Greetings Movie Advocate regulars! Today we continue off our special Christmas present to you, a series of 12 lists for the 12 days of Christmas. We're continuing today with lists of our 3 favorite movies worthy of the Criterion treatment but have not received it yet. Agree? Disagree? Either way we'd love to hear about it!
Ben's List
3. The Devil's Backbone
I am positive that we haven’t seen Guillermo Del Toro’s best movie yet. In the first decade and and a half of his career he has shown great promise both artistically and commercially, but every movie he’s made so far feels like a stepping stone toward reaching his true potential. That is why it has been so frustrating the last few years watching Del Toro slave away on The Hobbit and finally leave the project out of frustration. We simply can’t afford to let Del Toro waste four years trying to get a doomed project off the ground. He has too many good movies to make. The Devil’s Backbone is far and away my favorite of Del Toro’s movies thus far, probably the only movie of his that I would consider perfect, though I enjoy Pan’s Labyrinth, Cronos, and the Hellboy movies an awful lot. In Devil’s Backbone, Del Toro utilizes quiet performances, haunting atmospheres, a heartbreaking story, understated effects work, and gorgeous cinematography to express his unmistakable, utterly unique voice. I was excited to see Criterion release Cronos this year, which in my mind means that we can’t be far away from Devil’s Backbone. That would be good news, as this movie has gotten nothing but the short shrift on DVD.
2. The Conversation
This is in my estimation Coppola’s best movie. Sure, The Godfather I and II give you more bang for your buck, but The Conversation is Coppola's pinnacle contribution to expanding the language and potential of cinema. Considering Criterion’s efforts to archive the best artistic and technical achievements in movies, the sound design and editing alone make The Conversation a worthy candidate.
1. A Matter of Life and Death
Okay, Criterion. You have already released 90 percent of the Archers body of work on your label. Would you pa-leeeze just go ahead and release Powell and Pressburger’s best movie, already? I would kill my firstborn child to see the rose garden scene in BluRay. A Matter of Life and Death is in the running for best cinematography ever. What's more, it's one of the best movies ever made. And while you’re at it, would you (or somebody, anybody) please release …One of Our Aircraft is Missing… too?
Justin's list:
3. Children of Men
Alfonso Curon's simple science fiction movie combines an economy of storytelling and large action set pieces in a striking and effective way. This will be one of the enduring movies of our generation. Expect to see this on TCM in 20 years.
2. Slap Shot
George Roy Hill's comedy about a minor league hockey team is the best sports movie ever made and one of the most grown up looks at male sexuality to be put on film. Iteresting fact, this most male of movies was written by a woman, Nancy Dowd. I would love to see serious analysis of this movie from male and female perspectives. I think that because this movie is so funny and ridiculous that it doesn't get a lot of the credit it deserves.
1. The Films of the Marx Brothers: The Cocoanuts, Animal Crackers, Monkey Business, Horse Feathers, Duck Soup, A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, Room Service, At the Circus, Go West, The Big Store, and A Night in Casablanca
To their credit, Warner Brothers did a pretty good job with their reissues of Night at the Opera and Day at the Races. In particular, Leonard Maltin's full length commentary on Opera is superb. The editions of the earlier movies that Universal put out a few years ago are severely lacking in worthwhile analysis, historical context, and commentary tracks. There is a wealth of research and thought about the brothers Marx out there. These movies more than any other are deserving of an ultra deluxe Criterion release. I know I'd buy them again.