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thurstonitus wrote:How about the "where does this stand in relation to rest of his 60's output for someone who hasn't seen either" conversation? Or maybe a straight-up rent or buy recommendation? Or an honest "these films are kinda weak so beware" convo?

Go back to page 1 of this thread; some folks have already weighed in on that; the rest of us are waiting for the dvds to come out.

thurstonitus wrote:How about the "where does this stand in relation to rest of his 60's output for someone who hasn't seen either" conversation? Or maybe a straight-up rent or buy recommendation? Or an honest "these films are kinda weak so beware" convo?

It seems that many dislike Made in the U.S.A., maybe I'm alone but I thought it was a pretty good film . Its playful like Pierrot le fou, a decent attempt at a genre film like Alphaville and is one of his best looking 60s films (along with Contempt, but if you really want to see his most beautiful films just skip to his 80s-present stuff), I guess I don't see whats to hate about it. Personally, I like it more than some of the Godard's already released by Criterion (like Tout, Alphavile, Pierrot and Breathless).

As for 2 or 3 Things, I don't remember it well and I'm really looking forward to rewatching it, in my mind I place it as a companion piece to his other 60s political films like Weekend, Masculine Feminine or The Joy of Learning.

I already preordered both of this, but if you are a Godard fan then they are definitely worth renting so you can make your own judgment.

How do people typically define 'importance' with respect to Godard's films? For instance, Breathless is an important film historically speaking, but I don't see it as important when it comes to Godard's formal experimentation, or the series of thematically/aesthetically challenging films that would ultimately define the rest of his career.

I would say 2 or 3 Things is necessary piece to watch when looking at his growing interest in the language of leftist politics, and it's also one of his more challenging films of the 60s. It would make sense to watch after you see Weekend, La Chinoise, and Masculin Feminin.

Made in U.S.A. is a film more firmly situated within his interests in genre, as opposed to politics. Though his interest in the Brechtian relationship between form and politics is pretty salient as the film becomes almost absurdly indecipherable at times (others might disagree with me). Maybe the other film in his oeuvre closest to this play with genre would be Detective, so maybe watch that one first.

ouatitw wrote:It seems that many dislike Made in the U.S.A., maybe I'm alone but I thought it was a pretty good film .

I'll second your opinion. Just for the eye-popping color and Anna Karina it's worth it. Plus having Karina playing a Bogart-like character in a twisted genre picture is kind of fun.

Spoiler

Love the ending, too. It's like Karina hitches a ride out of Godardville.

2 or 3 Things strikes me as a bit more academic, like Weekend with more semiotics and much less comedy and viciousness.

Extra features updated. It looks like we are getting the Adrian Martin commentary on 2 or 3 Things.

Max von Mayerling wrote:It looks like we are getting the Adrian Martin commentary on 2 or 3 Things.

That is fantastic news.

The first Godard commentary since Contempt, and the second one ever, I believe.

Wow, so they licensed the Madman commentary? I bet this means we end up getting his excellent Vivre se vie commentary too

And we get "the letter that sparked the idea for the film." Whatever that is.

domino harvey wrote:Wow, so they licensed the Madman commentary? I bet this means we end up getting his excellent Vivre se vie commentary too

Hopefully Criterion won't cut off the commentary mid-sentence at the end like the Madman disc!

So, this is a good commentary? I've heard so many wonderful things about Adrian Martin's writing, but I don't think I've actually read hardly any of it.

I'm quite excited because I've heard so many good things about Martin and it'll be good to have the extra scholarship on this film. I checked the website and they haven't changed the price either so win-win.

All of his commentaries that I've heard are quite good. His remarks are heavily researched and well-informed. Martin also never comes across as a big fan of any of the films he discusses, a level approach that I think works very well.

His Mascuin Feminin commentary is worth importing too

Nice touch, Criterion, porting an apparently great commentary track after the specs have been announced AND keeping the title at the lower price point. These two Godards are now quite loaded.

Tom Hagen wrote:Nice touch, Criterion, porting an apparently great commentary track after the specs have been announced AND keeping the title at the lower price point. These two Godards are now quite loaded.

Pinch me. (Why can't they do the same with Seventh Seal? Ooops. Wrong thread.)

Good news..Adrian Martin's commentaries are excellent listening...among the best I have heard..

off subject slightly I also wish someone would get him to do one for "Once Upon a Time in America" as he wrote a very interesting BFI classic about it..

They've added yet another extra:

PLUS: An essay by film critic Amy Taubin and the letter that sparked the idea for the film

I don't have my Madman disc on hand to directly compare, but my memory is of a washed out print far inferior to the Criterion captures. I'm surprised to see it look so crisp!

Beev on Made In USA.

Those captures look High Noon-good. Simply amazing =D>

I really love the 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her menus. Looks like Criterion did a great job with these.

Made in U.S.A. DVD review
2 or 3 Things I Know About Her DVD Review

In short: They're both awesome.

The 21st can't come soon enough.

I've slowly been warming up to later Godard, and these seem like a great bridge between his early and later (as you yourself stated). Very excited about them.

I am glad to see this release is getting such a positive reception in reviews published so far, at least on this site and on Beaver for example. It seems to have been a revelation to many.

I remember it as one of the most affecting of Godard's films, mostly intellectually but also emotionally, probably thanks to Vlady's portrayal of the central character. Some may find her too passive, but she struck just the right note as I recall. It was a small shock to see the noble Princesse de Clèves turned into a part-time prostitute!

The supplements will probably go a long way into helping new viewers appreciate the film, considering how strongly it was linked to the social and political circumstances of the time in France. Not to mention Godard's habit of dropping numerous cultural references, which seemed self-evident then but may have grown dim with the passing of time (I saw it last 30 years ago). Memory indicates that he was a bit more restrained with this practice than in other films, but I might be proven wrong when I finally watch the DVD.

And I see that Beaver has chosen it as July's DVD of the Month. A revelation indeed!