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10 Questionably Criterion Films

by Dan D'Agostino

Created 07/15/12

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29 comments
★ 1

A list of 10 films that I question the presence of on the Criterion Collection.
#10 being the most questionable.

  • Film_23w_robocop_w160

    1.
    RoboCop

    Paul Verhoeven

    Now, don't get me wrong, I love me some "RoboCop." And I can appreciate the fact that Paul Verhoeven makes intentionally "bad" films. I mean, c'mon ... he was the first person to ever receive a Golden Raspberry in person. But Criterion? Really?

  • P_w160

    2.
    Stranger Than Paradise

    Jim Jarmusch

    I have seen nearly every Jim Jarmusch film. "Down By Law" is easily in the tops of my list. I even LIKE "Stranger Than Paradise," but admittedly only because I like Jarmusch's work. It is for the most part dull and boring, although it has some memorable moments. Nevertheless, Questionably Criterion.

  • Film_540w_darjeelinglimited_w160

    3.
    The Darjeeling Limited

    Wes Anderson

    "Darjeeling Limited" is probably Wes Anderson's worst film. Does that mean it's a bad film? Not at all. Does that mean it should be included in the Criterion Collection? The jury is still out on that one ...

  • Rockw_w160

    4.
    The Rock

    Michael Bay

    Michael Bay? I can get behind an action movie as much as the next guy. But I am strongly suspicious that this addition to the collection may have been a pay off. I just wonder if Michael had as much of a budget for bribes as he did for this film.

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    5.
    The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

    David Fincher

    Hey! What's a "hater" list without one film you haven't even seen! That's right Criterionites, I've never even SEEN this film! What? You think that disqualifies my ability to question what seems to be a lavish butchering of one of the greatest short stories? Haterz gon hate.

  • Film_563w_somethingwild_w160

    6.
    Something Wild

    Jonathan Demme

    I cannot think of a more bizarrely mediocre film for the Criterion Collection. Just strange more than anything. Demme, who has a career of equal parts brilliance and baloney, serves up an incredibly forgettable romp of schlock.

  • P_w160

    7.
    Slacker

    Richard Linklater

    I could write this review as an insanely pretentious monologue of monotony, but you would probably get just as bored as I get when watching most of Richard Linklater's films, particularly "Slacker."

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    8.
    Dazed and Confused

    Richard Linklater

    Back to back Linklaters! What's worse than a Linklater script of babbling drivel? Oh yeah, one that instead seeks to be a more mainstream film.

  • Amy_w160

    9.
    Chasing Amy

    Kevin Smith

    'Nuff said.

  • Armeggedonw_w160

    10.
    Armageddon

    Michael Bay

    And finally, #10 of the Top 10 Questionably Criterion Films... ARMAGEDDON! I need only mention one thing ... A Liv Tyler performance will now be forever emblazoned on Criterion's resume. And with that, I bid you good night!

29 comments

  • By StevenH
    July 16, 2012
    11:45 AM

    You said it! I have a large library including almost every Criterion title. Your list is almost the same as my "The Only Criterion Films I Ditched" list. I'm a bit surprised they didn't release a second Smith to go with Chasing Amy, since they seem to double-down on the truly embarrassing.
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    • By Dan D'Agostino
      July 16, 2012
      12:17 PM

      I think it's interesting that Criterion releases rightfully "important" films, yet they release "Chasing Amy" and not "Clerks?" I don't even like "Clerks," but it probably wouldn't even make this list as I could understand why they would release it. But "Chasing Amy?" Bizarre.

  • By MC
    July 16, 2012
    12:16 PM

    Tiny Furniture.
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    • By Dan D'Agostino
      July 16, 2012
      12:22 PM

      Ha! Good call. I didn't have it on my list because I haven't seen it ... mostly because I had ZERO interest. They might as well release "The Room."

  • By Daniel-S
    July 16, 2012
    12:37 PM

    Something Wild, The Linklaters, Curious Case, and Robocop should stay right where they are in the collection. Tiny Furniture, Lord of the Flies, Night Porter, The Vanishing, and Hopscotch should replace them.
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    • By Drew Phillips
      July 16, 2012
      06:23 PM

      Hopscotch, the Vanishing and the Night Porter are amazing!

  • By Daniel-S
    July 16, 2012
    12:37 PM

    on your list
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    • By Dan D'Agostino
      July 18, 2012
      11:55 AM

      I think that's great, Daniel! The beauty of a list like this is it is my own subjective opinion. I'm sure yours would look quite different!

  • By Drew Phillips
    July 16, 2012
    06:23 PM

    THE GAME
    Reply

  • By JesseCole
    July 22, 2012
    11:58 PM

    You are an idiot, it seems to me that you dislike what you dont want to understand. Besides the Michael Bay this this is utterly ridiculous. I really hope your list doesn't deter people from seeing these films, especially putting one that you haven't even seen before, and I felt ashamed that you were a criterion user when I read "Haterz gon hate". Just embarrassing
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    • By Dan D'Agostino
      August 01, 2012
      01:07 PM

      I find it hard to believe that you think I don't "understand" these films, when in many of my explanations I pointed out an understanding and affinity for filmmakers like Wes Anderson, Jim Jarmusch, Paul Verhoven... You don't know me, so don't assume you know more than me. Obviously, with Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I was being ridiculous more than anything. I made this list for fun. There are definite films that in MY OPINION I find strange for their place in a collection of great film. To say that no one should ever question or disagree with (or even THINK DIFFERENTLY from!) the Criterion Collection is the main problem that I find with some collectors. We are film aficionados, Jesse, you and I. We are supposed to have different opinions. In fact, what makes film so exciting is the exploration of each others opinions and why we feel the way we do. The last thing I think we should do is hold Criterion as some sort of infallible standard of cinematic holiness. They're ALLOWED to release films that maybe you or I won't like, and in my opinion, I think it is healthy discussion for us to express our feelings on those films, even if contrary to Criterion itself.

  • By Jack Y.
    July 30, 2012
    04:39 PM

    Where is the Beastie Boys?
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    • By Dan D'Agostino
      August 01, 2012
      01:10 PM

      I actually LIKE the Beastie Boys DVD, so not on my list! I love Spike Jonze's work, so I am happy to see them release some of the creative videos that both he and the Beasties have put together.

  • By Drew Phillips
    August 05, 2012
    11:02 PM

    Thank God SOME ONE agrees with Something Wild. I was really looking forward to that (great cover art, great director, what could go wrong?) and it was just...ugh. Melanie Griffith was the root of the problem I think
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    • By Dan D'Agostino
      August 07, 2012
      07:16 PM

      I was also quite let down when I first saw it. I had just watched "Swimming to Cambodia" and was a long-time fan of "Stop Making Sense," so when I found out Demme did a film between those two, I was sure it couldn't miss. But it did. I was equally shocked when it later came out on Criterion!

  • By coolhand
    August 09, 2012
    01:06 AM

    i think that the films that they choose all have good reason to be in the collection. while some of them may not be to your standard, they represent something important to cinema. kevin smith's dialogue and human interaction between characters works, micheal bay makes an awesome blockbuster movie (when its put in the criterion people seem to question the intelligence of the film since its very stupid dumbed down humor and obvious plot, but thats exactly what its supposed to be and therein lies the appeal: big dumb fast paced action), i could go on and on for each of these movies.. but i think that if you are saying that something doesn't belong in the collection you are probably missing the point behind why it was chosen. they don't just pull names from a hat, there is careful deliberation for each film chosen. also i dont think that marketing films like armageddon and the rock to an audience (criterion buyers) made up mostly of cinephiles is a way to make major money for criterion. i think that they genuinely think that the movies they choose are important and worthwhile. and while i disagree with you about this, i still respect your interest in the criterion collection and how they decide what films go into the collection in the first place. i wish that was a job that i had.
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    • By Dan D'Agostino
      August 09, 2012
      03:39 PM

      Great response! I agree with a large majority of what you said. I don't doubt that for each film they had good reason, the list is mostly just to express either my confusion or disagreement with their choices.

  • By coolhand
    August 10, 2012
    12:35 AM

    gotcha. still, always good to see other peoples opinions
    Reply

  • By Wesley
    August 13, 2012
    07:04 PM

    I would have to include Walker and the Makioka Sisters
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    • By Dan D'Agostino
      August 28, 2012
      03:12 PM

      Really? I haven't seen Walker, but I tend to love anything by Alex Cox. It's on my to-watch list for that reason, but I may approach it slightly more apprehensively now. Hahaha!

  • By ggfanjase
    September 24, 2012
    09:58 PM

    The two Michael Bays and The Darjeeling Limited are one of the ones I've always side-eyed for their inclusion in the collection. Especially Darjeeling, which is one of the phoniest I've ever seen and Anderson's worst by a country mile.
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    • By Dan D'Agostino
      October 09, 2012
      12:15 PM

      I actually like Darjeeling but I don't feel the level of auteurism is as high as some of his other films. Even not as great as Bottle Rocket.

  • By jerryjuiceteria
    November 01, 2012
    11:33 PM

    'stranger than paradise' might be worth another look, or another look from another angle. i find myself occasionally thinking that non-jarmusch fans may find it boring, but i'm not sure that's true, and everyone i know who's seen it even if they're not necessarily a film geek has liked it. i think it was made with a point and a fully formed style. it may in some ways be a film about boredom--and i know that whether or not the film itself's boring or not is subjective, but if you claim to like and understand it i don't understand why you don't think it has a place in the collection
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    • By jerryjuiceteria
      November 01, 2012
      11:35 PM

      i know you said this list was just for fun, and i get that, but this question of the film's style and what could be called its dullness interests me

    • By Dan D'Agostino
      November 08, 2012
      02:29 PM

      I think you're right that it deserves another viewing. I've watched it twice, but admittedly not for YEARS (before it was on Criterion). I actually DID (and still do) like it. Thinking of the main girl walk around with her Screaming Jay Hawkins tape is something that I think about, strangely, quite often. So it's not that I don't like the film, I just wonder if it has enough going for it to be considered in the collection. But you may be right, and of all the films on this list, I am quite certain this is my favorite. I could watch John Lurie and Richard Edson interact for hours. Those two crack me up.

  • By reeCe
    January 23, 2013
    05:00 AM

    Nice list.- All the titles that came to my mind when I heard "ten questionable releases"
    Reply

  • By reeCe
    January 28, 2013
    09:42 PM

    I don't want to admit it, but sadly, I'd probably add some of the films from the Monsters and Madmen box set, like the Atomic Submarine, and The First Man into Space. I understand they're B films- but there were better Bs made.
    Reply

  • By thoakun
    March 08, 2013
    10:19 AM

    Great choices. I wonder what Jim Jarmusch film should a beginner watch first. Stranger than Paradise is the first film by Jarmusch I've watched and although there were great moments, humorous interactions, I find the film to be boring and dull in general.
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  • By Stevewa
    March 31, 2013
    11:51 PM

    I liked Something Wild although I don't think it's up to Criterion standards. I thought the Curious Case of Benjamin Button was pretty lousy. Chasing Amy definitely doesn't belong. Another that I thought was particularly bad was The Honeymoon Killers.
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