Movies You May Have Missed: 6/18/08
I like to encourage people to watch movies in a theater, but the reality is that more and more people are doing it at home. Also, not all of the movies we talk about here play in everyone’s neighborhood. Sometimes DVD is the only chance people have to catch up on some of this stuff.
I don’t want to do a comprehensive DVD review column, plenty of sites do that already, but DVD release dates are a good time to plug a movie one last time.
If this feature continues, I won’t be wasting time on the big movies that everyone already knows about. Those DVDs will have a whole shelf to themselves at Lackluster so they don’t need me. Instead, I want to focus on the smaller releases that tend to slip through the cracks. If a wide-release is exceptional or feels like it was underrated in some way, perhaps I’ll throw it in, but mainly this will just be the smaller stuff that I either know something about or had planned to see myself.
If this feature continues, expect it on Tuesdays. Also, I might expand it to include catalogue titles. But enough jibber jabber. Here is this week’s look at movies you may have missed that are now available on DVD.
Be Kind, Rewind (2008) *** DVD might just be the perfect place to catch Michel Gondry’s latest - an ode to the power of movies, of imagination and to the joys of doing it yourself. Though it isn’t perfect, it’s utter lack of cynicism and hipsterism might just win you over. In case you’ve forgotten, this is the one where Jack Black accidentally erases all the videotapes in Danny Glover’s video store and goes about refilming the movies himself. The best parts involve Black and co-star Mos Def coming up with crazy ways to recreate everything from Ghostbusters to Driving Miss Daisy. Available from Netflix and Blockbuster
Caramel (2007) *** 1/2 From conservative and conflict torn Lebanon comes Nadine Labaki’s light slice-of-life charmer about the lives and loves of a group of women working in a Beirut beauty shop. It’s kind of a trifle, but a nice one and proof that a movie can be by, for and about women without resorting to the usual flaccid romantic comedy bag of tricks. I could probably make a glib Sex and the Middle Eastern City reference here, but it would cheapen a lovely film. Available from Netflix and Blockbuster.
Ok, these are pretty slim pickings for Week #1, but wait until you see the weekend forecast…
Filed under: Miscellaneous
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Craig:
The advent of this column is a high watermark for Living in Cinema, especially since (as so many of the film scholars here will agree) the truly great films have been coming out regularly from the likes of Criterion, Masters of Cinema, Artificial Eye, Flicker Alley, Optimum, Kino, Second Run and Warner.
It is in this spirit that I applaud today’s big Criterion news, which is the release schedule for September: Max Ophuls’ EARRINGS OF MADAME DE, one of cinema’s greatest masterpieces, as well as two other Ophuls’ gems, LA RONDE and LE PLAISIR, both of which have not yet been available on Region 1. For years many of us have treasured our laserdisc of MADAME DE, until the passable Region 2s became available last year.
One of cinema’s greatest humanists, and greatest directors is Yashijiro Ozu, and his final film before his untimely passing at age 60 was AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON. This great film was only available from Shockiku is a mediocre transfer, and now we are looking at what is sure to be a truly great DVD by the Criterion wizards.
Coming in August of course are the previously announced LARISSA SHEPITKO box set, which includes the magisterial THE ASCENT, and Pasolini’s controversial SALO, which is being given a new two-disc transfer with all kinds of goodies. SALO was for years the most expensive e bay DVD, the original bringing in at its peak over $800.
In addition to the titles Craig mentions above, we are also getting Anthony Mann’s superb western THE FURIES from Criterion on Tuesday, and as I’m sure many already know (and have acquired) 4 MONTHS 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS. I bought mine, but sadly it is not in the proper ratio of 2:35 to 1, (it is 2.20) so the Region 2 is substantially better as DVD Beaver has corroborated.
One of Craig’s favorite films of 2008 is Kar-Wei’s MY BLUBERRY NIGHTS, and that one will be here on July 1st in what will surely be an excellent transfer.
and Craig I applaud the “Lackluster” comment. Well deserved!!!
The Ophuls news is fantastic. I’ve only seen all three of those in fairly shabby VHS copies so I look forward to digging in to the Criterions.
Have no fear that if this feature continues, I’ll be mentioning more stuff like you have here.
Tangential side note, I haven’t seen either one for a long time, but I feel a strange kinship exists between Le Plasir and Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut. Anyone else get a similar vibe or am I just talking out of my ass again?
Craig–I never realized that, but now that you mention it, that comparison makes a lot of sense. And I bet Kubrick was enamoured of Ophuls for certain.
I am thrilled to read what you say about foreign and arthouse releases as so many others here I’m sure are (Pierre, sartre, Alison, Joel, Alexander, Daniel, Chuck, Matthew Lucas, and many others)
Well this will make things a lot easier for me, especially since you’ll be hand-picking the ones to blurb on. Though my movie viewing is 90% in-theater, now I won’t have to wonder if the ones that I miss are worth checking out - Caramel, for example.
*waiting in anticipation for Weekend Forecast*
I’ll have to watch them again when the Ophuls come out on DVD, but now that I think of it I’ve read before the Kubrick was a fan of Ophuls.
Daniel, I’ll either have seen them or it’ll be a reminder of something I may have meant to see but missed.
I’m still warming up to the whole idea. We’ll see how it goes.
I do think Caramel is better than what you imagine, though I wouldn’t say it’s great or a must-see. Sometimes though, those are the perfect rentals. If they were must-sees, you should’ve already seen them…
Craig, that’s a truly remarkable and, I think, dead-on point about Le Plasir and Eyes Wide Shut. From what I understand, extending on what Sam said, Kubrick greatly admired Ophuls. One quote I have from Kenneth Turan has Kubrick saying of Ophuls, “His camera moved through walls.” Kubrick clearly had Ophuls on his mind with significant regularity.
Sam, the news about the Ophuls Criterion releases is heaven-sent. Yay…
Like Daniel, I’ve yet to see Caramel. Wanted to take see it back when it was in theatres, but never had the chance.
I think there are strong thematic connections too, but as I said I’ll have to watch them both again to decide. It was just one of those weird things that struck me and I wondered if anyone else had a similar reaction.
“Even for a director whose work was always frank about sexuality La Ronde stands out even today for it’s lack of moralizing, and it has been said inspired, amongst others, Stanley Kubrick. Kubrick, who believed that “His [Ophüls] camera could pass through walls”, also cited Ophüls as influential in his decision to direct another Schnitzler adaptation, Eyes Wide Shut.”
Two of those Ophuls titles have been Holy Grails I’ve been questing after for years, Sam. I’m one of those who got my very excellent copy of Salo on eBay (for a whole lot less than $800 because it’s not “red-ring” or whatever.)
Can I please apply for membership alongside the luminaries in comment #4?
I’ve been questing after Caramel ever since I saw this still. If questing is the word I’m looking for.
Thanks Ryan. 10-1 I’d read that quote somewhere and co-opted it as my own.
I was adrift in comment limbo, and didn’t notice Alexander had the same quote slide in ahead of mine while you were scolding the monkeys, Craig. I had the vaguest recollection I’d heard about the Kubrick-Ophuls connection too, and was pretty sure I could find it someplace. Meanwhile Alexander caught the fast break and slam-dunked it.
(This is like Celebrity Jeopardy, and I’m the whiner complaining that my buzzer jammed.)
PWNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This… is… LiC!!!!!!
kicks Ryan down an endless well or hole or some such thing
(Okay, 300 parodies and jokes are a year too late, but now they’re so dated that’s part of their charm.)
Technically, Ryan beat Alexander to the buzzer, but since he got spammed, I changed the post time so the comment wouldn’t get buried
I didn’t consider the content before doing that.
Like I told Craig, I suspect the LiC monkeys tag my comments as spam if they’re not deemed clever enough. So I must accept my PWNAGE like a man.
I missed the press screening of “Caramel” his past Tuesday, it only opens here in July or something.
Sam, is that the Blockbuster-only DVD of 4 Months 3 Weeks etc that you picked up? Did you actually find it for sale?
I’ll second your recommendation for Be Kind. Loved that film.
And I applaud the new feature!
Ryan, your omission in comment #4 was a grievous error, my sincerest apologies–I started nodding out when I made that entry. How are you doing buddy?
Jeff M, Miranda and Hedwig are others I somehow slighted too. I am sorry about that.
Jeff: I bought the “Border’s exclusive” of 4 MONTHS.
And, Ryan, for awhile SALO was available in e bay in affordable editions (exclusive of that white-ring original which commanded the outrageous price tag) and the transfer was really no different. As you and I once discussed in shared e mails. the art of “collecting” rare DVDs can really ring up that cash rigister! LOL!
In fear of being tabbed as a Criterion agent, I would also like to point out that the July releases are to die for:
Dreyer’s VAMPYR
Jutra’s MON ONCLE ANTOINE
Kurosawa’s HIGH AND LOW (new transfer)
Tati’s TRAFIC
Many consider Jutra’s film as the greatest Canadian film ever made. I think I agree, although JESUS OF MONTREAL pushes close. Of course the appearance of VAMPYR is one of the great DVD announcements of the year, while the remaster of the Kurosawa is a godsend!
Sam~~~
All those Criterion and Eclipse releases are very good news. I’m especially looking forward to a top-drawer version of VAMPYR and the new Ophuls DVDs. I’ve seen both EARRINGS and LA RONDE, but this would be my first chance to see LA PLAISIR, and given that I’ve loved the other Ophuls I’ve seen I’m excited to catch up with it. I wonder if other Ophuls DVDs are in the pipeline as well. I sure hope Criterion puts out a LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN DVD sooner rather than later.
In addition to the titles you’ve mentioned, I feel compelled to bring up Eclipse’s newly-announced box of Kaurismaki’s “Proletariat Trilogy.” The filet of the set would be THE MATCH FACTORY GIRL, but ARIEL and SHADOWS IN PARADISE are pretty wonderful as well.
Paul: I see we have similar tastes! MATCH FACTORY GIRL is indeed the “filet” of that set, and is singlehandly worth investing for.
I share your deep affinity for LETTER, but there are no plans on that yet, although it is available on a very nive Region 2 DVD, which I do own.
I have no doubt that the Dreyer will be top-drawer, and a Masters of Cinema Region 2 is releasing at the same time of the Criterion, and what with the expected matching quality, great packaging and booklet, some of us are tempted to double-dip!
Le Plaisir is a good one, Paul. It’ll be great to finally see it on DVD.
Didn’t Criterion also announce Ozu’s An Autumn Afternoon?
I’d add that the interviews I’ve read with Kubrick, he only seems to cite two directors as having a profound effect on him: Ophuls and David Lean. I’m sure there are more, but not that I’m aware of.
Kubrick was so misunderstood and so unfairly maligned by the press for so long that he did fewer and fewer interviews after Clockwork Orange and that is shame.
Between Frederic Raphael’s good book, Eyes Wide Open: A Memory of Stanley Kubrick and some old obscure interview with Kubrick that I only partially recall–in which he said that he watched Dreyer films a great deal, and especially his Vampyr, which I believe he said he watched over and over (what a great tie-in to Sam’s talking of it among other new Criterion releases) –Kubrick was evidently also inspired by Dreyer. (Something I kind of believed when I saw Eyes Wide Shut.)
That is a terrific list of films coming out on Criterion, Sam. Like Paul C., I’m hoping for A Letter from an Unknown Woman to come out sooner than later.
I’ve been waiting for Kaurismaki’s “Proletariat Trilogy” to be released in superior transfers before seeing them. These are exciting developments!
Craig, I did mention the fantastic announcement of Criterion’s planned September release of Ozu’s AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON in my original post, but I neglected to mention that David Bordwell, who is America’s most distinguished Ozu scholar (along with Donald Richie, who has lived for decades in Japan) is doing a running commentary on the disc. This is Bordwell’s first disc commentary and many film historians are salivating. His book “Ozu” may well be the greatest single volume ever written on on edirector, although a few on Kubrick and Bergman are arguably as great. (by others)
Alexander, I do feel it is only a matter of time before Criterion announces LETTER, especially since they did release it years back on laserdisc–true the rights have expired, but they have re-acquired a number of films, that were originally LDs, like SANSHO THE BAILIFF, the aforementioned SALO and MADAME DE, LORD OF THE FLIES, THE BURMESE HARP and many others. The only previous LD that remains in limbo is Ichikawa’s THE MAKIOKA SISTERS, which I have my hands crossed on.
Joel. But it heightens the mystery, which is kind of cool in an era when assholes like Michael Bay do commentary tracks.
I see that now Sam, sorry for the oversight. I rescanned your original post and missed it.