I concur with most of the scuttlebutt on Kevin Smith, Wes Anderson, and Michael Bay films. If you look around though you can find any of these titles for $10.00 give or take in new/almost new condition. That puts all of these films in a different light and worthy the Criterion fix.
A lot of the early titles had little to no bonus, extra features like: Amarcord, The Lady Vanishes, Walkabout, Andrei Rublev, Insomnia, Great Expectations, The Last Temptation of Christ, etc. This does not take away from them being excellent films and possibly the only DVD format for many. I just received The Honeymoon Killers which is on the far left fringe of “important classic and contemporary films”. I feel
they gave it all the proper sleaze it deserved and served it up in a manner fitting it’s nature. It’s perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Umberto D is one of the more loathsome characters in cinematic history. Even the extreme handicap, society rejects of Stroszek and Quasimodo reached out to their fellow humanity showing affable and gentile souls. Umberto on the other hand seems to gleam nothing from his ever listing slide into the abyss. He garners no lessons learned, no wisdom gained, shuns any subtle insights, and holds to immoveable pride as his only salvation and station. He tries without fail to even find his trusty pet dog a suitable alternative.
As a character study he is well cast. The back drape of a pre-WW II Italy where factories and career blue collar workers are cast about like trinkets – the settings for this film couldn’t be better. The script was penned by a 15 year old prodigy that belies her youthful experience. This is more of a biblical parable, a philosophical apathy showing the folly of ignorance. Those who adhere and swear allegiance to a fool’s lament.
I do love Criterion for their resurrection, discovery, and revival of lost and unseen celluloid treasures. They have certainly unearthed one here. I couldn’t wait for the film to be over though since Umberto was set on being a victim, even one in silence, unacknowledged by himself. In the end there is no hope or salvation for his lot. They go largely unnoticed on their forever march as ghost lost in their dreams. These quiet soon-to-be six feet under whose selfishness is not enough to condemn them alone. It’s just enough to keep them from ever connecting. The existential glimpse into the social conundrum of a western Europe readying to be torn asunder elects Umberto as their heir apparent clown. I was left with no apathy, hope, or well wish for this anti-hero, but I was darn impressed with the magnitude of the telling and the medium shown.
Perhaps “loathsome” is an inappropriate word. I’ll retract that. Our Umberto though was not clever enough to adapt and feared crossing any line that comprised his stoic and set principals. His survival instinct seems to dull as his situation spiraled away. He feigned true bravery and never saw solution, resolve, and remedy in his on going dilemmas. He was never truthful with himself in his own denial and self deception. He couldn’t even handedly find his dog a new owner or home. This is a beautiful film though and told in a grand style.
(NOTE: In the interviews the idea for story which became the film was imagined when the author was 15).
Along with a lot of others I am somewhat puzzled by the John Woo and Michael Bay titles but then they are all self actualized in that they are no longer available nor/or scheduled for an update. I feel Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy may also be a little suspect but then I’m an amateur not and an auteur. Robocop is in a class by itself, whatever that is. The bottom line is, at sometime someone a lot more competent than me had the impetus to bother cleaning these up for their proper Criterion issue. None of them have ever looked better. I just happen to have these titles I’d admit, none in the Criterion version. I would not divvy up the coin to make it happen. I would save that for more worthy films which Criterion have plenty of. It’s the best thing going in home collecting.
However it’s been said, it’s all been well told better by others than myself. Umberto D is a remarkable tale on the blight of aging. It’s a dim future for us all out there as the need to be forever young is even stronger today at any and ever spiraling cost.
However it’s been said, it’s all been well told better by others than myself. Umberto D is a remarkable tale on the blight of aging. It’s a dim future for us all out there as the need to be forever young is even stronger today at any and ever spiraling cost.
Quixotically laid bare, machinations and architectural wonders of factory and industrial port lead the eye in this singular story. Will the skies be forever soot filled, hands of labor twisted and gnarled, and poor always burdened? This Liverpool might. The simple joys were mighty and few in the dirty old town. Men of letters dispatched phrases that wrap culture and custom into silent cocoons of obedience and conformity. Just a few schillings would take in gatherings only the class masses consider. Ranks of royalty parade with absurd pomp and circumstance of self deluded duty. The city subjects attentive, adoring, subdued, and loyal crowded into the burgeoning bungalows of mortar, brick, and steel. They have to live somewhere. Work and weekends – football, steeple chasing, plenty pints of larger, and the lottery – ancient and lucky numbers never hit.
The cycle repeats endlessly. The circle will never be broken. The camera rolls on unencumbered. Captured pictures of a past show a same tomorrow. This is an awesome film. Like a ghost train, it will pass right through you having taken something for the ride.
Satantango, The Human Condition, and Andrei Rublev all take the time to explore the depths of misery and depravity humanity can fall. Call them what you will.
its the only version available in the states. credit martin scorsese with nabbing the only 205 minute original copy of this around – about the same time he released The Last Temptation Of Christ. two very auspicious events occurring remarkably close in one man’s life does lend credence to inspiration. supposedly, this version had been hiding under a mattress in the Soviet Union for a number of years.
I hear rumors of a redo by criterion similar to their more recent redoes: Wages Of Fear, M, The Seventh Seal, Seventh Samurai, and High & Low. one can hope but enjoy until that happens.
check: http://www.ucalgary.ca/~tstronds/nostalghia.com/index.html
for any real update and extensive history
Worst Criterion DVDs about 3 years ago
I concur with most of the scuttlebutt on Kevin Smith, Wes Anderson, and Michael Bay films. If you look around though you can find any of these titles for $10.00 give or take in new/almost new condition. That puts all of these films in a different light and worthy the Criterion fix.
A lot of the early titles had little to no bonus, extra features like: Amarcord, The Lady Vanishes, Walkabout, Andrei Rublev, Insomnia, Great Expectations, The Last Temptation of Christ, etc. This does not take away from them being excellent films and possibly the only DVD format for many. I just received The Honeymoon Killers which is on the far left fringe of “important classic and contemporary films”. I feel
they gave it all the proper sleaze it deserved and served it up in a manner fitting it’s nature. It’s perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Go to Comment
The Immortality of Italian Neorealism about 3 years ago
Umberto D is one of the more loathsome characters in cinematic history. Even the extreme handicap, society rejects of Stroszek and Quasimodo reached out to their fellow humanity showing affable and gentile souls. Umberto on the other hand seems to gleam nothing from his ever listing slide into the abyss. He garners no lessons learned, no wisdom gained, shuns any subtle insights, and holds to immoveable pride as his only salvation and station. He tries without fail to even find his trusty pet dog a suitable alternative.
As a character study he is well cast. The back drape of a pre-WW II Italy where factories and career blue collar workers are cast about like trinkets – the settings for this film couldn’t be better. The script was penned by a 15 year old prodigy that belies her youthful experience. This is more of a biblical parable, a philosophical apathy showing the folly of ignorance. Those who adhere and swear allegiance to a fool’s lament.
I do love Criterion for their resurrection, discovery, and revival of lost and unseen celluloid treasures. They have certainly unearthed one here. I couldn’t wait for the film to be over though since Umberto was set on being a victim, even one in silence, unacknowledged by himself. In the end there is no hope or salvation for his lot. They go largely unnoticed on their forever march as ghost lost in their dreams. These quiet soon-to-be six feet under whose selfishness is not enough to condemn them alone. It’s just enough to keep them from ever connecting. The existential glimpse into the social conundrum of a western Europe readying to be torn asunder elects Umberto as their heir apparent clown. I was left with no apathy, hope, or well wish for this anti-hero, but I was darn impressed with the magnitude of the telling and the medium shown.
Go to Comment
The Immortality of Italian Neorealism about 3 years ago
Perhaps “loathsome” is an inappropriate word. I’ll retract that. Our Umberto though was not clever enough to adapt and feared crossing any line that comprised his stoic and set principals. His survival instinct seems to dull as his situation spiraled away. He feigned true bravery and never saw solution, resolve, and remedy in his on going dilemmas. He was never truthful with himself in his own denial and self deception. He couldn’t even handedly find his dog a new owner or home. This is a beautiful film though and told in a grand style.
(NOTE: In the interviews the idea for story which became the film was imagined when the author was 15).
Go to Comment
Worst Criterion DVDs about 3 years ago
Along with a lot of others I am somewhat puzzled by the John Woo and Michael Bay titles but then they are all self actualized in that they are no longer available nor/or scheduled for an update. I feel Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy may also be a little suspect but then I’m an amateur not and an auteur. Robocop is in a class by itself, whatever that is. The bottom line is, at sometime someone a lot more competent than me had the impetus to bother cleaning these up for their proper Criterion issue. None of them have ever looked better. I just happen to have these titles I’d admit, none in the Criterion version. I would not divvy up the coin to make it happen. I would save that for more worthy films which Criterion have plenty of. It’s the best thing going in home collecting.
Go to Comment
The Immortality of Italian Neorealism about 3 years ago
However it’s been said, it’s all been well told better by others than myself. Umberto D is a remarkable tale on the blight of aging. It’s a dim future for us all out there as the need to be forever young is even stronger today at any and ever spiraling cost.
Go to Comment
The Immortality of Italian Neorealism about 3 years ago
However it’s been said, it’s all been well told better by others than myself. Umberto D is a remarkable tale on the blight of aging. It’s a dim future for us all out there as the need to be forever young is even stronger today at any and ever spiraling cost.
Go to Comment
Anyone for Terence Davies' new doc Of Time and the City about 3 years ago
Quixotically laid bare, machinations and architectural wonders of factory and industrial port lead the eye in this singular story. Will the skies be forever soot filled, hands of labor twisted and gnarled, and poor always burdened? This Liverpool might. The simple joys were mighty and few in the dirty old town. Men of letters dispatched phrases that wrap culture and custom into silent cocoons of obedience and conformity. Just a few schillings would take in gatherings only the class masses consider. Ranks of royalty parade with absurd pomp and circumstance of self deluded duty. The city subjects attentive, adoring, subdued, and loyal crowded into the burgeoning bungalows of mortar, brick, and steel. They have to live somewhere. Work and weekends – football, steeple chasing, plenty pints of larger, and the lottery – ancient and lucky numbers never hit.
The cycle repeats endlessly. The circle will never be broken. The camera rolls on unencumbered. Captured pictures of a past show a same tomorrow. This is an awesome film. Like a ghost train, it will pass right through you having taken something for the ride.
Go to Comment
Which is the best Long Movie or Epic ever...? over 2 years ago
Satantango, The Human Condition, and Andrei Rublev all take the time to explore the depths of misery and depravity humanity can fall. Call them what you will.
Go to Comment
Is this edition worth buying? over 2 years ago
its the only version available in the states. credit martin scorsese with nabbing the only 205 minute original copy of this around – about the same time he released The Last Temptation Of Christ. two very auspicious events occurring remarkably close in one man’s life does lend credence to inspiration. supposedly, this version had been hiding under a mattress in the Soviet Union for a number of years.
I hear rumors of a redo by criterion similar to their more recent redoes: Wages Of Fear, M, The Seventh Seal, Seventh Samurai, and High & Low. one can hope but enjoy until that happens.
check: http://www.ucalgary.ca/~tstronds/nostalghia.com/index.html
for any real update and extensive history
Go to Comment