Sorry @Shelton10 I only duck in here every coupla weeks so I didn’t see your post.
Lots of old stuff, lots of new stuff. Quite a bit of overlap with Mubi but about 100 times as many films.
The thing is you can actually search their titles without being a member - feast your eyes on this lot … https://films.criterionchannel.com/ There’s literally thousands of awesome movies. I know I sound like a walking billboard for Criterion, but see for yourself.
Actually after writing that post I had the bright idea of checking their website, so I have seen their range. I might actually cancel MUBI and subscribe to Criterion. I’ve been a fan of theirs for a long time and I’ve bought DVDs from them. My only disappointment has been their restored version of Les enfants du paradis, because although the images have been restored beautifully, the sound is really scratchy.
Edit. Hmmmm. I can’t sign up. It says it’s not available in “my region”, which is Melbourne. Where are you?
Further edit. I’ve just re-read your post above where you said you need a VPN. I don’t have one, but I’ll think about getting one.
I suggest NordVPN. Get the 1 year subscription. There are probably free VPNs around but Nord is very reliable and fast.
You use it to sign up and then I presume to watch the movies as well?
Interesting philosophical questions in a Netflix movie I watched last night called 7 Años (7 years).
The 4 partners in a Madrid technology company have been dodging tax via surreptitious transfers to a Swiss bank, and they’re told that they’ve been rumbled and the fiscal fiends are expected to arrive any minute.
So they devised a plan that one of the 4 would take the blame, and in doing so, render all the transactions opaque so that the tax guys won’t know that all of them were involved.
They hired a mediator to overlook the discussions as to which of them is most dispensable and most able to handle the 7 years in the slammer.
Of course, gaping wounds in their relationships are opened.
Only 77 minutes.
Recognised 3 of the actors…one is the reformed FARC guy in the SBS show, Wild District. The one woman, Juana Acosta, is in most series including The Innocent, and Paco León is in a lot too.
A delightful animated short movie version. Although it is a Russian production, it is in English.
Westgarth Cinema are doing some download options which we had a look at this week.
This ones a cross between Trainspotting and The Mission. A tough blend. Pulls it off though.
Another recommendation in terms of a head ■■■■■■ black skivvy is The Square. Also being offered by Palace. It’ll mess your head up.
I don’t work at Palace I just want the old cinemas to survive
Even shorter, but just as delightful is this little animation. Caution, view first before showing it to young kiddies if they get frightened easily.
Dersu Uzala, 1975, directed by Akira Kurosawa.
This movie took 3 years to make in the extreme eastern part of Siberia. Once you see some of the locations you will understand why it took so long, remote doesn’t begin to describe it. Based on a true story. The movie is set between 1902 - 1910 and tells of the relationship between a cartographer and an older man, a lone hunter who knows all the ways of the forest. He leads the cartographer and his crew through the remote landscape. The two men develop a remarkable friendship. This film is nothing less than a masterpiece. If you haven’t seen it before, you should, if like me, you haven’t seen it for decades, delight in it once again.
Yes, loved that movie when I saw it in the '70s. Would be interested to see it again.
Not quite black Skivvy but just last night I thought I would like to watch Smoke again. William Hurt, Harvey Keitel and Forest Whittaker in a wonderful piece of storytelling.
Unfortunately it seems I have to pay or subscribe to Prime to see it.
Might have to talk to me pirate son about this one.
Yeah, good flick. Brings to mind “Thank you for smoking” too. Same era, and another ripper.
Haven’t seen that but it popped up whilst looking for Smoke.
I can’t recall exactly when l saw it, mid 80’s maybe. The link will take you to a decent copy. There is one thing that became a bit annoying. In Part 2, the subtitles lagged behind the dialogue by up to 5 seconds. The Russian Film Hub had two different versions. If you opt for the separate Parts, you might not have the lagging problem of the combined version.
Just watched Dersu Uzala on Criterion, thanks CJ for the recommendation. What a beautiful film, kind of a love story really.
Been going back and rewatching my favourite Mike Leigh films in recent days - Naked, Secrets and Lies. Topsy Turvey tomorrow night.
No footy, no cricket, lockdown, crap weather = cinephile heaven.
The Elephant. Billed as a comedy, but isn’t, well maybe in a few places.
A circus elephant gets sick and due to a lack of money, the circus decides to euthanize it. A young girl who does odd jobs at the circus and along with the gruff truck driver who was hired to transport to be slaughtered, they decide to keep the elephant, each for their own reasons.
A sweet little movie, offbeat and l reckon kids would also love it.
I love most of Mike Leigh films. Topsy Turvey and Secrets and Lies are my favorites.
Not one of the great movies, but Welcome Home (2018) was one that I enjoyed. If you like films set in a Tuscan looking region of Italy, this is for you, it starts idyllic and becomes more and more sinister. Borderline black skivvy for a film aimed at the US market
Just stumbled across this, in among my bookmarks and can’t recall where or when l saw it. Never mind, l am exploring it now, and there are thousands of free movies to see here, many l have never heard of, so this site should keep me amused for quite some time.
I’m months late on this post, but Criterion let you pay with an o/s credit card and don’t ask for a US address when subscribing? I thought that’s how these services usually operate.