Persona (Criterion Collection) (Blu-ray)
Haunting and complex, Ingmar Bergman’s Persona is perhaps the director’s most unforgiving look at the human condition. Probing the depths of the human psyche with surprising intimacy, the intensity never lets up, leaving the viewer to experience every uncomfortable twist and turn in the two main characters emotional stability. Elisabeth Vogler (Liv Ullman) is a […]
Tess (Criterion Collection) (Blu-ray)
Based on Thomas Hardy’s novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Roman Polanski’s Tess is dedicated to Sharon Tate, who had suggested the novel as a vehicle for herself. Perhaps it’s fitting then, that while the film is visually stunning; it lacks vitality, of Hardy’s novel, keeping things very reserved for the nearly three hour runtime. Poor […]
Fantastic Mr. Fox (Criterion) (Blu-ray)
20th Century Fox released a fairly impressive Blu-ray of Fantastic Mr. Fox back in 2010. However, Criterion is renowned for producing wonderful looking, and sounding editions packed with special features. This release is no different; I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this release might show up on a few “Best […]
La Vie de Bohème (Blu-ray)
Based on Henri Murger’s Scenes de la Vie de Boheme—the same 19th century novel that inspired Puccini’s opera, La Vie de Bohème is a very subdued film; so much so, that if you watch just the first fifteen minutes or so, you could believe nothing happens. That’s not exactly true. La Vie de Bohème is […]
The Long Day Closes (Blu-ray)
A true visual feast, The Long Day Closes tracks several months in the life of Bud (Leigh McCormack), a twelve year old boy growing up in 1956 Liverpool, England. Introspective and slightly gawky, Bud doesn’t talk a lot, often lost in his own thoughts. 1950’s England is a country dealing with postwar economic deprivation and […]
Throne of Blood (Blu-ray)
The first film version of William Shakespeare’s dark and bloody tale of Macbeth I remember seeing is Roman Polanski’s 1971 take on the story. Known for its dark brutality, this should come as little surprise, since it was the director’s first film after the brutal murder of his wife, actress Sharon Tate. Released in 1957, […]
Grey Gardens (Blu-ray)
Grey Gardens was originally released by Criterion in 2001 with spine number 123. In 2006, the company released The Beales of Grey Gardens, a follow up of sorts, consisting of outtakes from the shooting of the original film. The Beales of Grey Gardens was put out on a separate disc (with spine number 361) and […]
Frances Ha (Blu-ray)
Noah Baumbach’s films are largely character studies, and Frances Ha’s Frances Halliday—portrayed and co-created by Greta Gerwig, who shares screenwriting credit—is a study in contradictions. A dancer whose career is coming to an end before it ever really took off. At twenty-seven, Frances is at that awkward, transitional period in life where she’s too old […]
John Cassavetes: Five Films (Blu-ray)
John Cassavetes is considered by many the “father of American independent cinema.” Like any moniker, this can be debated, but Cassavetes was unquestionably nonconformist; an actor/writer/director that openly railed against set scripts, fancy crews and the Hollywood “star system.” His concern was exploring what people think and feel, through fierce introspection. Criterion has brought John […]
La Notte (Blu-ray)
The second installment in his trilogy of discontent, Michelangelo Antonioni’s La Notte attempts to examine a couple who have essentially lost themselves in a society dominated by technology, and conspicuous consumption. Once passionately in love, the couple are mere reflections of their former selves as they try to rediscover what brought them together in the […]