Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.3

[accatone]

I am sure this is very ignorant, but is there any comparison with Out 1to the somewhat meandering, but wonderful, Satantango by Tarr?

You have obviously never seen a Rivette film, right?

[aox]

I am sure this is very ignorant, but is there any comparison with Out 1to the somewhat meandering, but wonderful, Satantango by Tarr?

You have obviously never seen a Rivette film, right?

Correct. Hence, my preface.

[Doctor Sunshine]

This is one of the best monthly announcements in a long time, IMO.

I'll second this, I can't remember a better month. Three absolute favourites with the Kubricks and Cul-de-sac. I've been jonsing hard for more 60s Nikkatsu--not least of which The Warped Ones--and to get an entire Koreyoshi set not two years after Nikkatsu Noir, and paired with Black Sun. Everything this month is right up my alley. Goddamn, they're flipping pampering me, yo!

[rrenault]

I'd say start with La Belle Noiseuse, which is probably the most accessible of Rivette's top tier film, or at least of the ones I've seen. Paris Belongs and Celine and Julie Go Boating are a bit more challenging than Noiseuse, and I'll need to watch them again, but I'd say all three films are essential. I have not seen Out 1 by the way. I've also seen Va Savoir and The Duchess of Langeais, but I'd so those two actually are minor Rivette.

[The Fonz]

Head count: who here has actually seen it?

I was going to stop blogging, but this is pretty significant. I've seen it, and it's easily in my top 10 favorite films of all time. Problem is, I can't speak German! I was able to read the Italian subs on my copy just fine, so it looks like I'm going to be holding out for Criterion to finally step in.

I'd say start with La Belle Noiseuse, which is probably the most accessible of Rivette's top tier film, or at least of the ones I've seen. Paris Belongs and Celine and Julie Go Boating are a bit more challenging than Noiseuse, and I'll need to watch them again, but I'd say all three films are essential. I have not seen Out 1 by the way. I've also seen Va Savoir and The Duchess of Langeais, but I'd so those two actually are minor Rivette.

I love the inside joke from the IFC thread! I don't know, though. Celine and Julie makes a great double feature with House, certainly. Also, Jon Mulvaney said to me that he believes that Celine and Julie would be the most practical Rivette feature to open with.

Head count: who here has actually seen it?

I have. And I don't want to be heretic (I'm terribly excited about this release, as you know) but I'd seriously advise to watch a few other Rivettes before "Out 1", should you be new to the director. The film is amazing, but also very demanding, and that has nothing to do with its length, but more with the way Rivette constructs - or does not construct - his narrative. Almost a little too free-floating for my taste. There are lots of similarities to later films, particularly "Celine et Julie" and "Le pont du Nord", which however are far more accessible. In this respect, I'm really curious about the "Spectre"-version to see where it's a bit more ...ehm...organised.

I watched Out 1 before seeing any of his other work. Then again, I had already seen Berlin Alexanderplatz. Watching Out 1 for the first time was a radical experience that reinforced my love for epic minimalist films, which I hope to create some day. Now, Rivette is definately one of my favorites directors and has the most interesting film theory perhaps second only to Jerzy Skolimowski. (Can't wait to hear Jerzy speak at Harvard next month!)

Then again, perhaps being an insomniac makes me better equipped to watch these monoliths of films! (Just kidding.)

[nosy lena]

i wouldn't be surprised if out 1 came out in several countries during the fall. just because this german label was the first to announce it doesn't even mean that they are the ones who did the transfer. for all we know, criterion did and it's due in september. i think celine et julie is the best place to start. it brings you into his playful fantasies in a wonderful way. i know a lot of people like to bash criterion for their lack of rivette's (and i don't want to be like that) but it is quite a shame. only haven seen out 1 once, and most of his other films several times, it's hard to compare but i consider it a wonderful staggering epic that i miss and cannot wait to see again.

out 1 and eustache set all in november. what a dream.

[swo17]

I just received an email from Jeffrey Wells saying that La belle noiseuse will be Criterion's first Rivette film.

[zedz]

How many stills of Emmanuelle Beart did you have to slip him for that information?

[nosy lena]

of course - one of his most widely available film...

[swo17]

I wouldn't read too much into my post if I were you. Jeffrey Wells is a notorious idiot.

[rrenault]

I thought Paris Belongs to Us was going to be the first one they release, if and when it happens.

[rrenault]

of course - one of his most widely available film...

Pretty much all of Rivette's films are at least available on Region 2 DVD with the exception of Out 1. Yes, La Belle Noiseuse had a region one release, but it's out of print, and it's only a matter of time before Netflix runs out of viable discs.

[The Fonz]

I wouldn't read too much into my post if I were you. Jeffrey Wells is a notorious idiot.

Even still, it's an amazing movie. I still think the first one will be Celine and Julie, and that's (kind of) coming from Mulvaney himself. (Criterion must be feeling a lot of pressure now... if they have scouts in these boards.)

[Tommaso]

of course - one of his most widely available film...

Pretty much all of Rivette's films are at least available on Region 2 DVD with the exception of Out 1.

That's true, but the quality could be better for the subbed versions. I originally bought the 8 disc-set from arte edition France without any subs (because I wanted to see these films on dvd so dearly) and the picture quality was stunning; meanwhile I also got a German set with "Marie et Julien", "Noiseuse" and "Bande a quatre", with subs in yellow and the picture quality certainly inferior to that French set. The same goes for the UK discs from AE and Bluebell, with AE's "Jeanne la Pucelle" amounting to a crime against art, at least for Pt.2. In other words, there's a lot of room for improvement; only those who don't need subs can put their mind to rest. Almost all the French discs seem to be top notch. But the rest of the world needs CC. And I hope it's NOT "Celine and Julie", because that's one of the few that already has a fine edition courtesy of the BFI.

[Peacock]

I personally disagree that the BFI disk of Celine is fine... I know the film was shot on 16mm but it looks like a VHS master.... Seeing this in HD would be mindblowing (and Tommaso, you have maybe the largest screen on criterionforum, I hope you'll consider upgrading soon as you'll see the difference more than most!)

[nosy lena]

of course - one of his most widely available film...

Pretty much all of Rivette's films are at least available on Region 2 DVD with the exception of Out 1. Yes, La Belle Noiseuse had a region one release, but it's out of print, and it's only a matter of time before Netflix runs out of viable discs.

well... sure say duelle and noroit at available in r2, but not with english subtitles - and imho both are better than la belle noiseuse - which was even available in r1. out 1, out 1 spectre and l'amour fou are definitely the most sought after films for me personally - and i am sure quite a few others.

[Michael Kerpan]

The BFI disk of Celine and Julie does not look as good as the (unsubbed) French DVD (had New Yorker ever released its planned DVD, it would have used the same source materials that the French DVD used).

[HistoryProf]

You've been on this forum longer than myself and have never heard of Out 1! Time to turn in your card I think.

that was a completely lame attempt at humor. \:D/

[justeleblanc]

While it's not perfect, I recommend Morrey and Smith's monograph on Rivette from two years ago. It's in English--maybe the only one in English--and it avoids a chronological walk through Rivette's career by instead focusing on several stylistic and narrational patterns in his films. It primarily discusses Paris Belongs to Us, Celine and Julie, Pont du Nord, and Out 1. Mary Willes, who dissertated on Rivette about a decade ago, will be publishing her book sometime soon (so I've been told), but in the meantime the Morrey and Smith is pretty insightful.

[rrenault]

The BFI of Celine and Julie does the job if you want to see the film. I blind bought it myself for that reason and don't regret it.

[Michael Kerpan]

in the meantime the Morrey and Smith is pretty insightful.

And, besides, I'm listed in the acknowledgments ... ;~}

[Gregory]

It it weren't priced out of the reach of the individual reader, I'd have bought and read it by now.

The BFI Céline and Julie is well worth the small sum of 8 pounds. Who knows when it will get another release. Originally, I believe word from Criterion was that Paris nous appartient would be first, but that was more than five years ago.

[Tommaso]

I personally disagree that the BFI disk of Celine is fine... I know the film was shot on 16mm but it looks like a VHS master.... Seeing this in HD would be mindblowing (and Tommaso, you have maybe the largest screen on criterionforum, I hope you'll consider upgrading soon as you'll see the difference more than most!)

You greatly overestimate my home cinema, definitely. I have "Celine" also on the German set from arthaus, which is fine generally and has a better transfer of "Va savoir" than the AE disc, for instance; and the image quality is exactly the same as the BFI. So I thought that this is all that is possible for "Celine", but I'm happy to be wrong in this case.

[zeroism]

I actually find the slightly degraded, dirty, and washed-out print look on the BFI disc strangely fitting to the film's haunting/ghostly quality - it heightens the sense that the viewer has uncovered some relic of a past in which the supernatural had manifested in the presence of two women while the rest of the world trod along as usual, unaware.

Besides, as has been mentioned, it's quite inexpensive and well worth your money regardless.

[justeleblanc]

Changing the subject, does anyone think THE GREAT McGINTY is the possible upcoming Sturges release? The No Speculation list says more Sturges is coming, and Universal is releasing as single discs in a few weeks only HAIL and CHRISTMAS.

And just speculating, it's possible they licensed from Universal MCGINTY the same time they licensed DESIGN FOR LiVING, TAKING OFF, and maybe MINNIE AND MOSKOWITZ...