Criterion Film Club: Suggestions and General Discussion

[Mr Sausage]

Don't vote for a film just because you own it, please. Vote for a film you want to talk about or see other people talk about. This is meant to be a discussion club. Voting for light-weight films with little potential for real conversation just because they're physically convenient does no one any favours.

If you can't think of anything you want to say or hear about the film, consider not voting for it.

[zedz]

It's the only film this round that I have no interest in seeking out or revisiting, so I'm sure my streak of backing winners is coming to an end. I've only seen When a Woman and voted for Double Suicide

We're three for three then. Did I click into the Bizarro Criterion Forum or something?

It was a bit sadistic pitting this film against The Pornographers, but I couldn't select any other. It's the first Criterion I ever bought, because it's a film I'd been dying to see for more than a decade and Criterion was the only option. It's a fascinating film and drastically under-discussed here, so it would be great if it got its fortnight in the sun.

[Ibnezra]

I'm anxious to participate, but reluctant to vote. I don't remember seeing any of these. At a certain point Criterion brought on so many Japanese Directors that I lost track of just who had what sensability. Maybe somebody could give me a push. "House", "Matango", and "Youth of The Beast" had a lot of good pulpy entertainment, but not much depth.

My most recent viewings have been "Death By Hanging" and "3 Outlaw Samurai", both very involving, "3 Outlaw" is the one I'm most anxious to purchase. All time favorites are probably "Hara Kiri", "Stray Dog", & "Tokyo Story". I haven't really clicked with Mizoguchi yet, so a similar Director may also leave me cold.

I've got a vote for sale, tender young vote for sale. The only choice I've ruled out is probably "X" I think I may have fell asleep during "A Woman Ascends The Stairs" or "Fires on The Plain", maybe I was tired or maybe I was bored. Happy to hear suggestions, and sorry to take up space on the boards with a post which is basically drivel...

[HerrSchreck]

I don't usually use lol but . . .

.

.

.

lol.

[domino harvey]

I [...] voted for Double Suicide

We're three for three then. Did I click into the Bizarro Criterion Forum or something?

I think the real test will be if we're ever called upon to curate. What are the odds that even a single film would overlap? The world may never know

[matrixschmatrix]

I've switched my vote to Fires on the Plain, though I still think discussion about genre movies without conscious depth is sometimes the most interesting- in something like Le Deuxieme Souffle, there's so much intentionally put in that one rarely gets to the stuff that slipped in by accident, stuff that might say more about the time or the country or the genre than about what the filmmaker wanted the film to be. It'd be interesting to turn the lens of our collective viewership on something like The X from Outer Space because I'm not sure it was ever intended to be subject to close scrutiny in the first place, much less decades later from people from another country.

That said, I'm hoping that the Ichikawa pulls ahead, though pretty well everything seems interesting- Fires sounds like something that will be intensely rewarding yet which I would never push myself to watch without some particular reason.

[knives]

I thought it was pretty bad myself with a Chance the Gardner type hero that doesn't really fit well with the story or message. I personally voted for Doubel Suicide which is just jammed pack full of stuff to talk about, though if the Naruse wins I'll be happy if just to have an excuse to finally play my disc.

[matrixschmatrix]

I haven't actually seen any of these, so my votes are based entirely on what sounds like it would be interesting to watch.

[knives]

It won't win (and probably shouldn't) but in that case get to The Pornographers man. Imamura is one of the best film makers ever and that's such a rewarding film over time.

[matrixschmatrix]

Just as an aside, if anyone's voting based on what they already own, all five of these appear to be on Criterion's Hulu channel.

[movielocke]

Don't vote for a film just because you own it, please. Vote for a film you want to talk about or see other people talk about. This is meant to be a discussion club. Voting for light-weight films with little potential for real conversation just because they're physically convenient does no one any favours.

If you can't think of anything you want to say or hear about the film, consider not voting for it.

eh, I feel like kevyip status is as valid as any other reason. If I had double suicide on my kevyip pile, I'd vote for it, but I don't so I won't. Additionally, other than House, I haven't really watched much JHorror or films in the vein of X from Outer Space, so I thought it would be fun to finally break into the eclipse set.

Regardless, I'll be buying all the Film Club titles I don't currently have in the next BN sale, so I'll get to participate (if after the fact) eventually.

[Mr Sausage]

I think voting for a film because you really want to see it is a good reason (it's why I voted for Double Suicide this round). Voting for a film merely because you own it (without a more pressing desire to watch and/or talk about it than the others) is slightly less of a good reason. Generally it wouldn't matter, except when an embarrassment of riches might be overlooked in favour of a movie that, however fun, is too inconsequential to provoke much discussion. But, as ever, vote for what you want.

[domino harvey]

Worth noting that while it's not quite half off, Double Suicide and When a Woman Ascends the Stairs are both available new on Amazon right now for ~40% off, if picking up a copy is an issue

[knives]

And for the Brits (or people with fast shipping abilities) the Naruse is available cheaply in BFI's set.

[zedz]

My most recent viewings have been "Death By Hanging" and "3 Outlaw Samurai", both very involving, "3 Outlaw" is the one I'm most anxious to purchase. All time favorites are probably "Hara Kiri", "Stray Dog", & "Tokyo Story". I haven't really clicked with Mizoguchi yet, so a similar Director may also leave me cold.

If you liked Death by Hanging, Double Suicide would be the closest to that, in my opinion, with The Pornographers just around the corner. Imamura's oddities are more at the level of content that at the formal / structural level they are in the Shinoda.

[Ibnezra]

Thanks Zeds, I voted for "Fires on The Plain", (I'm thinking "When A Woman Ascends..." might be the selection I fell asleep watching).

"Fires On The Plain" sounds as if it might be something akin to "The Human Condition" (albeit more succinct), which I really enjoyed. It doesn't look like "Fires" will win, but I may have to watch it anyway, my awareness of it heightened by this discussion, something of a peripheral benefit.

[Mr Sausage]

Thanks Zeds, I voted for "Fires on The Plain", (I'm thinking "When A Woman Ascends..." might be the selection I fell asleep watching).

"Fires On The Plain" sounds as if it might be something akin to "The Human Condition" (albeit more succinct), which I really enjoyed. It doesn't look like "Fires" will win, but I may have to watch it anyway, my awareness of it heightened by this discussion, something of a peripheral benefit.

The poll closed at 6:30 this morning. When a Woman Ascends the Stairs is the winner.

[swo17]

Though it's an honor just to be nominated.

[Ibnezra]

Thanks Zeds, I voted for "Fires on The Plain", (I'm thinking "When A Woman Ascends..." might be the selection I fell asleep watching).

"Fires On The Plain" sounds as if it might be something akin to "The Human Condition" (albeit more succinct), which I really enjoyed. It doesn't look like "Fires" will win, but I may have to watch it anyway, my awareness of it heightened by this discussion, something of a peripheral benefit.

The poll closed at 6:30 this morning. When a Woman Ascends the Stairs is the winner.

I'll go out and buy some no-doze and a venti espresso!

Just kidding, I think the fact that I passed out watching the movie was induced by fatigue and had nothing to do with any lack inherent to the film.

[Michael Kerpan]

There is no rule that forbids watching (or re-watching) the runners-ups and discussing them in their very own threads. In fact, this sort of behavior is (I believe, speaking unofficially) highly encouraged. ;-}

[zedz]

Long live the Criterion Forum Film Club Dissidents! We're going to discuss Fire on the Plain and Double Suicide whether The Man likes it or not!

[Michael Kerpan]

Such daring. Fancy that -- discussing films on a film discussion web site. ;-}

[knives]

Long live the Criterion Forum Film Club Dissidents! We're going to discuss Fire on the Plain and Double Suicide whether The Man likes it or not!

It's like Shinoda's god man and, like, all the people are atoms of his brain man.

[Mr Sausage]

In order to help swo17 and I make a more informed decision about the pool of films eligible for our biweekly votes, I've drawn up...another vote.

Basically, here are a bunch of ambiguous options (all thanks to swo17 for drawing them up). Pick the ones that you think should be included in the pool of discussable films. You can choose more than one option--up to 5 (you should not be choosing more than 5).

PROTOCOL:

A. Vote for the options you want to include.
B. Don't vote for the options you don't want included.
C. If your vote is NONE OF THE BELOW, DON'T vote for the other options.
D. If your vote is ALL THE TITLES FOR WHICH THE CRITERION RELEASE IS OOP, DON'T vote for the two options below it.

Any option NOT included in the poll is open for possible discussion.

[Mr Sausage]

Poll is now open.