Which Criterion film has the best commentary ?

Which Criterion film do you think offers the most insightful commentary?

I would say the two commentary tracks for L’Avventura.

I consider the commentary for “if….” and “Two-Lane Blacktop” to be very, very good. Interesting and insightful.

Of the commentaries that I have heard my favorite is Hunter S. Thompson talking about Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Although insight on the movie is not really what you will get from it.

Prince’s commentary for Straw Dogs is one of the best: it completely changes how you view the characters and makes an argument for the film as feminist(!)

I think that Donald Richie’s commentary on ‘Rashomon’ is excellent. Donald Richie per se is superb, the next best thing to Kurosawa himself. His book is one of the best film books ever. So I don’t really care for variety, if somebody is good, stick with him. I hope we get more commentaries from him.
Another favorite is Peter Cowie. His track on ‘Seventh Seal’ is magnificent. He is to Bergman what Richie is to Kurosawa.

Richard Linklater’s commentary for It is Impossible to Learn How to Plow by Reading Books is a commentary track that all aspiring artists should listen to. Plus the film is unwatchable without it.

The commentary on ‘Hiroshima Mon amour’ was really good and very insightful. Helped me to better understand and appreciate this movie more.

Michael Jeck’s commentary for “Seven Samurai” is without a doubt the best commentary I’ve heard.

Pickpocket

Jim Kitses on “The Furies” is very good.

Very under rated release.

L’Avventura
Ran

Peter Cowie’s commentary tracks for both the Seventh Seal and Hiroshima Mon Amour are unbelievably insightful. He almost makes it an art. Donald Richie offered some great comments on Tokyo Story and Early Summer. Michael Jeck on Seven Samurai is fucking priceless. I enjoyed the commentary track for Playtime, even though I thought that it didn’t flow well enough; more like a history lesson on Tati’s funding for the picture, which, while important, takes away from the mosaic-like detail of the images as they are moving. P.T. Anderson’s commentary tracks are very worthwhile to listen to, and at the same time, totally non-pretentious and enthusiastic.

Chasing Amy

Daivd Cronenberg’s commentary for Crash (LD).

Fishing With John. I’ve never tired.

I am out of topic, but i have a question, the criterion dvd s are available in Europe?

RaySquirrel: I have to agree with you on the Linklater. I love the whole presentation of Slacker, that’s the “one” that got me hooked on Criterion. But It is Impossible to Learn How to Plow by Reading Books is, as you say, unwatchable.

Alexandru, you can order them worldwide via Internet. I mostly use http://www.criteriondvd.com/index.php
I don’t think any street shops in Europe would offer Criterion Discs, but for example the town library where I live in Germany has a few dozens for rent.

Christian Thomsen’s commentary for Fassbinder’s “Lola” is the best I’ve heard so far.

I really like The Testament of Dr.Mabuse

Commentary by Ginette Vincendeau
She has such a lovely voice and accent, it’s wonderful to fall asleep to.

And maybe I’m partial to this because it’s the most recent Criterion I’ve seen with commentary:

Commentary by Tony Rayns
Probably the exact opposite of the above because it’s impossible for me to fall asleep to this one, Mr. Rayns’ commentary always says something fascinating at every turn of this fast-paced film, he keeps up with the action remarkably.

Mishima
Life of brian
Naked

Stephen Prince on “Straw Dogs.”

This commentary was the first I ever listened to, when I had thought they were lame and pointless. Boy, was I wrong! haha
I’ve watched a few of Peckinpah’s other films with other commentaries, and most of them are good. However, Prince is very concise, and it’s clear he’s mapped his out very well. His books are very good too, especially “Savage Cinema” and “Screening Violence.”

The Third Man
Wes Anderson’s films

Jimmy, Which DVDs has PT Anderson recorded commentary for?

Straw Dogs. It is the best I have heard from a non-director/actor from the film.

And a plug for the commentary of John Carpenter and Kurt Russell for Escape From New York. Those two do great commentaries and obviously have a lot of fun watching their old movies together and talking about them.

Drew – I believe Anderson has done commentaries for all his films except There Will Be Blood. The only one I’ve listened to is for Hard Eight, which I found interesting because he recorded it as he was getting ready to make Magnolia. I believe he did one for Boogie Nights and Magnolia (who cares about Punch Drunk Love – haha).I think he said that with There Will Be Blood, he didn’t want to do any more commentaries and wouldn’t record one for There Will Be Blood or any other subsequent films he does (but don’t quote me on this, I could be wrong).

I’ve never listened to any commentaries on Criterion discs but found the commentary for Michael Clayton and Before the Devil Knows Your Dead to be thoroughly informative. As well, I will admit that the Juno commentary w/Reitman and Cody was mildly entertaining. I prefer commentaries from the filmmakers themselves, especially directors.

Fredo, But this is about Criterion commentaries so I assumed Jimmy was saying he has recorded some for films that weren’t his own (like Scorsese for Tales of Hoffman).

Oh, sorry. I’m retarded.

…although I’ve never heard of him doing any commentaries for other films.

Don’t say that. I’m assuming Jimmy was just talking about Anderson’s own films, despite the thread topic.