Each month, the fine folks at FilmStruck and the Criterion Collection spend countless hours crafting their channels to highlight the many different types of films that they have in their streaming library. This March will feature an exciting assortment of films, as noted below.
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Friday, March 2
Friday Night Double Feature: The Ladykillers and La poison
Criminal schemes take unlikely targets in these two pitch-dark comedies from the 1950s. In Alexander Mackendrick’s Ealing Studio farce The Ladykillers (1955), a team of thieves (led by Alec Guinness) descends on a boardinghouse run by an elderly widow, who becomes the victim of their misdeeds. In Sacha Guitry’s brisk, witty, and savage La poison (1951), a gardener (Michel Simon) and his wife, fed up after thirty years of marriage, find themselves plotting each other’s murder.
Tuesday, March 6
Tuesday’s Short + Feature: Art* and In...
To sign up for a free two-week trial here.
Friday, March 2
Friday Night Double Feature: The Ladykillers and La poison
Criminal schemes take unlikely targets in these two pitch-dark comedies from the 1950s. In Alexander Mackendrick’s Ealing Studio farce The Ladykillers (1955), a team of thieves (led by Alec Guinness) descends on a boardinghouse run by an elderly widow, who becomes the victim of their misdeeds. In Sacha Guitry’s brisk, witty, and savage La poison (1951), a gardener (Michel Simon) and his wife, fed up after thirty years of marriage, find themselves plotting each other’s murder.
Tuesday, March 6
Tuesday’s Short + Feature: Art* and In...
- 3/1/2018
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
Chicago – It’s rare that I feel comfortable using this kind of hyperbole in a Blu-ray review but here it goes — having watched it again on Criterion Blu-ray, after not seeing it in years, I’m more convinced than ever that John Cassavetes’ “A Woman Under the Influence” is one of the best films ever made. Maybe it’s because I’m older now and have a family of my own, but my most recent viewing of this masterpiece was heartwrenching in a totally different way. It’s stunning.
And the Criterion remaster of it, accompanied by four other of the most important films in the history of the independent film movement in “Cassavetes: Five Films” is a beauty. Oh, yeah, “Shadows,” “Faces,” “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie,” and “Opening Night” are damn good too. This is one of the best possible gifts you could pick up for the...
And the Criterion remaster of it, accompanied by four other of the most important films in the history of the independent film movement in “Cassavetes: Five Films” is a beauty. Oh, yeah, “Shadows,” “Faces,” “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie,” and “Opening Night” are damn good too. This is one of the best possible gifts you could pick up for the...
- 11/1/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Blu-ray Release Date: Oct. 22, 2013
Price: Blu-ray $124.95
Studio: Criterion
John Cassavetes—genius, visionary, and the progenitor of American independent film—receives some high-definition respect from Criterion in the John Cassavetes: Five Films collection.
A former theater actor fascinated by the power of improvisation, Cassavetes brought his search for truth in performance to the screen. The five films in this anthology of dramas—all of which the director maintained total control over by financing them himself and making them outside the studio system—are electrifying and compassionate creations, populated by all manner of humanity: beatniks, hippies, businessmen, actors, housewives, strippers, club owners, gangsters, children.
Cassavetes has often been called an actor’s director, but this body of work—even greater than the sum of its extraordinary parts—shows him to be an audience’s director.
Here’s a breakdown of the movies:
Lelia Goldoni and Anthony Ray star in John Cassavetes' 1959 directorial debut Shadows.
Price: Blu-ray $124.95
Studio: Criterion
John Cassavetes—genius, visionary, and the progenitor of American independent film—receives some high-definition respect from Criterion in the John Cassavetes: Five Films collection.
A former theater actor fascinated by the power of improvisation, Cassavetes brought his search for truth in performance to the screen. The five films in this anthology of dramas—all of which the director maintained total control over by financing them himself and making them outside the studio system—are electrifying and compassionate creations, populated by all manner of humanity: beatniks, hippies, businessmen, actors, housewives, strippers, club owners, gangsters, children.
Cassavetes has often been called an actor’s director, but this body of work—even greater than the sum of its extraordinary parts—shows him to be an audience’s director.
Here’s a breakdown of the movies:
Lelia Goldoni and Anthony Ray star in John Cassavetes' 1959 directorial debut Shadows.
- 9/6/2013
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
Criterion has announced their October 2013 releases and it includes brand new Michelangelo Antonioni, the company's first DVD box set Blu-ray upgrade and a Blu-ray upgrade of a film many were talking about when Holy Motors premiered last year. First is Antonioni's La Notte (10/29) starring Marcello Mastroianni and Jeanne Moreau, which I first watched on Netflix Instant what feels like a long, long, long time ago. I can hardly remember the story of a couple who confront the issues within their relationship and the world around them over the course of one night. The version I saw was dark and I can only assume this new 4K digital restoration will be worth the price even if the included features are merely a couple of new interviews, an essay by Richard Brody and a 1961 article by Antonioni. Another new title to the collection is Lewis Allen's 1944 haunted house feature The Uninvited...
- 7/15/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
We're sad to report that actor Ben Gazzara has succumbed to pancreatic cancer at age 81. Over Gazzara's nearly-sixty year career, his greatest screen moments occurred in collaboration with close friend John Cassavetes, along with actors Peter Falk, Seymour Cassel, and Cassavetes' wife Gena Rowlands. With Falk's passing last year and now with Gazzara's, it seems an opportune time to revisit a 2004 chat I had for Venice Magazine with the surviving members of the Cassavetes "company" that coincided with Criterion's release of their "John Cassavetes: Five Films" collection. Cassel was the only member not present during the conversations, which took place in the home that John and Gena shared from 1962 until his death, and which served as a location for many of their films together.
Remembering Cassavetes:
The Legacy of America’s Most Important Indie Film Pioneer Is Preserved in the Criterion Collection’s New Release John Cassavetes:...
Remembering Cassavetes:
The Legacy of America’s Most Important Indie Film Pioneer Is Preserved in the Criterion Collection’s New Release John Cassavetes:...
- 2/16/2013
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
World Trade Center
Release date: Dec. 12, 2006
Oliver Stone's excellent direction of "World Trade Center", a Paramount Widescreen release (retail $29.99), based upon the actual experiences of two policemen caught beneath the rubble of 9/11, keeps the story moving effectively and churns out the tears in the final act in a dependably cathartic manner. The 2006 film basically plays like one of those really good TV movies about rescuing trapped miners, except that its historical context has a feature film validity. Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena star. The film runs 128 minutes, with its first half hour depicting the events leading up to their entrapment, and then cutting between their desperation, the desperation of their families, and the efforts by rescue workers to find them and bring them out. Stone proves his mettle with the steady precision of his approach to the material. There is nothing flamboyant in his technique, just a solid competence in the execution of the drama and the effects, and the touches of patriotism he slips in at the end feel earned He even elicits a fine performance from Nicolas Cage, which is not always an easy thing to do.
The letterboxing has an aspect ratio of about 1.85:1 and an accommodation for enhanced 16:9 playback. The color transfer is solid, and details are never distorted during the minimal light sequences. The 5.1-channel Dolby Digital sound has plenty of good separation effects but, like the rest of the film, is not overdone in its execution. There is an alternate French audio track in 5.1 Dolby, optional English and Spanish subtitles, and 18 minutes of well-acted but sensibly deleted scenes.
Stone supplies a commentary track and also speaks over the deleted scenes. His discourse is thorough and informative, as he analyzes the reality he is depicting and talks about both the individuals whose story is being told and the actors portraying them. He describes the challenges of shooting the film, some of which was accomplished in a very confined and rather dark space, and shares many other worthwhile insights about making the film and what the film represents. He also notes with the barest hint of disdain that at first, kibitzers declared that the film was going to be too political, and then, once it came out, they complained it wasn't political enough.
A second audio track, which is equally rewarding, features four of the individuals whose experiences are dramatized in the film, including Will Jimeno, who was played by Pena. They provide a running comparison between what really happened and the dramatic license taken by the film, go into more detail about what occurred at specific moments, and, most importantly, impart the sense and wisdom of experience that made Stone want to tell their story in the first place.
Paramount has also issued a 2-Disc Commemorative Edition release (retail $40). The first platter is identical to the standard release. The second platter contains a number of documentaries, the most notable of which is essentially a 54-minute sequel to the film, directed by Charles Kiselyak, that retells the story of the rescue through interviews with the rescue workers and the families of the trapped men, and then extends into the story of the men's recoveries and what happened to them afterwards. If you have any tears left from watching the film, they will be completely exhausted by the time the piece concludes.
Also featured are 80 minutes of decent production documentaries (including an excellent topographical explanation of why the men survived) that supplements Stone's commentary effectively (actually, to be on top of Stone's occasionally obscure references to production details in his commentary track, it is best to watch the documentaries first), an interesting 25-minute interview with Stone about growing up in Manhattan, a 13-minute interview with Stone about the film, a trailer, five TV commercials, and a nice collection of production photos.
The complete database of Doug Pratt's DVD-video reviews is available at dvdlaser.com. A sample copy of the DVD-Laser Disc Newsletter can be obtained by calling (516) 594-9304.
Oliver Stone's excellent direction of "World Trade Center", a Paramount Widescreen release (retail $29.99), based upon the actual experiences of two policemen caught beneath the rubble of 9/11, keeps the story moving effectively and churns out the tears in the final act in a dependably cathartic manner. The 2006 film basically plays like one of those really good TV movies about rescuing trapped miners, except that its historical context has a feature film validity. Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena star. The film runs 128 minutes, with its first half hour depicting the events leading up to their entrapment, and then cutting between their desperation, the desperation of their families, and the efforts by rescue workers to find them and bring them out. Stone proves his mettle with the steady precision of his approach to the material. There is nothing flamboyant in his technique, just a solid competence in the execution of the drama and the effects, and the touches of patriotism he slips in at the end feel earned He even elicits a fine performance from Nicolas Cage, which is not always an easy thing to do.
The letterboxing has an aspect ratio of about 1.85:1 and an accommodation for enhanced 16:9 playback. The color transfer is solid, and details are never distorted during the minimal light sequences. The 5.1-channel Dolby Digital sound has plenty of good separation effects but, like the rest of the film, is not overdone in its execution. There is an alternate French audio track in 5.1 Dolby, optional English and Spanish subtitles, and 18 minutes of well-acted but sensibly deleted scenes.
Stone supplies a commentary track and also speaks over the deleted scenes. His discourse is thorough and informative, as he analyzes the reality he is depicting and talks about both the individuals whose story is being told and the actors portraying them. He describes the challenges of shooting the film, some of which was accomplished in a very confined and rather dark space, and shares many other worthwhile insights about making the film and what the film represents. He also notes with the barest hint of disdain that at first, kibitzers declared that the film was going to be too political, and then, once it came out, they complained it wasn't political enough.
A second audio track, which is equally rewarding, features four of the individuals whose experiences are dramatized in the film, including Will Jimeno, who was played by Pena. They provide a running comparison between what really happened and the dramatic license taken by the film, go into more detail about what occurred at specific moments, and, most importantly, impart the sense and wisdom of experience that made Stone want to tell their story in the first place.
Paramount has also issued a 2-Disc Commemorative Edition release (retail $40). The first platter is identical to the standard release. The second platter contains a number of documentaries, the most notable of which is essentially a 54-minute sequel to the film, directed by Charles Kiselyak, that retells the story of the rescue through interviews with the rescue workers and the families of the trapped men, and then extends into the story of the men's recoveries and what happened to them afterwards. If you have any tears left from watching the film, they will be completely exhausted by the time the piece concludes.
Also featured are 80 minutes of decent production documentaries (including an excellent topographical explanation of why the men survived) that supplements Stone's commentary effectively (actually, to be on top of Stone's occasionally obscure references to production details in his commentary track, it is best to watch the documentaries first), an interesting 25-minute interview with Stone about growing up in Manhattan, a 13-minute interview with Stone about the film, a trailer, five TV commercials, and a nice collection of production photos.
The complete database of Doug Pratt's DVD-video reviews is available at dvdlaser.com. A sample copy of the DVD-Laser Disc Newsletter can be obtained by calling (516) 594-9304.
- 1/12/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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