I’ve been into the ever-less-mysterious Jandek for about ten years now; he managed to release about 40 albums before ever appearing in public, when he showed up unannounced at an experimental music festival in Glasgow in 2004. The documentary Jandek On Corwood (which, true to style, he doesn’t appear in) is a good summation of the man and the mystery right up to his first public appearance.
Some find his brand of mangled blues howl off-putting; I find I really identify with the mysterious Corwood representative at a gut level.
Somewhat comprehensive website about Jandek: http://tisue.net/jandek/
Jandek on Corwood: http://www.jandekoncorwood.com/
I’m actually kind of obsessed with The Falls. So much information thrown at the viewer, and yet we really learn nothing about the Violent Unknown Event. It’s some amazing film-making, served up with the driest of dry British humor.
And while I’ve seen and enjoyed some of the later films, and clearly the later films are better-made films, The Falls is the only one I go back and watch a few times a year. Also a big fan of the long short on that DVD, A Walk Through H.
December’s always been a slow month for Criterion. I seem to recall that last year and the year before, there were just two December releases, which is what we’re also getting this year. It’s understandable—anything they want out before the holidays should really be already in stores by “Black Friday” in November, anyway.
It’s kind of a relief to my wallet that Criterion occasionally has a slow month for releases. It’ll give me a chance to get caught up on Wings Of Desire and the Nikkatsu Noir box…
Right now, I’ve had Seijun Suzuki’s Zigeunerweisen at home for a week or so—I watched it once, and based on the surprise ending, I want to watch it again to see what I might have missed (but haven’t had time yet—maybe tonight).
Next in my queue: A Colt Is My Passport! This will be my third movie from Nikkatsu Noir; the first two were fantastic (Cruel Gun Story and Take Aim At The Police Van—why don’t movies have titles like this anymore?).
I think after that is Godard’s Notre Musique, which will be my first post-Weekend Godard film. Very curious to see it.
I chalked that scene up to a) the mother has decidedly mixed feelings about seeing her daughter again since she, you know, abandoned them (and the mother can see her daughter’s not exactly thrilled to see her), and b) a cultural difference about big pulic dispalys of emotion. The mother deals with what must be conflicting emotions by retreating to social politeness. I found that to be very human.
According to Amazon.com, here are their ten current Criterion bestsellers:
1. Seven Samurai
2. Royal Tennenbaums
3. Golden Age of Television
4. Grey Gardens/Beales of Grey Gardens set
5. Kagemusha (Blu-ray)
6. 8-1/2
7. The Third Man
8. Seventh Seal
9. Complete Monterrey Pop Festival
10. Two-Lane Blacktop
Seem to be some big bargains on the list…$21.99 for 3-DVD Seven Samurai…
I’m happy to see a number of Seijun Suzuki films in the list; it was always my understanding that his films are better regarded in the West than at home.
Also, I hope someday Criterion releases ZIGEUNERWEISEN. There’s already a version available, but it could really use a better transfer and subtitles, and it desperately needs a good commentary track explaining the history of 1920s Japan to Western audiences.
Top 5 Ozu over 2 years ago
In order:
1. Tokyo Story
2. Tokyo Twilight
3. An Autumn Afternoon
4. Late Autumn
5. Good Morning
So hard to choose only five!
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noise/post rock/weird music over 2 years ago
I’ve been into the ever-less-mysterious Jandek for about ten years now; he managed to release about 40 albums before ever appearing in public, when he showed up unannounced at an experimental music festival in Glasgow in 2004. The documentary Jandek On Corwood (which, true to style, he doesn’t appear in) is a good summation of the man and the mystery right up to his first public appearance.
Some find his brand of mangled blues howl off-putting; I find I really identify with the mysterious Corwood representative at a gut level.
Somewhat comprehensive website about Jandek: http://tisue.net/jandek/
Jandek on Corwood: http://www.jandekoncorwood.com/
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WHAT MAKES A PETER GREENAWAY FIILM SO UNIQUE? over 2 years ago
I’m actually kind of obsessed with The Falls. So much information thrown at the viewer, and yet we really learn nothing about the Violent Unknown Event. It’s some amazing film-making, served up with the driest of dry British humor.
And while I’ve seen and enjoyed some of the later films, and clearly the later films are better-made films, The Falls is the only one I go back and watch a few times a year. Also a big fan of the long short on that DVD, A Walk Through H.
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WHAT MAKES A PETER GREENAWAY FIILM SO UNIQUE? over 2 years ago
Cineaste—95% of the music in The Falls is by Michael Nyman; Greenaway uses one or two previously-released Eno tracks here and there.
That said, the Nyman soundtrack is pretty cool; 90-some variations on the same theme. It would be a very different film without the Nyman soundtrack.
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Criterion Coming Soon and Discussion Redux over 2 years ago
December’s always been a slow month for Criterion. I seem to recall that last year and the year before, there were just two December releases, which is what we’re also getting this year. It’s understandable—anything they want out before the holidays should really be already in stores by “Black Friday” in November, anyway.
It’s kind of a relief to my wallet that Criterion occasionally has a slow month for releases. It’ll give me a chance to get caught up on Wings Of Desire and the Nikkatsu Noir box…
Go to Comment
What is in your Netflix "At Home" Queue right now (i.e., what the f are you renting)? over 2 years ago
Right now, I’ve had Seijun Suzuki’s Zigeunerweisen at home for a week or so—I watched it once, and based on the surprise ending, I want to watch it again to see what I might have missed (but haven’t had time yet—maybe tonight).
Next in my queue: A Colt Is My Passport! This will be my third movie from Nikkatsu Noir; the first two were fantastic (Cruel Gun Story and Take Aim At The Police Van—why don’t movies have titles like this anymore?).
I think after that is Godard’s Notre Musique, which will be my first post-Weekend Godard film. Very curious to see it.
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Could Even Ozu Completely Mishandle Portrayal of Human Emotions? over 2 years ago
I chalked that scene up to a) the mother has decidedly mixed feelings about seeing her daughter again since she, you know, abandoned them (and the mother can see her daughter’s not exactly thrilled to see her), and b) a cultural difference about big pulic dispalys of emotion. The mother deals with what must be conflicting emotions by retreating to social politeness. I found that to be very human.
Go to Comment
Best selling Criterion releases? over 2 years ago
According to Amazon.com, here are their ten current Criterion bestsellers:
1. Seven Samurai
2. Royal Tennenbaums
3. Golden Age of Television
4. Grey Gardens/Beales of Grey Gardens set
5. Kagemusha (Blu-ray)
6. 8-1/2
7. The Third Man
8. Seventh Seal
9. Complete Monterrey Pop Festival
10. Two-Lane Blacktop
Seem to be some big bargains on the list…$21.99 for 3-DVD Seven Samurai…
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Greatest Japanese films by magazine Kinema Junpo (2009 version) over 2 years ago
I’m happy to see a number of Seijun Suzuki films in the list; it was always my understanding that his films are better regarded in the West than at home.
Also, I hope someday Criterion releases ZIGEUNERWEISEN. There’s already a version available, but it could really use a better transfer and subtitles, and it desperately needs a good commentary track explaining the history of 1920s Japan to Western audiences.
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Criterion Coming Soon and Discussion almost 2 years ago
I’m really excited about the Allan King Eclipse set—Warrendale is an amazing, harrowing documentary that everyone should see.
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