Criterion Film Club: Suggestions and General Discussion

[Mr Sausage]

Well, it was a tie between Chimes at Midnight and One-Eyed Jacks. I removed my vote from the latter, making the former our winner. So we get to see if Falstaff continues to be not just witty in himself, but the cause of wit in others!

[Drucker]

Naturally I watched One Eyes Jacks last night anticipating its victory.

[swo17]

I blame Jill Stein.

[Drucker]

Can we have a recount?

[domino harvey]

The best kind of faithless elector is the one who votes for my pick! #MakeAmericaWellesAgain

[ando]

Goody. I didn't need to chime in either!

[Mr Sausage]

In conjunction with the Westerns List Project Redux, we're doing a Westerns round.

[domino harvey]

Any excuse to rewatch Red River is good enough for me

[Mr Sausage]

Looks like Red River wins the 'who's pistol is the biggest' game.

[Mr Sausage]

Kurosawa is most known for his samurai films, so were taking the opportunity to discuss one of his many (and sometimes overlooked) non-samurai films. They make an interesting compare/contrast with what he was doing in his samurai movies. Thanks to ando for suggesting the theme.

[Reeniop41]

Kurosawa is most known for his samurai films, so were taking the opportunity to discuss one of his many (and sometimes overlooked) non-samurai films. They make an interesting compare/contrast with what he was doing in his samurai movies. Thanks to ando for suggesting the theme.

Do we need to consider adding High and Low? I casted my vote since it was not an option. Thanks.

[domino harvey]

Titles are chosen randomly from a pool of fitting titles. Five slots and more than five films fitting the theme mean there will be elisions

[swo17]

Yeah, there were 17 eligible films, and these were the first five randomly generated titles among them.

[Jack Phillips]

Yeah, there were 17 eligible films, and these were the first five randomly generated titles among them.

Nonetheless, without High and Low on the ballot I'm not voting.

[domino harvey]

That'll show us

[Mr Sausage]

Yeah, there were 17 eligible films, and these were the first five randomly generated titles among them.

Nonetheless, without High and Low on the ballot I'm not voting.

Why?

[ando]

Kurosawa is most known for his samurai films, so were taking the opportunity to discuss one of his many (and sometimes overlooked) non-samurai films. They make an interesting compare/contrast with what he was doing in his samurai movies. Thanks to ando for suggesting the theme.

Do we need to consider adding High and Low? I casted my vote since it was not an option. Thanks.

And, to be honest, it was a recent viewing of High and Low that inspired the proposal. Also, a NYC run of The Bad Sleep Well earlier this week was on my mind. The original idea was to consider (more or less) contemporary Kurosawa. I'd always considered The Lower Depths a period piece, but it's merely K's treatment that makes it so (I'd love to see a 21st century treatment - but, alas, who'd foot the bill? The poor, much less the homeless, haven't been national talking points since Johnson's administration). They're all good choices, in any case.

[Michael Kerpan]

Red Beard and Idiot are my 2 favorite AK films -- so I'll vote for Idiot since Red Beard already has a seemingly insurmountable lead.

[feihong]

Without High and Low and Stray Dog on the list, I wouldn't really want to vote either. Those are the non-samurai Kurosawa I really love. Red Beard is okay, but...not even really a favorite.

[domino harvey]

Well, heaven forbid anyone discuss anything but their personal favorites

[Mr Sausage]

People seem to be under some confusion about what the film club votes are meant to be.

They're not meant to be value judgements or forum-wide rankings ala the lists project. They're just what film, of those randomly selected, that people most want to discuss. Ideally, under-seen, under-discussed, even mediocre films will win and prompt a revaluation, a discussion about why the film has the reputation it does, why it goes unremarked on, and whether it still deserves its reputation.

As for our favourites, well, you can discuss them whenever you want in their open threads.

I'm not voting for Dodes'ka-den, because I know it won't win, but it's the one I hoped would win because I think it's the most interesting to discuss. It's not a bad film and there's much in it that's interesting; but I don't think there are many people who would call it a success. I think it's worth talking about why that is. I voted for Red Beard, tho', because I'm more familiar with it and because I think it'll earn a more varied response than Drunken Angel.

[domino harvey]

Where is the Deadwood Season One option?

[Michael Kerpan]

Another reason I voted for Idiot is that it also has lots of things to discuss -- such as comparisons to the source novel and how to assess something that has been butchered by its studio.

[feihong]

People seem to be under some confusion about what the film club votes are meant to be.

They're not meant to be value judgements or forum-wide rankings ala the lists project. They're just what film, of those randomly selected, that people most want to discuss. Ideally, under-seen, under-discussed, even mediocre films will win and prompt a revaluation, a discussion about why the film has the reputation it does, why it goes unremarked on, and whether it still deserves its reputation.

As for our favourites, well, you can discuss them whenever you want in their open threads.

I'm not voting for Dodes'ka-den, because I know it won't win, but it's the one I hoped would win because I think it's the most interesting to discuss. It's not a bad film and there's much in it that's interesting; but I don't think there are many people who would call it a success. I think it's worth talking about why that is. I voted for Red Beard, tho', because I'm more familiar with it and because I think it'll earn a more varied response than Drunken Angel.

OK, I get the premise now. Thank you for clearing that up.

[Mr Sausage]

Does everyone just really like the colour red or something?