Antichrist #542 Dir. Lars von Trier

SYNOPSIS: Lars von Trier shook up the film world when he premieredAntichrist at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. In this graphic psychodrama, a grief-stricken man and woman—a searing Willem Dafoe and Cannes best actress winner Charlotte Gainsbourg—retreat to their cabin deep in the woods after the accidental death of their infant son, only to find terror and violence at the hands of nature and, ultimately, each other. But this most confrontational work yet from one of contemporary cinema’s most controversial artists is no mere provocation. It is a visually sublime, emotionally ravaging journey to the darkest corners of the possessed human mind; a disturbing battle of the sexes that pits rational psychology against age-old superstition; and a profoundly effective horror film. - via Criterion Website


Well if you couldn't guess by the title, this movie is not for the faint of heart.  The story as outlined above, is shot graphically with very intrusive camera shots.  Being a psychodrama, the camera pushes you not just into the characters psyche but into their physical expression of their breakdown. This movie is amazingly shot and very well acted.  Honestly, it's my favorite Dafoe work since Lynch's Wild at Heart.  This movie will put chills down your spine but if you pay close attention to the imagery, you may walk away with a more permanent feeling of, "is that how I would act?".  This film is by far von Trier's darkest to date but not as intriguing as Dogville. 


I would suggest this movie to anyone who likes truly dark dramas.  Imagine Rabbit Hole on steroids, yeah, that dark.  But if you can stick through the first 30 minutes, I think you'll be able to stomach any film in Criterion's canon.


I would also like to introduce a rating's system for each film rating from 1-10 with points in between.


My rating for Antichrist: 8.8


It is also available through Instant Stream Netflix and Hulu Plus but if you'd like to add to your collection please buy from these links:
 

Cronos #551 Dir. Guillermo del Toro

SYNOPSIS: Guillermo del Toro made an auspicious and audacious feature debut with Cronos, a highly unorthodox tale about the seductiveness of the idea of immortality. Kindly antiques dealer Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi) happens upon an ancient golden device in the shape of a scarab, and soon finds himself the possessor and victim of its sinister, addictive powers, as well as the target of a mysterious American named Angel (a delightfully crude and deranged Ron Perlman). Featuring marvelous special makeup effects and the haunting imagery for which del Toro has become world-renowned, Cronos is a dark, visually rich, and emotionally captivating fantasy. - via Criterion Website


First off, let me announce my bias in that I love del Toro's work.  This film is certainly no Pan's Labyrinth but it has something more unique than any of his other works.  Cronos acts as a precursor announcing del Toro's future fame but can only truly be noticed in hindsight.  Upon screening this film for my 2nd time, I was able to see how his love for fairy tales expands what we already assume and makes it so much more. The Criterion synopsis explains the story very well but what it doesn't go into is the amazing makeup. With CGI being the forefront of films special effects these days, the average movie going audience has lost their imaginations.  When someone views this movie today they may think, "how cheesy, the vampire/zombies in I am Legend are way better". My response would be, there's no heart in CGI. This film shows how even "outdated" makeup can still be really interesting and even thought provoking. Once you accept that not every movie needs to be shot on a digital camera and look perfect to be a good movie I think you will see true cinema magic.  


I would suggest this movie for ages 13 and up.  There is a bit of language but there are way worse PG-13 horror films in theatres today.  And aside from modern horror films, this doesn't include pointless nudity, cool kids swearing, and cheap "jump out of your seat" moments but instead gets your gears turning on the idea of mortality.  Also note, that if you are faint of heart when you see blood or things piercing body parts, this film is not for you. 


Cronos is instant watch on Netflix and Hulu Plus.
Once again, you will rarely find better deals on Criterion than Amazon so here are links for Blu-Ray and DVD:
 

M. Hulot's Holiday #110 Dir. Jacques Tati

SYNOPSIS: Pipe-smoking Monsieur Hulot, Jacques Tati’s endearing clown, takes a holiday at a seaside resort where his presence provokes one catastrophe after another. Tati’s wildly funny satire of vacationers determined to enjoy themselves includes a series of precisely choreographed sight gags involving dogs, boats, and firecrackers. The first entry in the Hulot series is a masterpiece of gentle slapstick. - via Criterion Website

I decided to start my year of Criterion with the classic French slapstick stylings of Jacques Tati.  This film is quiet and well thought out when it does use sound.  The movie is very loose on plot and even character development but the physical gags are hilarious.  Much like Charlie Chaplin's Tramp, Jacques Tati's Monsieur Hulot with have you laughing constantly at his well developed sight gags with many political underpinnings.  If you don't catch the social satires don't worry because you aren't in France in 1953 but if you pay attention you may catch how often side characters are used.  As opposed to many of the Criterion films, this movie is not offensive to anyone making it a perfect movie for the whole family.  The movie is fairly short and would be wonderful to watch on a Sunday afternoon.

I would suggest this movie for anyone who enjoys slapstick comedy but would warn ahead of time that the plot isn't the purpose of the story so get caught in the comedic moment rather than worrying about the whole.

P.S.

I'm still getting use to blog writing style but the more films I review the more comfortable I will become at writing.

The film is instant watch on Netflix and Hulu Plus but if you'd like to own it or stream it via Amazon please use these links...

From April 1st 2011 to April 1st 2012

So if you haven't gotten the gist of my blog yet, I am going through the entire Criterion collection in one year according to spine numbers.  I will not be doing them in order nor will I always link the movies by genre.  I will also watch any Criterion films that come out during the upcoming year and even films that are no longer on the list (i.e. Woo's The Killer).

My reasons for doing this blog is to let everyone know of great movies without treating the reader like they're dumb.  I'm a film student at CBU and everything I come across is either dumbed down or extremely academic.  I don't think man is that dumb, people without "academic" film knowledge generally know when they are watching something of value.  I will write a review on each film so that anyone can get the general idea of what the films about and if it's up their alley.  This will be a chronicling of the entire Criterion catalog so that anyone can enjoy.

And if you have Netflix or Hulu plus please follow along, I will make note of those that are instant watch!

Please also note that if you plan to buy Criterion, please buy through my blog's Amazon links because a.) It's cheaper and b.) I get a cut which makes my viewing easier.  Let's keep in mind, Criterion is almost never cheap and sometimes impossible to find. So