MovieChat Forums > Last Chants for a Slow Dance (1977) Discussion > Criterion Collection!!!

Criterion Collection!!!

posted 15 years ago by nwmoor
9 replies | jump to latest

Truly one of the most legendary of “unseen” American films, "Last Chants" is a prime candidate for the Criterion Collection and a quality restoration.

Jon Jost's film is a haunting time capsule and it's infulence can be seen/felt in numerous filmmakers (from Gus Van Sant to Richard Linklatter). The final shot, with its implications, its composition, its quiet, its length, lingers still.

For those who care, the acquisitions staff at Criterion can be emailed directly at: [email protected]

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] stobin31 15 years ago

With the likes of "The Honeymoon Killers" "Two-Lane Blacktop" and "Man Bites Dog" in the Collection, I think Jost would be a perfect add to the library. I've only ever seen a few of Jost's films and they all looked like terrible transfers. I've heard his films were unbelivably gorgeous in theatres, so restoration does sound like the key. I think this would be a great add for Criterion. I would buy.

[–] nwmoor 15 years ago

Well, if Criterion has put out the stuff by Stan Brakhage (talk about limited appeal) it isn't hard for me to imagine them giving their treatment to Jost. He's made so many films...four or five of which are more than deserving. "Last Chants" is definately one of his seminal works, as would be "Bell Diamond," "Sure Fire," "All The Vermeers in New York," "The Bed You Sleep In," "Frameup."

Also, for me, The Criterion Collection is and has always been about discovery. Directors like Carl Dryer and Robert Bresson, it seems, have really been put back into the forefront of serious debate in recent years due to films like "Ordet" and "Mouchette" being remastered. The same can be said for other films nearly forgotten or long over looked like Jarmusch's "Down By Law," Dassin's "Theives' Highway," Perry Henzell's "The Harder They Come," Roeg's "Bad Timing," Herk Harvey's "Carnival of Souls" and the Maysles' bros' "Grey Gardens."

Frankly, when I see a Michael Bay, Kevin Smith or Wes Anderson film in their catalogue, it more than irritates me.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] Chapaev36 15 years ago

Not to mention that even someone as respected as Ruiz appears to be too obscure for Criterion. Jost - just seems too unlikely.

Criterion is fairly conventional in the sense that they'll release films that, for the most part, can be applied to a canon of some kind. The somewhat recent release of "Mon Oncle Antoine" is a good example of the Canadian realist movement.

I don't think Jost corresponds to a particular series of films or tendencies.

[–] HolyShackles 15 years ago

Well this film IS listed in the 1,001 Movies You Need to See Before You Die, so hopefully a promotion like that would propel Criterion folks past any doubts they might have on the marketability of it.

[–] polysicsarebest 14 years ago

I think nearly all of his films would work well on Criterion. I can definitely see Criterion re-released bed you sleep in.

Sadly, I don't think anyone is eever going to pay attention to this AMAZING director until facets or criterion puts his stuff out. And so it goes..
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pre·ten·tious: characterized by assumption of dignity or importance.

[–] BwlBoy 14 years ago

When I'm presented with a film made on no budget I am prepared to compromise in terms of deficient sound, camerawork, editing and lighting but the least you can expect is an intelligent and/or thought provoking screenplay, strong characterisation and development. You get none of that with this film. The central character is clearly a loser and of course a loser can turn to a life of crime but I want and expect the reasons and motivations to be developed and explained when technically a film is substandard. The character, during the opening conversation in his truck with a drifter, displays a vulgarity and objectivity towards women. Then in his two discussions with his wife there are clear signs of antagonism. As a result, if he was to commit a random act of violence everything pointed to it being against a woman. There was nothing logical about the ending. My sole motivation for seeing this was its inclusion in a book of 1001 films to see before you die for which I'm about 80% of the way through. Conversely I think there are at least 50 films in that 1001 for which you could produce an alternative list of those you would rather die than see. This is one of them. The dialogue is expletive riven which is devoid of originality. The soundtrack is relatively abysmal. There is one stomach churning scene of the mutilation of a rabbit. Terrible!

[–] leopoldfilmmaker 9 years ago

I can mostly see where you are coming from, though there's only one point where I greatly disagree: the soundtrack. Are you kidding me? That country music was sublime!

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