The Personal Criterion Collection

The Fountain

The Fountain deserves to be on Criterion because it is a movie that demands repeat viewings. It is the kind of movie that could have 4 or 5 commentary tracks. One from Darren Aronofsky, One from the editor, cinematographer and production designer, one from the producers and Aronofsky, one from the actors and Aronfosky, and an isolated music score.

If someone has the footage, this could make for the kind of documentary that was on 12 Monkeys, Lost in La Mancha. What an epic tale of production

The special effects in the film were so well done, so organic, that it makes the film timeless. I plan to watch this as I age, and look forward to the meaning of the film evolving with time.

Two questions: Are we allowed to nominate more than one film, and can we draw from the existing Criterion catalog?

Never mind. I really like this idea. I like it when we discuss our reasons for picking things other than just making lists. I'm sure to post a few later today.

Videodrome. Besides being the best of the early Cronenberg (and maybe all Cronenberg), I love the artwork (the iconic picture of James Woods' head being swallowed by Debbie Harry's massive TV lips) and think its great that Criterion would restore a great, mind-bending genre flick.

And not only do you get the "uncut" version of the film (with commentaries by Cronenberg, James Woods and Debbie Harry), but also a short film of Cronenberg's from 2000 called Camera, an audio interview with Rick Baker, seven minutes of just the torture footage from the Videodrome channel (kind of an icky feature), and a cool 30 minute roundtable discussion about horror with Cronenberg, John Carpenter and John Landis (moderated by Mick Garris) called Fear on Film.

I feel like this disc is a must-have for anyone who loves genre films (or film in general) and definitely for anyone who reads this site.

I want someone to put Suspiria on Blu-ray, and can't picture the fucking Weinsteins doing a better job than Criterion. It's an ideal older picture for hi-def. The old Anchor Bay two disc featured a decent making of featurette, but I'd like to see a feature length documentary, a commentary with Kim Newman, Alan Jones, and/or Maitland McDonagh, and a personalized letter from Argento apologizing for Mother of Tears.

I also want Criterion to put out a Blu-ray update of their Rushmore disc.

The Road Warrior. It's yet to get any kind of decent DVD treatment, and considering the rich tradition it draws from and the influence it's had since it came out, there's plenty there for some good extras.

Winchester 73 and Seven Men From Now-Geeks love Leone and Peckinpah, and cinephiles love Ford and Hawks. Anthony Mann and Budd Boeticher? They're the bridge lost in the shuffle. Though slowly changing, they remain, for the most part, unknown and criminally unseen.

Raw. Real. Brutal. Mean. Existential. Part Revenge/Part Morality tale. A little of everything for movie and genre fans. Though rather straight forward in approach, Filmmakers occasionally blow your socks up with flair and stylish touches. Great performances from Jimmy Stewart and Randolph Scott (Stewart is especially a revelation for those only knowing the "aw shucks" persona).

Mann's Winchester 73 and Boeticher's Seven Men From Now: big guns that deserve Criterion status.

Shampoo-Hal Ashby's ultimate masterpiece. A 70's crown jewel. Sharply satirical; almost cutting in its observations. Slap-stick. Screwball. Hilariously Self-deprecating. Everything you could want in a comedy (and more!) Yes, even Sex.

I think the question is more along the lines of "what DVDs do you think any film enthusiast should own that are outside the non-traditional titles (Godfather, Gone With The Wind, Searchers, etc.)?" rather than "what DVDs would you like to see Criterion release?"

My entry still stands.

1. STALKER

I think Tarkovsky's Stalker is an essential film –yes, undeniably "art house" fare– but it has big ideas worthy of a larger audience. Few films can say they've even attempted to tackle religion, science, the nature of fiction, all in one movie. And it looks beautiful. Whether or not the film is successful in its exploration is up to the audience viewing it, but I think it's a necessary film for anyone looking to push their limits.

That said, there hasn't been a DVD release that does it justice –the versions from KINO or Artificial Eye just don't cut it. However, given Criterion's immaculate restoration of Tarkovsky's Ivan's Childhood, I have faith that they'd put together a great release of Stalker.

I really wish Criterion would release The Last Days of Disco, as they released Stillman's Metropolitan a few years back. I know there are some issues with rights to the film as it was released by USA, but this didn't stop them from releasing Traffic (also released by USA).

The Last Days of Disco is easily my favorite film from Stillman, and I think it's a fairly mainstream movie. I'll admit there's a lot of exposition in it, but I think general audiences would find it easier to watch then Metropolitan or Barcelona.

I remember 54 was released shortly after Disco, and the buzz 54 was got for having Mike Meyers play in a serious role and for it capturing the period of the late 70's. After seeing both of them, Disco clearly benefited from using actors that were fairly unknown, and it has an vibe to it that feels a lot less manufactured than 54. It feels like it actually could have been shot back in the late 70's.

Since used copies of the rare Disco DVD from years ago are insanely overpriced on the net, I would be very grateful if Criterion could get a copy of it out.

On another note, it's one of the occasional films where Chloe Sevigny actually looks really hot. And a young Kate Beckinsale is in it. So it has that going for it as well.

I would kill for a Last Days of Disco re-release, period. I'd love to see a Criterion with a paperback of Stillman's companion book (where he re-tells the events of the film in novel form from Jimmy's perspective). I don't know if I would put that in a list of essential DVDs, but I might put Metropolitan on there. Still, one of my all-time favorites.

This would be more in line with the first years of Criterion dvds where they released a lot of commercial films (Armageddon; The Silence of the Lambs; Robocop;etc) under the label:

A three-disc box set (a la Brazil) version of Apocalypse Now with the original cut, Redux and a third disc of supplemental material (including, of course, Hearts Of Darkness) would make me very happy.

Edit: Is it just me or has Criterion slowed their release schedule in the past few years? It seems like they used to have at least 5 or 6 big releases per yer.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Mann's "The Keep" is a film that I hope to see restored to it's director's original version...maybe its not a "criterion" worthy film, in terms of impact or cultural worth, but Ive always wondered what its proper form would be like.
For a real choice, i'd go with "Metropolis"...if the stories ive heard/read about the original, uncut reels that were found last year here in Chile and in Argentina are true, that film deserves a pristine, loaded re-edition.

FALSTAFF (CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT)

Really needs to be cleaned up. The Brazilian import is fine for what it is, but there's a masterpiece waiting to be remastered there.

One of the best and most audacious Shakespeare adaptations, taking parts of 5 plays, and whittling them down to a cohesive whole. One of the greatest of Welles's performances, and probably the most touching, as you can see a lot of Orson in the character. And see his hopes and dreams dashed. And the Battle of Shrowsbury is a masterpiece of editing. Mel Gibson tried to emulate it in Braveheart, but Welles's version still outshines it.

I am Cuba seems it would be right down Criterion's alley, especially for its cultural significance in the context of the time period. I would also like to see it without the simultaneous Spanish-with-Russian-dubbing audio.

I would love to see any DVD release of Lelouche's Les Miserables. Truly a special film, I've only seen it once on a bad VHS copy and I think audiences would be very surprised over how much just 14 years has buried it.

most likely because of the disguises

Well, since I nominated an existing Criterion disc (which kind of missed the point of the list), here's two more noms.

Paris, Texas. I own a copy of the OOP release of this film and revisit it twice a year. Usually, it is to turn someone else on to this wonderful movie. Aside from it being my favorite Wim Wenders film, it combines his great eye with a phenomenal script by Sam Shepard and LM Kit Carson. Wenders brings a European style to filming the American Mid-west that makes it look almost alien. And Ry Cooder's trademark slide guitar provides most of the haunting score.

But the real reason to see this film is Harry Dean Stanton. Holy shit. No one else could have played the role of Travis. He carries the tragedies of the past on his hunched shoulders and his eyes (like always) droop like he hasn't slept a day during the four years he was missing in the desert. But there's a charming, child-like quality he brings to the character and the scenes where he bonds with his young, estranged son are simultaneously charming and sad.

This film is mind-blowingly good and tragically overlooked. Its almost impossible to find on DVD but should be on the shelves of anyone who truly loves film.

The Vengeance Trilogy (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, Lady Vengeance). I feel like Oldboy is a given, but not everyone has given the rest of the trilogy a fair shake (or at least no one talks about them). Yes, Oldboy is the masterpiece of the three, but the other two are great as well. And owning all three would be a good way for any film fan to study the evolution of one of the world's most audacious and exciting living filmmakers. I own them individually, but I'd love to have all three in some kind of box set loaded with features (most notably an interview with Park Chan Wook where he talks about the underlying themes that tie all three of the films together).

Let me try again then.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: This movie cries out for an indepth commentary, documentaries about the making of and what happened with the editing, all the cuts etc. None of this is going to happen with Warner Bros. I fear. Even their top tier DVD titles aren't exactly loaded with good stuff.

Seems like there are at least three valid definitions going on here. For DVDs that actually exist I nominate Warners' special edition of The Adventures of Robin Hood. The transfer is stunning and the extras include some fascinating, relevant rarities.

High on my 'want' list would be a high-definition reissue of The Abyss, with all the original release's exhaustive supplements.

And for movies everybody should own, regardless of the presentation or the package, I say The Man Who Would Be King and Singin' In the Rain.

The Day of the Jackal is an under-rated, seemingly forgotten film that is a spectacular thriller. The methodical process the Jackal goes through to attempt to assassinate Charles De Gaulle could make for an interesting documentary to contrast with how he prepares for it in the book. It's also a movie that doesn't have a very good DVD release.

'Vanishing Point' (1971)

This was the ultimate car movie back in the 1970s. If you went to a drive-in to see a multi-picture event, the final movie on the bill was always 'Vanishing Point'.

The plot is fairly simple: Kowalski, an ex-cop with a troubled past, is employed as a car delivery man. His current task is to deliver a 1970 Dodge Challenger from Denver to San Francisco. Before he sets out, he scores some speed and makes a casual bet with the pusher that he can get the car to Frisco within a VERY short time period. He takes off, and the movie takes off with him.

The regional consciousness latches onto Kowalski as he continuously beats the cops. Cleavon Little plays Super Soul, a DJ who becomes Kowalki's biggest champion in his goal of making it to Frisco, dubbing him the 'last American hero'.

Beyond the car chases, the movie provides an interesting commentary on the early 70s counter culture, religious movements, and race relations. It also features a fantastic soundtrack of classic 70s songs.

It deserves a better DVD transfer, and I'd like to see what Criterion could do for this movie.


ALSO:
'The Stunt Man' (1980) would be a worthy addition to the Criterion line, but Achor Bay already did a great package of this film a few years ago that had fantastic supplemental materials. I still want a better transfer of the film itself, and Criterion always seems to do a stellar job in this regard.

Such a fucking good pick.

People really do this?

I only ask because I was once accused of such a thing.

Sick. Glad I could help out.

I've been thinking about this thread more and more. It's really a great question. Hopefully more people start to contribute to this.

HEAD (1968)

A bizarre, ingenious musical comedy poking fun at the prefabricated image of The Monkees, a rock band conceived by producer/director Bob Rafelson for a television show that ran from 1966-68. Where the show was goofy, juvenile and aimed at teenyboppers, the film is satirical, disturbing (despite its G rating), and right up the alley of weird cinema enthusiasts. Three of the four leading longhairs were limited as musicians but talented as actors, and Jack Nicholson's "story" has all of them tripping through a funhouse of hallucinatory visuals: Micky Dolenz's tank battle with a Coke machine, Mike Nesmith's psychedelic journey to a surprise birthday party, concert footage that intersperses Vietnam casualties with screaming fans, and the band's final plunge/career suicide. Though a cult favorite 40 years on, the film deserves a wider audience for its daring, free-form structure, its inventive experiments with music and image, its witty dialogue, its foot-tapping soundtrack (including Gerry Goffin & Carole King's excellent "Porpoise Song," later borrowed for VANILLA SKY).

The Rhino disc is still in print but sounds like crap, and isn't even in the proper aspect ratio. HEAD premiered in Los Angeles at 110 minutes and was whittled down to 86 for subsequent viewings. Fingers crossed: a special edition with the missing 24 minutes plus commentary by Rafelson, Nicholson, and all four band members. I can dig that.

Head is a great pick. A commentary with Edgar Wright would be a nice extra.
But as a longtime Monkees fan, I have to disagree with the whole severely limited musicians part. They all played well and their first "solo" album Headquarters is classic.

I'll nominate The Third Man.

Not only is The Third Man one of the greatest Film Noir movies ever made this set boasts an outstanding set of extras that are worth the purchase price alone. They have included the extras offered on the 1999 DVD release and added an additional disc of extras.

The Third Man has all the elements of greatness - acting, directing, cinematography, score and so forth. Worth noting is the great use of shadows. I've never seen a movie that uses shadows so perfectly and how that aspect of the film adds another level to the suspence is remarkable. This is an absolute perfect movie and if any of you Criterion collectors do not have this in your collection - GET IT NOW

I'm a longtime fan as well, but I don't believe Davy Jones played anything much beyond the maracas, or that Peter Tork was anything beyond a passable guitarist, or that Micky Dolenz could dazzle us at his drum kit. I agree with you about Headquarters -- though a big reason why the band sounds decent has to do with producer Chip Douglas.

I have edited my post, though, to make it less "severe."

Interesting choice. But I think if I were to pick a musical it would be...

Phantom of the Paradise.

I recently got to see this in 35mm and it is such a great experience with an audience. But, besides that, it is an awesome acid trip of a film to own because of its psychedelic visuals and catchy music numbers (Paul Williams was nominated for an Oscar for it, after all). From the opening, greaser rockabilly number, "Goodbye, Eddie, Goodbye", to the glam rock set piece, "Life at Last" (which is sung by the one and only BEEF), the songs will be stuck in your head for days.

Also, you really get to see a young, experimental DePalma completely unleashed and unhinged. He uses his trademark split screen to depict a bombing during a Beach Boys inspired stage show, and the opening Rod Serling monologue has been the intro to many mix tapes I've made. The pacing is manic, as DePalma apparently wanted to make a speed fueled rock opera. Plus, he coaxes a strange, Phil Spector inspired performance out of Paul Williams (who kind of resembles a blonde, mop-topped dwarf).

Truthfully, the film is one of the few I've ever seen that exists in a strange place somewhere between high camp and high art.

The existing disc from Fox actually isn't terrible, per se. The film has a decent transfer and it has a trailer on it (which is one of the most bizarre pieces of promotional material I've ever seen). But I think there'd be some great stories if a commentary were ever recorded and it would sit nicely on the shelf next to the criminally underseen Criterion of DePalma's Sisters and the eight different copies of Scarface you own.

The Roots of Heaven (1958) dir. John Huston

Forgotten, and unavailable on DVD, I believe. This may not be a perfect film, but I've been dying to see it again, because it was probably the first "older" movie that I loved, and introduced me to Huston and to Errol Flynn. It's sort of like The Man Who Would Be King (which could also be a great Criterion disc), but with an odd-for-the-time hard environmental message. A great transfer combined with some present day green perspective on the commentaries would be amazing. Mostly, I just want to see it again.

I couldn't agree more. I'd love to see the supplemental material that Criterion would dig up for that film.

Rolling Thunder -- an amazing revenge movie that transcends its simple conceit by showing the harsh reality of Vietnam war vets returning home. Commentary by William Devane and Tommy Lee Jones (and Dabney Coleman maybe?); 2nd commentary by Paul Schrader explaining why he hates it so much; 3rd commentary by avowed fanatic Quentin Tarantino. Maybe another by 2nd writer Heywood Gould.

I also think it might be cool to have a doc that speaks about stories of real Vietnam vets that may have inspired this film; interviews with the cast and crew and intersperse real Vietnam vets, especially those who had survived the Hanoi Hilton. Hopefully they could rustle up some old John Flynn interviews too.

I doubt this would ever happen, but I think Southland Tales would be an interesting choice for a Criterion release. It is such a horrible, shitty, pretentious movie, but it is so fascinating to watch in some ways.

I'm not in any way endorsing Southland Tales as a good movie, but I think it would be a great to release it in a manner that makes it an educational release, such as Criterion's release of The Complete Mr. Arkadin. Now...the completed version of Arkadin is a much better film than Southland Tales, but there are definitely some issues in it that can't be fixed. Both films are similar in that each director had talent and interesting ideas at the time the films were being shot, but they both ended up being failures.

Like Welles' film, they could release multiple versions of Southland Tales. One disc one, they could have the version finally released in limited screenings and on DVD. On disc two, they could have the version ripped to shreds at Cannes, and I would love to see a one to two-hour documentary on everything that went on with the making of the movie.

It would be great to hear an honest recollection from Richard Kelly and the producers on everything they had to go through with the multiple edits. However, I kind of get the feeling that Kelly would not be thrilled to go on public record about the steaming pile of shit that is known as Southland Tales.

So in retrospect, I don't think Criterion would intentionally decide to release a shitty movie that did not do big business on the initial DVD release, or is not respected by pretty much anybody in any shape, way or form. But it could be used as a release to teach aspiring filmmakers of not what to do once they obtain a questionable amount of confidence in Hollywood.

No offense man, because you have a sort-of interesting idea in releasing an "examination of a disaster" type DVD set. But, honestly, why the fuck would you want to own a film you yourself admit is "horrible", "shitty" and "pretentious"? I understand seeing it and talking about it. but owning it? And not only owning one cut, but multiple ones?

If someone made a documentary chronicling the film as a disaster, I can see owning that film because you could actually enjoy it. But Southland Tales itself...nah, I'll pass.

The Deerhunter-Ciminio's flawed masterpiece. Essential 70's; a personal film more touching and powerful than even Coppola's great epics.

Not so much about war, but the soul of America, and life itself. DeNiro is at his best; and an impossibly youthful and innocent Walken absolutely heartbreaking in his oscar winning performance.

Final roulette scene devastating.

The dinner table "God Bless America" coda a defiant generational cry; a refusal to surrender or give up on a country that let them down.

Shock Corridor 2 Disc Special Edition

Rolling Thunder -- an amazing revenge movie that transcends its simple conceit by showing the harsh reality of Vietnam war vets returning home.

I totally agree with this pick.

Personally, I would like to see a 2 disc rereleaase of their Shock Corridor DVD. I have been on a real Fuller kick lately, watching White Dog, Steel Helmet and PickUp on South Street this weekend. The clips from Shock Corridor in Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese through American Movies really whet my appetite, but the disc Crierion relaesed back when has a trailer and nothing more (though I am sure it has a swell essay in the liner notes as is their wont). The archival footage of Fuller in front of the moviola on South Street indicates to me that there may be a wealth of interview footage with this old school lion out there (probably in France). Now, don't get me wrong. The special features are not why I buy discs. The film's the thing as can be seen in the Ecilpse releases. But Fuller lends himself to such fantastic storytelling in interviews.And that voice! Makes me want to put down the cigs and take up cigars.

As for the film itself: it deals with mistreatment of the mentally ill, institutionalized racism in the U.S. and the general theme of maddness in our society as seen through the eyes of a hyperbolic visionary. It is more than ready for a re-evaluation by this company. Look what they did for Salo, Amarcord and many of their other earlier releases (Lady Vanishes I am looking squarely at your non-anamorphic ass). Shock Corridor deserves the same.

Oh, and this Personal Criterion Collection is a great idea.

Did anyone get Criterion's newsletter today? Is the scarab graphic indicating Cronos will be getting a release by Criterion this fall?

Edit: Nevermind, I took another minute and posted this in the right thread. Sorry for the mix up.