The Criterion Collection

Grand Illusion

Jean Renoir

cbumbray: “I've yet to watch this, but I'm a huge Jean Gabin/ Jean Renoir fan.”

Brazil

Terry Gilliam

cbumbray: “One of my most cherished DVD, and one of the all-time greatest special editions. Has the directors cut, AND the awful TV cut. ”

The 39 Steps

Alfred Hitchcock

cbumbray: “A wonderful film- probably Hitch's best of his early British period. ”

Rushmore

Wes Anderson

cbumbray: “What a great film- and the Max Fisher players MTV shorts are brilliant. ”

Spartacus

Stanley Kubrick

cbumbray: “For my money- better than the blu-ray. More faithful to Kubrick's original vision. When is Criterion doing a blu?”

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp

Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger

cbumbray: “A phenomenal film. It got me strated on a big Powell/ Pressburger kick a few years ago. Possibly their finest film. ”

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Terry Gilliam

cbumbray: “ In order to really appreciate it, this film needs to be watched in a certain "condition". ”

The Killers

cbumbray: “Two great movies. The Siodmak version is better, but Siegel's has a GREAT performance by Ronald Reagan as the villain. ”

Dazed and Confused

Richard Linklater

cbumbray: “A landmark film from my formative years. I was just about to enter high school when this came out on video. Linklater's best film. ”

Kicking and Screaming

Noah Baumbach

cbumbray: “Interesting, but not as assured as Baumbach's later films. ”

Brute Force

Jules Dassin

cbumbray: “Insanely brutal for 1947, a great noir- one of the best. Lancaster is great, but for me the real star is Hume Cronyn as the sadistic head guard.”

Ace in the Hole

Billy Wilder

cbumbray: “Pretty racy for 1951- a misunderstood gem. As a freelance journalist, I can attest to the film's accuracy (second only maybe to ABSENCE OF MALICE)”

Broadcast News

James L. Brooks

cbumbray: “A warm hug from the media, as compared to Wilder's cynical take in ACE IN THE HOLE. A great film in it's own right. ”

The Great Dictator

Charles Chaplin

cbumbray: “Terrific. This is the film that permanently settles the Chaplin/Keaton debate. ”

Carlos

Olivier Assayas

cbumbray: “I still haven't watched the full miniseries version of this yet, but I loved the short version when I saw it in theaters last year. ”