I finally saw Hopscotch the other night and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why Criterion would release this piece of crap. I mean maybe they got some big bucks from Landau and Embassy to take it on. Mathau has also been an actor that I could pretty much do without, sure he’s fun (up to a point) in the fortune cookie, and Glenda Jackson is totally wasted in a supporting role. The film pretty much ends with a thud, and when it was over I was left shaking my head. It wasn’t funny or exciting, and I kept thinking who cares. I’m still scratching my head over this one.
Actually I like Charade and don’t see how you can compare the two. Yes Mathau is in both that’s true. But Charade is light as air and fun, Hopscotch was heavy and dull, and if it wasn’t for the great Glenda Jackson I would have turned it off. I’m all for fun movies as long as they are fun. Maybe a better script and director would have helped, I generally don’t watch movies for the locals or to be enticed into going to the place where the film takes place.
Overrated John Ford, Hitchcock, Kubrick, Scorsese. I’m shaking my head. Sure most directors have made some bummers, but you know I just can’t come up with a director that I would say was overrated. I would say that yes Altman has made some duds, but look at his truly great films, Nashville, Short Cuts, Three Women etc. I think someone like DeMille is a lousy director, and Capra generally leaves me cold, but there is still something to enjoy in his films. James Cameron yes a lousy director, but to say that Kurosawa is overrated shows a lack of taste and understanding of movies. The guy was great.
I sent an email once to criterion begging them to please release his great movies distant voices still lives and his masterpiece the long day closes. Don’t think the neon bible is a misstep at all, lovely performances especially diana scarwid and of course the great gena rowlands, also the young boy was so touching to me.
great actor, more under used than underrated I think. He’s great in Hard Eight, Magnolia and his bit in Boogie NIghts, also remember his turn on Seinfeld as the library detective.
edward g. robinson, the end of rico-little caesar
cagney white heat and the public enemy
juanita moore-imitation of life
robert walker-strangers on a train
there a lot of them, many already mentioned.
crash piece of crap over brokeback mountain
gladiator all five noms that year were ordinary
titantic over l.a. confidential, boogie nights not even nominated for shame
ben hur a big piece of doody that was the year that some like it hot, and northby northwest weren’t even nominated. for shame.
pulp fiction losing to forest gump. give me a break
hilary swank winning over imelda staunton’s magnificent performance in vera drake
julia roberts winning over ellen burstyn’s extraordinary performance requiem for a dream
Cate Blanchett in her worst performance in The Aviator over virginia madsen in sideways. parody over subtlety.
dancers with wolves over goodfellas
ordinary people over raging bull
the greatest piece of shit, oh i mean the greatest show on earth. Singing in the rain not even nominated for shame
helen hunt, t.v. sitcom crap actress actually has an Oscar
robin williams over burt reynolds for boogie nights
kim basinger over Julianne Moore, Boogie Nights
and on and on.
This was for me the best film of 2008. I loved the density and the complex ideas that Kaufman was trying to put across. And oh yes those wonderful performances. I also loved the little in joke about confusing Emily Watson with Samatha Morton which I thought I was the only one ever to get those two constantly mixed up.
somebody actually thinks that The Searchers is overrated? Any recent Oscar movie is overrated. ie Crash. Benjamin Button was garbage and yes overrated. The Silence of the Lambs, A Beautiful MInd etc.
Of all the John Ford film’s that need a good restoration it’s Stagecoach the transfer out now stinks. Also wish they would do the cook the thief etc, another lousy transfer, ditto for My beautiful launderette.
Army of shadows, Ugh. the most overrated film I’ve seen in a long time. Just because it’s Melville oh la la. Talk about boring, and God that scene of Signoret trying on her disguises had me rolling in the aisle at film forum.
Costner as a filmmaker is right up there with that other great oscar winning director Mel Gibson. Puke. They both put me to sleep. Gibson is a more loathsome person than Costner, but both belong in that middle brow school of filmmaking ie. Ron howard, Barry Levinson, Robert Redford you get my drift, and what do they all have in common. They all won best director Oscars for crap movies. .
I was wondering what folks think about this. I have the warner bros. Mishima and the universal missing, and before I replace them with criterions I would like takes on the quality of the criterions over the others. I recall the old dvd’s being good, but since these are two of my favorite films i would replace them if there is a big difference, never mind the 2 disc thing, which I can live without.
If these are originals and not reprints they can be quite valuable. I worked for a poster film store in the early 80’s but have pretty much sold a lot of them. I have an original german aguire in my bedroom, and an original cagney great guy in my living room
I thought Missing was a terrific film wonderful performances and I was a nervous wreck throughout. One of Lemmon’s best later career performances, spacek always great and wonderful supp;. performances from Janice Rule and Melanie Myron. see it again. Fredo I’m sure you like some films that one could say why would anyone like that movie. That’s the great things about movies, always changing. Something I loved years ago I might dislike now. Would love to see Missing sucking your ass.
no order really. I can come up with another 30 films that I love.
1-Rocco and His Brothers
2-Vertigo
3-Citizen Kane
4-Touch Of Evil
5-Night Of The Hunter
6-Sweet Smell Of Success
7-The Color Of Paradise
8-Pickup On South Street
9-The Pajama Game
10-Bonnie And Clyde
I went to the film forum in New York City to see Bigger Than Life, which I first saw when I was 9 years old. Not a great film but the set ups that Ray uses including his fine use of cinemascope, and his emotional lighting techniques make it worth seeing. This would be a perfect film for criterion to issue. James Mason was as usual very fine, and Barbara Rush was a really beautiful woman. Some of it of course is a little creaky but the story of a man addicted to prescription drugs was way ahead of its time.Also the final 4 episodes of Mad Men. Wonderful.
When I say "A Perfect Film", What One Film Pops Into Your Head First? over 3 years ago
Just saw Touch Of Evil in the new restoration dvd. It doesn’t get better than this.
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Movies That Should Be In the Criterion Collection over 3 years ago
terrence davies films esp. the long day closes
the night of the hunter
belissima
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Classic Actors/actresses over 3 years ago
Jeanne Moreau
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Your favorite title sequence over 3 years ago
Any of saul bass’s openings esp. for Hitchcock
touch of evil
west side story bass again
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the worst film to be put out by criterion about 3 years ago
I finally saw Hopscotch the other night and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why Criterion would release this piece of crap. I mean maybe they got some big bucks from Landau and Embassy to take it on. Mathau has also been an actor that I could pretty much do without, sure he’s fun (up to a point) in the fortune cookie, and Glenda Jackson is totally wasted in a supporting role. The film pretty much ends with a thud, and when it was over I was left shaking my head. It wasn’t funny or exciting, and I kept thinking who cares. I’m still scratching my head over this one.
Go to Comment
the worst film to be put out by criterion about 3 years ago
Actually I like Charade and don’t see how you can compare the two. Yes Mathau is in both that’s true. But Charade is light as air and fun, Hopscotch was heavy and dull, and if it wasn’t for the great Glenda Jackson I would have turned it off. I’m all for fun movies as long as they are fun. Maybe a better script and director would have helped, I generally don’t watch movies for the locals or to be enticed into going to the place where the film takes place.
Go to Comment
Who do you think the most overrated director is? about 3 years ago
Overrated John Ford, Hitchcock, Kubrick, Scorsese. I’m shaking my head. Sure most directors have made some bummers, but you know I just can’t come up with a director that I would say was overrated. I would say that yes Altman has made some duds, but look at his truly great films, Nashville, Short Cuts, Three Women etc. I think someone like DeMille is a lousy director, and Capra generally leaves me cold, but there is still something to enjoy in his films. James Cameron yes a lousy director, but to say that Kurosawa is overrated shows a lack of taste and understanding of movies. The guy was great.
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Of Time and terence davies about 3 years ago
I sent an email once to criterion begging them to please release his great movies distant voices still lives and his masterpiece the long day closes. Don’t think the neon bible is a misstep at all, lovely performances especially diana scarwid and of course the great gena rowlands, also the young boy was so touching to me.
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Philip Baker Hall about 3 years ago
great actor, more under used than underrated I think. He’s great in Hard Eight, Magnolia and his bit in Boogie NIghts, also remember his turn on Seinfeld as the library detective.
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What films have you walked out on and why ? about 3 years ago
I ran not walked out of across the universe. It gave me a splitting headache, also walked out of batman begins.
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Memorable/Favorite Film Deaths about 3 years ago
edward g. robinson, the end of rico-little caesar
cagney white heat and the public enemy
juanita moore-imitation of life
robert walker-strangers on a train
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Books about 3 years ago
funny you should ask. I’m a rare bookdealer,lots of great film books
www.cinemagebooks.com
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Movies That Should Be In the Criterion Collection about 3 years ago
night of the hunter
sweet smell of success
terrence davies the long day closes
red desert
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most overrated oscar performances or robberies about 3 years ago
there a lot of them, many already mentioned.
crash piece of crap over brokeback mountain
gladiator all five noms that year were ordinary
titantic over l.a. confidential, boogie nights not even nominated for shame
ben hur a big piece of doody that was the year that some like it hot, and northby northwest weren’t even nominated. for shame.
pulp fiction losing to forest gump. give me a break
hilary swank winning over imelda staunton’s magnificent performance in vera drake
julia roberts winning over ellen burstyn’s extraordinary performance requiem for a dream
Cate Blanchett in her worst performance in The Aviator over virginia madsen in sideways. parody over subtlety.
dancers with wolves over goodfellas
ordinary people over raging bull
the greatest piece of shit, oh i mean the greatest show on earth. Singing in the rain not even nominated for shame
helen hunt, t.v. sitcom crap actress actually has an Oscar
robin williams over burt reynolds for boogie nights
kim basinger over Julianne Moore, Boogie Nights
and on and on.
Go to Comment
Synecdoche New York about 3 years ago
This was for me the best film of 2008. I loved the density and the complex ideas that Kaufman was trying to put across. And oh yes those wonderful performances. I also loved the little in joke about confusing Emily Watson with Samatha Morton which I thought I was the only one ever to get those two constantly mixed up.
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WHICH DIRECTORS...NOT...CURRENTLY REPRESENTED IN THE CRITERION COLLECTION DO YOU WANT TO SEE INCLUDED? almost 3 years ago
Terrance Davies
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Most Overrated Movies almost 3 years ago
somebody actually thinks that The Searchers is overrated? Any recent Oscar movie is overrated. ie Crash. Benjamin Button was garbage and yes overrated. The Silence of the Lambs, A Beautiful MInd etc.
Go to Comment
Criterion Coming Soon and Discussion almost 3 years ago
Of all the John Ford film’s that need a good restoration it’s Stagecoach the transfer out now stinks. Also wish they would do the cook the thief etc, another lousy transfer, ditto for My beautiful launderette.
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what did you watch today? almost 3 years ago
Criterion’s a night to remember. Nice transfer and love the low key 1958 Brit. film making. They did a nice job with the miniatures and the sets.
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what did you watch today? almost 3 years ago
Army of shadows, Ugh. the most overrated film I’ve seen in a long time. Just because it’s Melville oh la la. Talk about boring, and God that scene of Signoret trying on her disguises had me rolling in the aisle at film forum.
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kevin costner, director almost 3 years ago
Costner as a filmmaker is right up there with that other great oscar winning director Mel Gibson. Puke. They both put me to sleep. Gibson is a more loathsome person than Costner, but both belong in that middle brow school of filmmaking ie. Ron howard, Barry Levinson, Robert Redford you get my drift, and what do they all have in common. They all won best director Oscars for crap movies. .
Go to Comment
should I replace my mishima and Missing dvds with criterions almost 3 years ago
I was wondering what folks think about this. I have the warner bros. Mishima and the universal missing, and before I replace them with criterions I would like takes on the quality of the criterions over the others. I recall the old dvd’s being good, but since these are two of my favorite films i would replace them if there is a big difference, never mind the 2 disc thing, which I can live without.
Go to Comment
Movie Posters almost 3 years ago
If these are originals and not reprints they can be quite valuable. I worked for a poster film store in the early 80’s but have pretty much sold a lot of them. I have an original german aguire in my bedroom, and an original cagney great guy in my living room
Go to Comment
should I replace my mishima and Missing dvds with criterions almost 3 years ago
I thought Missing was a terrific film wonderful performances and I was a nervous wreck throughout. One of Lemmon’s best later career performances, spacek always great and wonderful supp;. performances from Janice Rule and Melanie Myron. see it again. Fredo I’m sure you like some films that one could say why would anyone like that movie. That’s the great things about movies, always changing. Something I loved years ago I might dislike now. Would love to see Missing sucking your ass.
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WHO IS / WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FILM ACTRESS EVER? almost 3 years ago
ava gardner, rita hayworth
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The Auteurs 'Cinetech' Poll. almost 3 years ago
no order really. I can come up with another 30 films that I love.
1-Rocco and His Brothers
2-Vertigo
3-Citizen Kane
4-Touch Of Evil
5-Night Of The Hunter
6-Sweet Smell Of Success
7-The Color Of Paradise
8-Pickup On South Street
9-The Pajama Game
10-Bonnie And Clyde
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IF WE IGNORE 81/2 AND DOLCE VITA, WHAT'D BE THE BEST FELLINI MOVIE? almost 3 years ago
I love La Strads, I’Vitelloni, The White Shiek, Variety Lights, Nights of Cabira, and Armarcord. You might say I love Fellini.
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MOMENT OF TRUTH: HAVE YOU EVER GONE TO THE MOVIES AND FALLEN ASLEEP DURING THE FILM? almost 3 years ago
i had a lovely nap at the film forum during two or three things I know about her.
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what did you watch today? almost 3 years ago
I went to the film forum in New York City to see Bigger Than Life, which I first saw when I was 9 years old. Not a great film but the set ups that Ray uses including his fine use of cinemascope, and his emotional lighting techniques make it worth seeing. This would be a perfect film for criterion to issue. James Mason was as usual very fine, and Barbara Rush was a really beautiful woman. Some of it of course is a little creaky but the story of a man addicted to prescription drugs was way ahead of its time.Also the final 4 episodes of Mad Men. Wonderful.
Go to Comment
The Third Man music: annoying? almost 3 years ago
A perfect film with a perfect innovative music score. One of the great films.
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