Any news on Blu-Ray Supplements?
I considered this a "shut up and take my money" purchase but not if it's a film-only release. Less than a week until release and no details at all. Strange.
shareHave you seen it?
"I'm playing a role, sir. What are you doing?"
Not yet. Planned to buy the blu-ray but not if it's film only.
shareYou may want to rent it first. It was a big letdown, imo. I'm not sure what I was expecting exactly, but it was just De Palma very briefly going over every film in his career. And I mean very briefly. There were a few amusing insights here and there, but otherwise nothing that any De Palma fan isn't already aware of, or anything that was groundbreaking. I had definitely hoped for more given Baumbach and Paltrow's involvement.
Stick to the mini docs on the various discs. There is also some good stuff on YouTube. But it's definitely worth a one-time viewing. Perhaps it would have been better in a three or four hour cut.
"I'm playing a role, sir. What are you doing?"
Thanks for the info. I'm fairly well acquainted with his films and, unfortunately , I fear that your take is correct . Unless there are some good extras, definitely a rental. Sounds like the underwhelming Hitchcock / Truffaut documentary . The book is great but the film...deep as a puddle .
shareI find that "fly-on-the-wall" documentaries tend to be much more entertaining than talking head documentaries. I just watched that Anthony Weiner doc last week, and it was riveting.
Talking head docs I find can be hit-or-miss. I did enjoy the National Lampoon one from last year, and "Electric Boogaloo", about Cannon Films in the 80's, was excellent, but many times they are just the same thing over and over again.
What's weird is that Noah Baumbach had just made a movie about documentary filmmakers last year (While We're Young), but seems to have fallen into the same trap as Stiller's character from that film---making a fairly unamusing film.
Of course, this is all just my opinion. The film has gotten some acclaim, so maybe I'm just being too critical. I'm not only a huge De Palma fan, but also love Baumbach's films, so perhaps I set my expectations too high.
EDIT: I also loved the Harry Dean Stanton doc from last year. What a fascinating character.
"I'm playing a role, sir. What are you doing?"
You have great taste - Weiner, Fat Drunk...and Electric Boogaloo were three recent favorites. The DVD release date for Weiner could not have been better. Literally a day after I saw it, there he was again back on the front page of the New York Post.
I had forgotten about the Harry Dean Stanton documentary but just added it to my Netflix queue.
I don't want to get into politics here but if you like "fly-on-the wall" documentaries, you should check out "Mitt" on Netflix. Love, hate, or indifferent to the guy, it's a great documentary. A mix of talking head / fly-on-the-wall but "Tim's Vermeer" was excellent too.
And thanks again for the info on "De Palma" - I'll save my blu-ray money for the upcoming Raising Cain and Carrie releases from Shout Factory. Hope they eventually get around to Body Double.
Flood3, thats exactly what i did. I saw the film at the nyff last year, if you are a fan its def worth the watch. But I'm weary of buying the bluray if its a bare bones release which I'm pretty sure it is. You can find the doc online now if you really want to see it. But it is just like a big extended interview like the ones baumbach did on both criterion discs. I already have the raising cain scream release and its one of my dream bluray releases come true. Carrie should be here fairly soon. Im also hoping somebody gets a body double bluray release out state side. Its still a great watch tho, dnt let me discourage you from seeing it if you're a fan, but this seems like something id rather see as a bonus feature on a upcoming body double bluray instead of paying for just the doc w no features.
If criterion releases another De Palma film, I can see them putting this on that release if they are able to obtain the rights. Hopefully they get Sisters or Body Double out on blu and are able to do this.
I watched it last night (streamed from Amazon). I enjoyed it but didn't learn anything new. I kind of expected that so I can't say I'm terribly disappointed - it was good, but a bit shallow for an already existing fan. I'm just glad to see him getting some long overdue accolades.
Criterion released a DVD of Sisters a while back which was good (but you probably knew this) so hopefully they can update with a new blu-ray transfer.
Body Double is long due for the proper treatment. The only DVD available for years was pan&scan. It was later corrected with a decent DVD release but it needs a full Shout Factory / Criterion treatment.
I agree. But yes i have both the sisters criterion and the good body double dvd, but they really do need the scream/criterion treatment.
twilight time released the 3000 copies they were allowed to of body double, but i want a better release. I didn't bother playing $50 or more for it. And arrow has a bluray out of sisters sourced from an hd print provided by criterion but this is only a region b release. So hopefully with De Palma finally getting the respect he deserves it seems, these 2 titles will make it to either scream/criterion.
Hey Flood3,
http://www.diabolikdvd.com/category/Horror-[sl]-Thriller/-Body-Double-(Indicator-UK)-(Blu~Ray-All-Region).html
Here is the Body Double we have been waiting for...........This release is amazing! It's criterion treatment quality, booklet and all, same type of case........
Yes, those were great, although I love the DePalma one as well.
A few I'd add...
-Stanley Kubrick, A Life In Pictures
-Milius
-Altman
-Scorsese on Scorsese
-Woody Allen(Crap, I forget the name lol) It's a 2 parter.
I need to see that Altman Documentary, completely forgot about that one. Another one of my fav filmmakers!
shareIt's great stuff. Altman is certainly one of my personal favorites as well. MAYBE the Most Underrated Director ever... Or atleast one of them. He operated similar to how The Coen Bros do now. Most were low to slightly moderate budgets with a few "Bigger" films mixed in and because of that, he didn't have much Studio Interference. He was obviously a Well Regarded Filmmaker but for all the films he made and how incredibly CONSISTENT he was, he isn't exactly at the Top of alot of people's lists. The Coens are more popular, they're Oscar Material almost every year but when you dig thru their work, it's amazing how many films were released with no buzz. 'A Serious Man'(Which I watched today actually lol) was made for $7mil, made $9mil or so... Nothing crazy. Altman was the pioneer for that. He'd get a few mil, sometimes even less, and create a gem. I think back to 'Images' which is STILL barely known and I'm blown away. It was made for nothing and is so effing innovative. He did a ton of weird POV shots, zooms, weird angles etc, it's a strange film but in a good way. Idk how many got wide releases but it's like he made a new film every year lol and most of the time he did what he wanted.
shareHa! Dude, Images might be my favorite Altman film, i cherish my old mgm dvd I've had since it came out and remember getting at best buy years ago and still wish criterion would release a bluray of it. Prob the most underseen/underrated psychological thriller ever! But yes i also agree he is so damn underrated. Criterion is really coming thru tho this year. We already got the player and McCabe & Short Cuts criterion blus are on the way next month. And yea, the coens are completely hit or miss with me now but its funny you also mention serious man as i would say thats the last film i thought was actually great that they've made since no country. Haven't seen Hail, Cesar yet but honestly don't plan on it. wasn't that big of a fan of llewyn and the other western one i cant even remember the name of. Blood simple and Big lebowski are 2 of my favorite films though.
shareYea, the Criterion Collection is pretty good at handling that stuff. As long as the Studio's don't have a problem with it and have all the original negatives etc, they get it done. I love Hulu just for the fact that they have hundreds upon hundreds of the CC. Kurosawa, Bergman, Fellini and even a few Altman and DePalma. I personally love The Coens but regardless, that's all taste, no worries there. It's just a good comparison of Work Ethics. As they've said, they got their little corner of the Sandbox and they're ok with that lol. Altman did the same for 40+ years! Crazy! Images is an absolute gem though. I caught it on Netflix YEARS AGO, it was when I first started streaming it, I was in awe. I saw a lot of Altmans work prior but never got around to it for whatever reason. It's one of those films that leaves you uncomfortable after watching it, that's for sure. He was one of those guys who knew everything about blocking a shot, framing, lighting... He was just as sharp as his Cinematographers. Amazon just added Gosford Park, I watched it twice in a row lol. I believe the documentary is still on Netflix though. Maybe even Hulu too.
shareWanna hear a funny Gosford Park story, it was the only Altman film i was able to see in theater, as i was way 2 young 2 to see any of his 70s, 90s masterpieces of the big screen. ill never forget this, during the last 20 mins of the film the projectionist must of screwed something up and all the ads they show you before the movie trailers came on superimposed over the ending of the film. Unreal! they gave us all comp passes but still. LMFAO Another great underrated Altman is Secret Honor.
Don't get me wrong either i love the Coens also, i mean Blood Simple is one of my absolute favs. They have plenty of other films i love also, just the last couple I've been caught a little off guard. But i did love a serious man and that seemed to be one of the ones that no one even knew about or knew was them.
But all those directors you mentioned-Kurosawa, Fellini, Bergman esp(i own a ton of the bergman criterions & just watched cries and whispers on blu for the first time a few nights ago) i also love. Antonioni, Turffaut, Gavras, Zulawski, those are some more of my favs. The list is endless lol. But thats good to know the doc is on netflix, really need to see that one. But yes! Images has one of the most twisted, uncomfortable endings I've ever seen and he had Vilmos shoot that one for him (he's done stuff for de palma before)