the 5 Films set though.
Did anyone notice whether the other Maysles documentary on Christo that ran briefly on the Channel, The Gates (2007), also had the Criterion and Janus logos?
The versions of the 5 films that are currently running on the Channel are still in need of restoration (poor scans, subtitle typos, etc.), so I’m looking forward to these potentially getting a new release at some point.
A larger and much more complete set that included the Hissen Brothers documentaries, the Blackwood Productions documentaries, and the Walking on Water (2018) doc by Andrey M. Paounov that ran briefly and Antonio Ferrera’s 2007 memorial doc about Jeanne-Claude would be extremely welcome. I suspect we’ll only see a re-issue of the 5 Films set though.
- criterionsnob
- Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 1:23 am
- Location: Canada
The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
I’ll be disappointed if this doesn’t end up being California Split, seeing as she’s using a still from it.
On Twitter, Criterion Channel programmer Penelope Bartlett says: “R.I.P. to an absolute fave. One of his greatest movies will be on @criterionchannl in April..."
On Twitter, Criterion Channel programmer Penelope Bartlett says: “R.I.P. to an absolute fave. One of his greatest movies will be on @criterionchannl in April..."
- dwk
- Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 6:10 pm
- therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
So California Split was the title, but it's part of their Gamblers series, so less of an indication that it's with Criterion- though I believe it was rumored? I guess we'll see if it opens with the Criterion/Janus logos
- DandyDancing
- Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2020 8:27 am
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
It's a Columbia movie. So even if it is being released physically it won't open with any Criterion or Janus branding.
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
- therewillbeblus
- Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2015 3:40 pm
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
Thought so, at this point it's whatever company gets to the finish line first
- tolbs1010
- Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2020 7:01 pm
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
That other 1974 gambling gem, The Gambler, is another film that I have long-wanted to see in HD with proper extras. When Caan is at the blackjack table and hits the 18--"Give me the three"--it gives chills to all us degenerate gamblers out there. Reisz's use of Mahler and the way the camera is angled up at Caan on the reaction shot heightens the moment. It's the pinnacle for that character and it's all downhill for him after that.
Definitely a more angsty, existentialist take on the gambling life, compared to California Split's humorous ramble-shamble. Love them both but love California Split more. RIP George Segal.
As an aside, the Mark Wahlberg remake of The Gambler was horrid.
Definitely a more angsty, existentialist take on the gambling life, compared to California Split's humorous ramble-shamble. Love them both but love California Split more. RIP George Segal.
As an aside, the Mark Wahlberg remake of The Gambler was horrid.
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
That one is with Paramount, so it could be coming to Criterion given they seem to be burning through their remaining licenses with the studio
- swo17
- Bloodthirsty Butcher
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 10:25 am
- Location: SLC, UT
- tolbs1010
- Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2020 7:01 pm
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
Thanks for the heads up on this. No interview with Caan is disappointing but the other extras look interesting. Like the slipcase cover with the original poster artwork.
- Red Screamer
- Joined: Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:34 pm
- Location: Tativille, IA
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
I caught up with the three Stahl/Dunne films this week and I was impressed. Stahl has a precise visual style, a pared-down sense of narrative, and a surprisingly down-to-earth sensibility for the genre. Without being loud or inflated, his films have a tender register of emotional intensity all their own.HinkyDinkyTruesmith wrote: ↑Tue Dec 22, 2020 12:08 amAside from HE WHO GETS SLAPPED (one of my favorite silents), the John Stahl collection is exciting. Although two of the films are only so-so and have blu-ray releases, the other two, BACK STREET and especially WHERE TOMORROW COMES, are both masterpieces and have never received proper releases.
My hands-down favorite was When Tomorrow Comes, which sustains that register gracefully from start to finish in a range of moods. It's a class-conscious romance with poetic flourishes and a wonderfully detailed central relationship. Few social-mismatch romances feel as natural and appealing as the one here, though Stahl doesn't softpedal the stakes involved for Dunne's character, both emotionally and ideologically. Though it's not quite in the same league as Holiday, it invites comparison. Its compressed timeline and overflowing flavor of city life, not to mention the too-relevant natural disaster in the middle of the picture, helped push it over the top for me. It also doesn't hurt that Boyer is at his most charming. Back Street, which seems like it's been the rallying cry for Stahl's champions over the years, was also wonderful. The film was daring for its time in its amoral perspective on adultery and has an unusually fragmented, verging on conceptual approach to narrative, which I imagine is one reason for its popularity among critics. The fact that most of the couple's relationship happens offscreen made the film somewhat difficult for me emotionally, but Dunne's desperately naïve fantasy at the end hit me like a gut punch. I also see a connection between Back Street and Leave Her to Heaven in how both of their male leads have a mixture of bland appeal and clueless narcissism, and how that mixture translates into a deep, psychic pain for the women who love them. Magnificent Obsession was also good, though it's less focused in narrative or tone and the story is a little shaky. That Stahl creates something that's honestly moving out of the questionable material he's working with only makes me more convinced of his powers. In the end, the simple moments leave more of an impression than the occasional wackiness of the source. The gliding point-of-view shot when Taylor first sees Dunne might be the most memorable camera movement in all three of the movies and, while its ending can't stand up to the powerhouse endings of the other two films, I can't imagine a more elegant and touching realization of what could've easily been a silly or even repellant conclusion.
- FrauBlucher
- Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:28 pm
- Location: Greenwich Village
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
Question... I currently don't stream. Does the Criterion Channel list tech specs like whether they are presenting from restorations and what kind? The Hustler I see is airing this month and wondering if it's from a newer restoration (even though the Fox bluray is pretty damn good).
- wishhersafeathome
- Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2021 6:34 pm
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
I haven't seen as much in any of the descriptive text accompanying each film. They don't even tell you what resolutions are available, for example some of the John Stahl films on there recently were only 480, which is pretty sad.FrauBlucher wrote: ↑Sat Apr 03, 2021 7:27 pmQuestion... I currently don't stream. Does the Criterion Channel list tech specs like whether they are presenting from restorations and what kind? The Hustler I see is airing this month and wondering if it's from a newer restoration (even though the Fox bluray is pretty damn good).
- FrauBlucher
- Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:28 pm
- Location: Greenwich Village
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
Thanks. That's too bad and surprising
- fdm
- Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:25 pm
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
Well given they don't even offer dolby digital audio (which may be the one thing FilmStruck never had any problem with)...
- flyonthewall2983
- Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:31 pm
- Location: Indiana
- Contact:
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
The Hustler is pan-and-scanned
- FrauBlucher
- Joined: Mon Jul 15, 2013 8:28 pm
- Location: Greenwich Village
- domino harvey
- Dot Com Dom
- Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2006 2:42 pm
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
Robert Rossen’s Ghost is finally able to show it to us how he intended
- DeprongMori
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:59 am
- Location: San Francisco
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
Word has it this will be repaired shortly to the proper AR.
- dwk
- Joined: Sat Jun 12, 2010 6:10 pm
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- Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 9:55 pm
Re: The Criterion Channel -- Film and Content Discussion
May 2021 is a most awesome month on the Criterion channel.
I hope a box set including all the films of Satyajit Ray being shown this month comes out later this year. This is Satyajit Ray at 100.. His time has come.
If it does, all other Criterion problems will be forgiven.