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Amores perros has a slightly different cover than pictured on Criterion's website

The unstoppable force (bad covers) vs the immovable object (great titles).

The precise moment the C&JGB cover uses is probably the most succinct, single-moment representation of the willed collective madness and elation that are the movie's heart, even if it's at the expense of the mystical and ominous tone. The balance between those is what makes the movie as special as it is, but the former is probably the more memorable element—few movies revel with as much pleasure in the joyous explorations made possible by friendship, so I get why they'd highlight that, even if I think it's a little misleading to the first-time viewer. The BFI blu-ray cover captures the balance of tones better, though it's also a much more bland cover, more for the folks who've seen it than the folks who haven't... I can't say I'm crazy about the Criterion cover, but I don't dislike it, and it at least makes sense to me.

Well I think Defending Your Life's cover is hilarious. Tacky, absolutely, but that billboard's inclusion -that looks more like a clickbait pop-up than a billboard- is so audacious I kinda respect it as a bit.

Not counting the WKW box, this is the first month in a long time I have seen none of the announced releases. How are the other films? What is essential?

And specifically, how is that Mike Leigh film? I just watched Life is Sweet this morning which I mostly enjoyed. The only Leigh I have been absolutely enamoured by so far is Vera Drake, but I am new to his filmography.

aox wrote: Tue Dec 15, 2020 7:22 pm Not counting the WKW box, this is the first month in a long time I have seen none of the announced releases. How are the other films? What is essential?

And specifically, how is that Mike Leigh film? I just watched Life is Sweet this morning which I mostly enjoyed. The only Leigh I have been absolutely enamoured by so far is Vera Drake, but I am new to his filmography.

All of these releases (other than the WKW box) are essential, except Touki Bouki is already in Scorsese's WCP vol 1. However, your mileage will vary based on how you feel about Brooks and Rivette. Secrets and Lies is one of my favorite Leigh films, top three easily, but I also think Life is Sweet gets close to cracking the top and find Vera Drake to be middling Leigh, so maybe don't listen to me

aox wrote: Tue Dec 15, 2020 7:22 pm Not counting the WKW box, this is the first month in a long time I have seen none of the announced releases. How are the other films? What is essential?

And specifically, how is that Mike Leigh film? I just watched Life is Sweet this morning which I mostly enjoyed. The only Leigh I have been absolutely enamoured by so far is Vera Drake, but I am new to his filmography.

That seems very me-ish on Leigh. In which case run don’t walk to Peterloo which given your expressed interest in history, if I am remembering correctly, should be double the good for you. I also favor Mr. Turner, Topsy Turvy, and A Sense of History.

Celine and Julie is terrific and absolutely essential. I also think it's one of the best places to start with Rivette's work; it is far more accessible than Out 1 or the other films in the Arrow box, and far more developed and confident that Paris a tout appartient. (I'm also fine with the cover art--the Berto as magician image has always felt a bit gazey, and I do think the Criterion cover better captures the fun inherent in the film.)

And similarly, Secrets and Lies is top-tier Leigh. It may be the single best showpiece of his strengths in their most digestible form, even if certain other films of his might be more beloved or more interesting to individual taste.

swo17 wrote: Tue Dec 15, 2020 6:58 pm Amores perros has a slightly different cover than pictured on Criterion's website

[images snipped]

I don't see any difference?

The Pachyderminator wrote: Tue Dec 15, 2020 8:29 pm

swo17 wrote: Tue Dec 15, 2020 6:58 pm Amores perros has a slightly different cover than pictured on Criterion's website

[images snipped]

I don't see any difference?

The background on the disc is tan and there's white outlines in paint-like brushstrokes for the lettering and image, as opposed to just white on the image posted above

It even carries over to logos and such on the spine and back cover. It half looks like a mistake, but kinduva cool one

Yeah I like it a lot more

My first 2 Rivette films were Va savoir and Gang of Four, both of which I loved right from the start. On the other hand, it took at least three viewings of Celine and Julie for me to begin to fall in love with it as a whole (as opposed to enjoying only parts). So, I can't say -- from my own experience -- that it would have been a great starting place for someone unacquainted with Rivette's work. Will I buy my fifth or so version of C&J? Probably, but not if the color is botched.

therewillbeblus wrote: Tue Dec 15, 2020 8:46 pm

The Pachyderminator wrote: Tue Dec 15, 2020 8:29 pm

swo17 wrote: Tue Dec 15, 2020 6:58 pm Amores perros has a slightly different cover than pictured on Criterion's website

[images snipped]

I don't see any difference?

The background on the disc is tan and there's white outlines in paint-like brushstrokes for the lettering and image, as opposed to just white on the image posted above

Oh, that's pretty cool, actually. I thought the color difference was just due to the lighting in swo's picture.

I actually stole that picture from someone else's eBay listing, as I was too lazy to take my own. But no more!


(Note the three objects on the bottom row with the printing also off.)

Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Brenda Blethyn's reactions to the other March covers are perfect.

...

There is something about the haphazard kerning of the letters in "Secrets" for the Leigh cover that is really gnawing at me. Haven't slept since.

acroyear wrote: Fri Dec 18, 2020 10:51 pm There is something about the haphazard kerning of the letters in "Secrets" for the Leigh cover that is really gnawing at me. Haven't slept since.

It's like a Rorschach test: I see "SE C RET S"

Huh, the letters are also a little elevated or lowered as well as spaced out without rhyme or reason (including the font for Mike Leigh's credit underneath). Maybe this is to signify that something is 'off' about this picture we're seeing of these two women:

Spoiler

Who chooses to sit on the same side of the table when anxiously getting to know someone?

I was about to point out the same thing about the vertical alignment. I think the discombobulating effect is intentional, but I agree it's kind of painful to look at.

A lot of the secrets and lies are barely obvious until Spall's climactic speech, just like this font until you look a bit closer. Gotta love super deep thematic typeface

aox wrote: Tue Dec 15, 2020 7:22 pm Not counting the WKW box, this is the first month in a long time I have seen none of the announced releases. How are the other films? What is essential?

And specifically, how is that Mike Leigh film? I just watched Life is Sweet this morning which I mostly enjoyed. The only Leigh I have been absolutely enamoured by so far is Vera Drake, but I am new to his filmography.

I'd say Secrets and Lies is pretty essential. I'm a big fan of Vera Drake as well, if that's of any help.

Celine and Julie is also essential. And if you are curious to explore more Rivette, then I highly recommend Mary Wiles's book. It's less of a critical/literary reading of the themes in his films, and instead an archival research based study of each films' production histories, contextualized by Rivette's personal life and his growth as a director. Might be worth watching his short film Coup du berger first, though.

Defending Your Life is just an extraordinarily funny high concept comedy from the 1990s. Rip Torn's amazing in it.

justeleblanc is this book you're referring too?

https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/c ... 36651.html

if so, you just gave me some new reading!