The Criterion CollectionEven more than its frequent paired releases of cinematic classics, the
Criterion Collection’s simultaneous DVD premieres of Robert Bresson’s Pickpocket
(1959) and Kenji Mizoguchi’s Ugetsu Monogatari (1953) were destined to
send critics and film lovers alike scrambling for their thesauri in search of
ever more exotic airs on which to float these two masterworks by two of the world’s
greatest directors. Thankfully, Criterion itself chose the opposite tack in the
liner notes that accompany each release. In his essay on Ugetsu (released
in an extras-packed two-disc special edition), Phillip Lopate surveys the long
history of praise that has followed the film and Mizoguchi in general, before
advising the need to “step back from these superlatives, or at least put them
in context.” In his essay on Pickpocket, Gary Indiana chips away at the
critical orthodoxy that has come to encase Bresson “in a gelatin of spiritually
heroic clichés.” The interventions are welcome, as the bold claims made for both
Bresson and Mizoguchi too often belie the intricate subtleties upon which they
rest. Indeed, the best advice one might give to the uninitiated is to set all
expectations aside — and prepare to be awed.
Other recommended new releases: A Christmas Carol(1938); Christmas in
Connecticut (1945); La Dolce Vita: 3-Disc Deluxe Collector’s Edition (DVD);
George Pal: Flights of Fantasy: Box Set; Leni Riefenstahl: The White Hell of Pitz
Palu, Storm Over Mont Blanc, S.O.S. Iceberg (DVD); The Lenny Bruce Performance
Film (DVD).
Also released this week:
VHS-DVD: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005); Deuce Bigalow: European
Gigolo.
DVD: Après Vous; Assassin; The Backyardigans: The Snow Fort; Beavis and Butt-head:
The Mike Judge Collection, Vol. 1; The Bible Collection; Big Black Comedy, Vol.
4; Big Fish (Special Edition); Blackout; Blizzard; Boys Town; Burn!; The Christmas
Wife; Christmas With the Kranks; Claire Dolan; Conduct Unbecoming; Crónicas; Doctor
Who: Episode 57 — The Claws of Axos; Doctor Who: Episode 105 — City of Death;
A Dry White Season; Edward Scissorhands: Anniversary Edition; 50 Cent: Refuse;
The Fugitive Kind; Hall & Oates: Our Kind of Soul Live; Hollywood Burlesque/Peek-a-Boo;
Jumanji (Deluxe Edition); The Kumars at Number 42; Lady Sings the Blues: Special
Collector’s Edition; Las Vegas: The Unconventional History; Miracle’s Boys; The
Missouri Breaks; Mom at Sixteen/Too Young To Be a Dad; My Baby Is Black/Checkerboard;
The Perfect Man; Pioneers of Primetime; Popstar; Popular Mechanics for Kids: Box
Set; Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music; Rock-a-Doodle; Space: Above and Beyond; El
Super; Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Murderous Reign of Saddam Hussein; White
Shadow: Season 1; Yes.