B Extra Quality: The Criterion Collection -
Before Disney, there was Cocteau. This is not a children’s film; it’s a surrealist poem about loneliness. The living candelabras are creepy, the beast is heartbreaking, and the final shot of Jean Marais flying through the starry sky is pure magic. If you own only one French fantasy film, make it this one.
In the world of cinema, few logos command as much respect as the minimalist black-and-white "C" inside a square. For cinephiles, The Criterion Collection is not merely a distributor; it is a canon. It is a promise that the film contained within is a work of art, meticulously restored and preserved for posterity. The Criterion Collection - B
The film that launched the French New Wave. With its jump cuts and cool, jazz-infused energy, it remains a symbol of cinematic revolution. Before Disney, there was Cocteau
Criterion has increasingly become a home for the "lost" classics of American genre cinema, and Brian De Palma’s conspiracy thriller is a prime example. A visual feast that pays homage to Hitchcock and Antonioni, Blow Out is a testament to Criterion’s appreciation of pure filmmaking craft. The "B" section is not just for the arthouse; it is for the technically brilliant genre work that was perhaps underappreciated in its time. If you own only one French fantasy film, make it this one
