Criterion Film Club: Suggestions and General Discussion

[Moe Dickstein]

There is LOTS one can say about Sisters, I hope it makes the cut.

[zedz]

I don't like Carnival of Souls or Diabolique at all, Sisters is okay, and I own but haven't seen Island of Lost Souls and Kuroneko, so I'm voting for Kuroneko but will change my vote to Island of Lost Souls if the tide turns, as either is good for me

We're back on track with our synchronized voting, then, mainly because I think this is the most discussable film on that list.

[Mr Sausage]

Looks like Kuroneko is our Halloween film this year.

[Mr Sausage]

To tie this in to our ongoing 70's List Project, here are some 70's films from the collection to talk about.

The vote will end this time on Monday the 28th. As always, you can change your vote, so be strategic.

[domino harvey]

I've already seen Cria cuervos, the Harder They Come, and Wise Blood and don't think I'd have much to say about any of them. No interest in Gimme Shelter, so my vote goes for Canada's favorite Canadian film Mon oncle Antoine

[Mr Sausage]

Haven't seen any of them, but Cria cuervos sounds the most interesting, so it gets my vote.

[matrixschmatrix]

I love the novel Wise Blood and I've been waiting for an impetus to see it, so my vote goes there. Though I don't know that there are any of these that I wouldn't be interested to discuss.

[domino harvey]

Haven't seen any of them, but Cria cuervos sounds the most interesting, so it gets my vote.

It's the best of the three I've seen if that counts for anything

[swo17]

I'll be watching all of these shortly either way. Cría cuervos... is the only one I haven't seen before but it sounds intriguing so it gets my vote.

[domino harvey]

You can skip Wise Blood-- blech!

[Lemmy Caution]

Been meaning to re-watch Cria Cuervos
That Porque Te Vas song is frequently in my MP3 rotation.

[Matt]

No interest in Gimme Shelter

What. Even if you have no interest in the Stones, it's still a great documentary.

[knives]

No interest in Gimme Shelter

What. Even if you have no interest in the Stones, it's still a great documentary.

Absolutely. The Stones are a truly awful band, but the Mayles have never been better and neither has the concert film.

[HerrSchreck]

I vote for Across 110th Street.

[movielocke]

the next theme (since it falls during the sale) should be, 'we want to deplete the stock of the dvds of these titles so criterion will upgrade it already!'

[domino harvey]

Disappointed in the lack of discussion for Sweet Smell. Looks like we might be in the midst of diminishing returns on the Criterion Film Club...

[Mr Sausage]

Disappointed in the lack of discussion for Sweet Smell. Looks like we might be in the midst of diminishing returns on the Criterion Film Club...

Same. Maybe it just didn't have the same kind of galvanizing discussion hooks that made the first two films popular discussion topics.

Hopefully everyone will rally and give Kuroneko a solid discussion.

[Drucker]

Could it be that Melville was a very popular to discuss director, also? I didn't see people bring up any of Mackendrick's other films, and I have yet to see any myself. It feels like every Melville film got brought up in our first discussion, and the full Eclipse set in the Gremillion one.

[knives]

Could it be that Melville was a very popular to discuss director, also? I didn't see people bring up any of Mackendrick's other films, and I have yet to see any myself. It feels like every Melville film got brought up in our first discussion, and the full Eclipse set in the Gremillion one.

In that case you should get yourself onto some more McKendrick as he's a great filmmaker in a sort of traditionalist style I only see Frears practicing nowadays. Of course The Lady Killers is the classic, but I most highly recommend Sammy Goes South and High Wind in Jamaica. They're easily the best childrens films ever made.

[zedz]

I must say, I don't feel like I'd have a lot to say about any of those. Cria cuervos and Gimme Shelter are easily the best of that bunch, so I'll go for Gimme Shelter, because it's so absolutely extraordinary.

EDIT: Actually, I won't. Because the poll ended on a holiday over here!

EDIT EDIT: And I bet swo is going to make a complete fool of himself by piping up without checking for any subsequent edits.

[swo17]

Voting already closed this morning. Cría cuervos... will be the next film up for discussion.

EDIT: I am unable to remove my post in acknowledgement of your edit. My post is trapped here! Help!

[Drucker]

This is the first film we'll be discussing that I really had no prior interest in or knowledge of whatsoever, so I'm excited. Just ordered the BFI blu ray too. Hope it arrives in time!

[Mr Sausage]

As a tie in to our current genre project, here are five Criterion documentaries for you to vote for.

Voting closes this time, Monday, November 11th. As always, you can change your vote, although most of you don't bother to vote strategically for some reason.

Have at it!

[jindianajonz]

I picked Antonio Gaudi. I love his work, and I have a biography of him my mom got me after my trip to Spain that I've been looking for an excuse to read, and knowing that I'll revisit this movie may be a good reason for it. Also the fact that it is such an unconventional documentary makes me think we can get more discussion out of this one.

I also love Burden of Dreams, but I wouldn't want to have people inadvertently spoil Fitzcarraldo if they haven't seen it and just go watch Burden because it's the film club pick.

Hearts and Minds is the only other one of these that I've seen, and while it is a good film with a number of fantastic scenes (especially the juxtoposition of "these aren't really people" with the funerals) I have a feeling discussion for this film will just devolve into politics.

Calcutta would probably be my second choice, as I've never seen it and I've been meaning to check out Malle's documentaries, and India is a fascinating place.

I've never heard of the King movie, I don't own it, and the title doesn't enthuse me enough to go find out more about it. Maybe somebody else can provide an argument for this one.

[matrixschmatrix]

Antonio Gaudi seems like it would be difficult to discuss, to me- it's so much about aesthetics, both filmically and in terms of its subject, that trying to write it up seems like one would hit the dancing about architecture issue almost immediately. I haven't gotten to see Hearts and Minds, but it's been burning a hole in my kevyip for a while, and I think this board is for the most part grown up enough to handle a discussion involving the politics of Vietnam without it devolving into petty mudslinging. Besides, anyone that's pro-Vietnam War at this point is a stupid jerk and probably a fascist.