2007 Criterion Forum Awards

Message

Soothsayer · #26 Post by **Soothsayer** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:10 pm

Release of the Year: Hiroshi Teshigahara boxset

Best Eclipse Release: Louis Malle documentaries (the Bernard set was a *very* close 2nd)

Best Box Set: Teshigahara boxset

Best Reissue: Yojimbo

Most Disappointing Release: Bicycle Thieves (I feel like a jerk for even listing something here, but Schreck has a point, the transfer of this wasn't that much better than the Image release, the supplements didn't really seem on-par for the importance of that release, as well)

Best Commentary: Days of Heaven

Best Single Supplement (not a commentary): Anna Prucnal singing the final song on Sweet Movie (w/lyrics altered by Pasolini)

Best Package Design: Les Enfants Terribles (wow, way tougher call than I thought it would be)

Best Surprise: tie: The Makavejev releases/Les Enfants Terribles

nick · #27 Post by **nick** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:26 pm

Release of the Year
1. Mouchette
2. When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
3. La Jetee & Sans Soleil
4. Woman in the Dunes
5. Night on Earth

Best Eclipse Release
Late Ozu

Best Box Set
Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara

Best Reissue
Sanjuro (for some reason I've always enjoyed it a bit more than Yojimbo)

Most Disappointing Release
Border Radio (for the film itself -- I just couldn't get into it)

Best Commentary
Donald Richie on When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (I really like listening to Donald Richie)

Best Single Supplement (not a commentary)
The inclusion of Permanent Vacation with Stranger Than Paradise

Best Package Design
Berlin Alexanderplatz (I would love a few of those panels blown up to poster size)

Best Surprise
Mala Noche

Forum Member of the Year
HerrSchreck (for all the silent film knowledge he has imparted)

Richard Cranium Award
125100

NABOB OF NOWHERE · #28 Post by **NABOB OF NOWHERE** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:47 pm

If the Shreckmeister keeps racking up those votes it's gonna go down like a bocadillo de mierda with El Hombre Tejano.

GringoTex · #29 Post by **GringoTex** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:52 pm

NABOB OF NOWHERE wrote:If the Shreckmeister keeps racking up those votes it's gonna go down like a bocadillo de mierda with El Hombre Tejano.

Why do you think I volunteered to count the votes?

Via_Chicago · #30 Post by **Via_Chicago** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:49 pm

Release of the Year

1. Raymond Bernard
2. Late Ozu
3. Sansho the Bailiff
4. Army of Shadows
5. When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

Best Eclipse Release

Raymond Bernard

Best Box Set

Raymond Bernard

Best Reissue

Yojimbo/Sanjuro

Most Disappointing Release

Robinson Crusoe on Mars - My only reason is simply that this kind of self-serving release just frankly disappoints me. You have the whole world of titles to choose from that you'll lose money on and we get...this.

Best Commentary

I dunno since I don't buy that many CCs and don't listen to commentaries, but my vote goes to Vincendeau's Army of Shadows commentary if only to pimp her great book on Melville (and I did actually listen to her commentary, she's great).

Best Single Supplement

Jutzi version of Berlin Alexanderplatz

Best Package Design

Sansho

Best Surprise

Raymond Bernard Set

Forum Member of the Year

HerrShreck

Richard Cranium Award

125100 - fucking asshole regardless of the veracity of his claim

NABOB OF NOWHERE · #31 Post by **NABOB OF NOWHERE** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:51 pm

GringoTex wrote:
NABOB OF NOWHERE wrote:If the Shreckmeister keeps racking up those votes it's gonna go down like a bocadillo de mierda with El Hombre Tejano.
Why do you think I volunteered to count the votes?

Is it gonna be Florida all over again then??

teddyleevin · #32 Post by **teddyleevin** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:05 pm

Release of the Year
1. Berlin Alexanderplatz
2. Breathless
3. Threepenny Opera
4. Drunken Angel
5. Ace in the Hole

Best Eclipse Release
The Documentaries of Louis Malle

Best Reissue
The Third Man

Most Disappointing Release
Vengeance is Mine

Best Commentary
House of Games (David Mamet and Ricky Jay)

Best Single Supplement
Shadowing the Third Man

Best Package Design
Threepenny Opera

Best Surprise
Fires on the Plain

Best Boxed Set
Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara

Forum Member of the Year
domino harvey

Tribe · #33 Post by **Tribe** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:15 pm

HerrSchreck wrote:And one last craniumism to Becker or Turell or whoever it was who leaked out to a board member his disappointmet (knowing it would hit these boards) over Kino's very good POTEMKIN. Not perfect but very good. Drop the ball on a project, stay miles away from any mention of silents whatsoever... then try and bitterly preempt a few sales from the dudes who are least trying to get this out at a steady regular clip. Very uncool is an understatement.

Brother Schrek, I think you're wrong on this. First, it wasn't as insidious as you say and second, I don't get the sense that there was any intent at all to put any hurt on Kino's sales of Potemkin (which I did buy and I agree is pretty damn good....notwithstanding those who trashed it on the DVD Beaver list serv). I'll bet anyone who didn't have a decent version of Potemkin picked this one up.

Tribe

Scharphedin2 · #34 Post by **Scharphedin2** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:04 pm

Throughout the year, I really thought this was Criterion's most impressive year ever. Looking back, however, there did seem to be many "sure things," and maybe more mistakes on Criterion's part (transfers, etc) than one would expect (I just found out about the Mala Noche glitch, which is the kind of thing I do find really disappointing -- like the missing minute on last year's Jigoku). Still I really thought it was a great year, especially with the addition of all those wonderful Eclipse sets.

Favorite releases:

1. Raymond Bernhard
2. Samuel Fuller: Early Films
3. Army of Shadows
4. Late Ozu
5. Ace In the Hole

(Out of competition for me: Burmese Harp, Sansho and My Name Is Ivan -- all of which I owned either on laserdisc or DVD already, but where I was just ecstatic to see these particular films receive a Criterion DVD release)

Best Eclipse Release

Raymond Bernhard

Best Box Set

Three Films by Teshigahara (not counting the Eclipse sets)

Best Reissue

Yojimbo

Most Disappointing

I just can't think of any of these releases or films as disappointing. If pressed, I would cite the Chris Marker release, only because I wish they would have transformed this release into a collection of Marker films, rather than merely a R1 release of the two most readily (and almost only) available films by this director.

Best Commentary

Sadly, I had very little time, and opted to only view films this year. I really do look forward to the Vincendeau commentary on Army of Shadows, though. On paper, this would be my favorite.

Best Single Supplement

My vote will always go to the extra films that are sometimes included: The four short films on the Teshigahara box or Jutzi's cut of Berlin, Alexanderplatz

Best Package Design

I really thought Sansho was very lovely, and the Teshigahara Box as a close second.

Best Surprise

It would have to be the Bernhard release. Not only the release truest to Eclipse's colors, but also the only release this year that really expanded my knowledge of cinema history with anohter major director.

Forum Member of the Year

I will cast my vote for Schreck this year for the sheer volume, quality, insight, and fun of his many posts. But really, I am just thankful to be part of the club, so to speak, and I value many people here much more than I can say in a few words. I am personally beyond thankful to Davidhare, Knappen, Steven H, zedz, Kinsayder and Skuhn, both for a wealth of knowledge shared in posts and messages, and great, invaluable kindness in helping me see more films (and many films that I would never ever have seen, if it was not for this forum). And a very warm and special note of thanks to Kinjitsu. Finally, a little sigh, that we did not see more of Forgotten Goldfish.

thethirdman · #35 Post by **thethirdman** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:30 pm

Release of the Year

1. Berlin Alexanderplatz
2. Raymond Bernard
3. Two-Lane Blacktop
4. Sansho the Bailiff
5. Sawdust and Tinsel

Honorable Mentions: Army of Shadows, Green for Danger, Ifâ€¦., La Jetée & Sans Soleil, The Milky Way, and Mouchette.

Best Box Set

Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara

Best Eclipse Release

Raymond Bernard

Runner-Up: The First Films of Samuel Fuller

Best Reissue

The Third Man

Most Disappointing Release

Border Radio

Best Commentary

Donald Richie on Drunken Angel

Honorable Mentions: Army of Shadows, Mouchette, and Sawdust and Tinsel

Best Single Supplement (not a commentary)

Berlin Alexanderplatz (1931) - I enjoyed all of the supplements for BA. It also had the best booklet.

Best Package Design

Days of Heaven

Runner-Up: Berlin Alexanderplatz â€“ I love the disc and package art, but I loathe the overlapping digipak design.

Best Surprise

Criterion: Night on Earth

Eclipse: Raymond Bernard

Forum Member of the Year

Domino Harvey and Peerpee

Richard Cranium Award

125100 - The Fifth Devil

Des Esseintes · #36 Post by **Des Esseintes** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:38 pm

Release of the Year:

1. La Jetee/Sans Soleil
2. Sansho the Bailiff
3. Army of Shadows
4. Ivan's Childhood
5. If...

Honorable Mentions: Border Radio (I liked it), Mouchette, Under the Volcano, Overlord, Fires on the Plain, Breathless, Days of Heaven

Best Box Set:

Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara

Best Eclipse Release:

The Documentaries of Louis Malle

Best Reissue:

The Third Man

Most Disappointing Release:

Monsters and Madmen

Best Commentary:

When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

Best Single Supplement (not a commentary):

Volcano: An Inquiry into the Life and Death of Malcolm Lowry, on Under the Volcano

Best Package Design:

Sansho the Bailiff

Best Surprise:

La haine

Forum Member of the Year

domino harvey

HerrSchreck · #37 Post by **HerrSchreck** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:28 pm

Tribe wrote:
HerrSchreck wrote:And one last craniumism to Becker or Turell or whoever it was who leaked out to a board member his disappointmet (knowing it would hit these boards) over Kino's very good POTEMKIN. Not perfect but very good. Drop the ball on a project, stay miles away from any mention of silents whatsoever... then try and bitterly preempt a few sales from the dudes who are least trying to get this out at a steady regular clip. Very uncool is an understatement.
Brother Schrek, I think you're wrong on this. First, it wasn't as insidious as you say and second, I don't get the sense that there was any intent at all to put any hurt on Kino's sales of Potemkin (which I did buy and I agree is pretty damn good....notwithstanding those who trashed it on the DVD Beaver list serv). I'll bet anyone who didn't have a decent version of Potemkin picked this one up.

No problems, brother. I'm just emptying my frustration with them being so leery of silents, and it stuck in my craw. He could have said "we're disappointed We didnt't get to release this"-- I just thought "we're disappointed by Kino's release"-- given CC's lackluster cojones viz early cinema-- was a little rickety. I wonder how hard they tried. I defend Kino only out of necessity, not that their production values are all that bubblicious. God knows, despite my praising Donald "Give Me Half A Dollar And I'll Give You A DIme" krim's enterprise, I'd rather see CC with all those silent titles instead of Kino.

If 08 produces Gremillon and Sternberg silents, I'll spurt.

And I really think they should offer to split the difference (or insist at rock bottom overseas buyers pay their own shipping) with nonR1 buyers of mussed product like NOCHE... or stop selling to overseas retailers. It's not right. There's got to be a more amicable solution.

magicmarker · #38 Post by **magicmarker** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:51 pm

Release of the Year
1. La Jetée/Sans Soleil
2. Sansho the Bailiff
3. Berlin Alexanderplatz
4. Ivan's Childhood
5. Threepenny Opera

Best Eclipse Release
Late Ozu

Best Box Set
Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara

Best Reissue
The Third Man

Most Disappointing Release
Nothing disappointed me.

Best Commentary
Donald Richie on When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

Best Single Supplement
Jutzi's Berlin Alexanderplatz

Best Package Design
Breathless

Best Surprise
Tie: Green For Danger and When a Woman Ascends the Stairs

Saarijas · #39 Post by **Saarijas** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:27 am

Release of the Year
1. Bicycle Thieves
2. Ace in the Hole
3. If...
4. House of Games
5. Mala Noche

Best Eclipse Release
Raymond Bernard

Best Box Set
Paul Robeson

Best Reissue
The Third Man

Most Disappointing Release
Naked City

Best Commentary
Mamet on House of Games

Best Single Supplement
Jutzi's Berlin Alexanderplatz

Best Package Design
Breathless

Best Surprise
Raymond Bernard

gubbelsj · #40 Post by **gubbelsj** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:36 am

Release of the Year - Sansho the Bailiff

Best Box - Three Films By Hiroshi Teshigahara

Best Reissure - The Third Man

Best Commentary - Mouchette

Best Package Design - Breathless

Best Surprise - Days of Heaven / Thunder (well, I didn't see it coming...)

Best Member - best online prose this side of the Bay of Fundy (at his best)

Richard Cranium - 125100, although I still hold out hope. Oh, how I recall the slightly breathless phone conversation I had with member-in-good-standing Gregory... "You think it's true?".... Goddamn you for exploiting the eternal optimist residing deep inside.

#41 Post by **Jeff** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:49 am

gubbelsj wrote:Best Surprise - Days of Thunder (well, I didn't see it coming...)

I don't think anyone saw that coming.

gubbelsj · #42 Post by **gubbelsj** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:01 am

You didn't? Neither did spell check..... (although even spell check wouldn't have picked up that cock-up...sheesh, what Monastrell will do to you....)

Solaris · #43 Post by **Solaris** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:12 am

Release of the Year
1. Berlin Alexanderplatz
2. Mouchette
3. Sansho the Bailiff
4. Ivan's Childhood
5. The Burmese Harp

Best Eclipse Release
Raymond Bernard

Best Reissue
The Lady Vanishes

Best Single Supplement
1931 Berlin Alexanderplatz

Best Surprise
Sweet Movie

Best Boxed Set
Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara

Forum Member of the Year
david hare

Morbii · #44 Post by **Morbii** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:23 am

Release of the Year: Ivan's Childhood
Best Eclipse Release: Early Bergman
Best Box Set: Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara
Best Reissue: Yojimbo
Best Package Design: Yojimbo/Sanjuro
Best Surprise: House of Games
Forum Member of the Year: Zedz
Richard Cranium Award: HerrSchreck

Steven H · #45 Post by **Steven H** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:46 am

Release of the Year
1. Raymond Bernard
2. When a Woman Ascends the Stairs
3. Army Of Shadows
4. Fires on the Plain
5. if...

Best Eclipse Release
Raymond Bernard

Best Reissue
Yojimbo

Most Disappointing
Mon$ters and Madmen

Best Commentary
Ginette Vincendeau on Army of Shadows

Best Single Supplement
1931 Berlin Alexanderplatz

Best Package Design
Threepenny Opera

Best Surprise
Raymond Bernard

Best Boxed Set
Late Ozu

Forum Member of the Year
zedz (though there are a slew of other great folks that post here, the europeans especially, I think all of them can agree with me on this)

Richard Cranium
everybody has their days.

cysiam · #46 Post by **cysiam** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:29 pm

Release of the Year
1. Breathless
2. Ace in the Hole
3. Army of Shadows
4. Stranger Than Paradise
5. Days of Heaven

Best Eclipse Release
Raymond Bernard

Best Box Set
Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara

Best Reissue
The Third Man

Most Disappointing Release
Border Radio

Best Single Supplement (not a commentary)
Teshigahara Shorts

Best Package Design
Threepenny Opera

Best Surprise
Days of Heaven

My Man Godfrey · #47 Post by **My Man Godfrey** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:13 pm

3 categories I missed before:

Best single supplement: Definitely the 1931 version of Berlin Alexanderplatz. I wasn't even thinking of it as a supplement -- to me, it's such an important part of the package -- but I guess it counts.

Best forum member: domino harvey (for alerting everyone to so many great deals in the DVD bargains threads)

Richard Cranium award: domino harvey (for the cumulative damage those too-good-to-pass-up deals have done to my bank balance).

eez28 · #48 Post by **eez28** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:50 am

Release of the Year
1. Berlin Alexanderplatz
2. Army of Shadows
3. Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara
4. Ace in the Hole
5. La Jetee & Sans Soleil

Best Eclipse Release
Raymond Bernard â€“ So unexpected and great

Best Box Set
Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara â€“ So beautiful

Best Reissue
Yojimbo/Sanjuro â€“ So needed

Most Disappointing Release
Four Masterworks â€“ So unnecessary

Best Commentary
Unfortunately I haven't gotten around to listening to any this year

Best Single Supplement (not a commentary)
Jarmusch Q&A on Night on Earth â€“ only because my question was picked

Best Package Design
Days of Heaven â€“ with Breathless a very close second (just love the colors and all the little pictures)

Best Surprise
Cria Cuervos â€“ the only release this year I instantly fell in love with on first viewing

Forum Member of the Year
Peerpee â€“ for doing some amazing MoC work this year

Richard Cranium Award
125100 â€“ no explanation needed

HerrSchreck · #49 Post by **HerrSchreck** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 5:36 am

you gotta be kidding me wrote:
Morbii wrote:Richard Cranium Award: HerrSchreck
I love you.

LOVE BLOOMS ON THE INTERNET!
(Strenuously deep love too!)

Actually, this being the web-- make that Life-- considering the manic amount I posted this last quarter (based on a manic amount of film watching), I'm surprised it's only two. SPectator sports are the hater's playground. The only guy who (almost) escapes that syndrome is zedz... but he like David & I get nipped at by Gringo at a solid clip.

Notwithstanding this year-- like last-- I sure wouldn't mind Not Winning...

toiletduck! · #50 Post by **toiletduck!** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 5:45 am

Release Of The Year:
1. Sweet Movie
2. WR: Mysteries Of The Organism
3. Breathless
4. La Jetee/Sans Soleil
5. Ace In The Hole

Best Eclipse Release
Raymond Bernard

Best Box Set
Paul Robeson

Best Reissue
Yojimbo/Sanjuro

Most Disappointing Release
Vengeance Is Mine

Best Package Design
Three Films by Hiroshi Teshigahara

Best Surprise
Martha Graham: Dance On Film

-Toilet Dcuk