If you love films then you must know of The Criterion Collection. It’s a company which gets the rights to release certain films that are deemed to be of a certain quality and merit artistically. They also have the knack of having some of the best transfers of the films they get the rights to release which tends to put them in the good graces of a lot of cinephiles out there across the world.
With that said though there are two specific (and contradicting) things that the collection itself does to me:
1. Rebellion – A lot of the films released by The Criterion Collection are pretty much deemed as the highest “art” of cinema. This is represented in all genres with the inclusion of action and cult cinema (Hard Boiled and House respectively serve as great examples of both that are in the collection). What that means is that, while the following statement is ludicrous it is somewhat true walking in, these are the films that I as a film lover are “supposed” to love. Which immediately puts me on the back foot and makes me want to do the opposite. I want to wave my film flag proudly and not admit to loving these films (which I don’t for all of them) and prove to myself that I haven’t been made into what the world believes a critic is (i.e. that guy who pontificates on the art film and never has a moments worth of thought about the popcorn fun cinema of the masses).
2. Building – I love collecting. I love collecting my DVDs. This past week (which is probably the reason why I’m even writing this) I received three brand new Criterion Blu Rays that I ordered online (The Killing, High and Low and Broadcast News). As I lusted over the beatiful cover designs I noticed on the stem of the cases that there was a number attached to each film. This is the number (in order of release) of the Criterion Collection, and at that very moment I imagined the wonder that it must be if I could have a wall where you could see from #1 all the way to the current release number (I believe they’re in the high #500s by now). It excited me.
Personally the Criterion Collection is that marker that I aspire to but at the same time know that its selections are probably not just for “art” fans but has something for everyone. But with that said their films are the most polarizing you will ever find as you will continually find people either falling love or loathing completely any film under the name of the Criterion Collection.
"Which immediately puts me on the back foot and makes me want to do the opposite. I want to wave my film flag proudly and not admit to loving these films"
I think it would probably be more valuable to watch them, come to your own conclusions, and write about that. No one is forced to like any highly acclaimed movie as long as they justify themselves properly, which, in a lot of cases, can be more interesting than another glowing review.
I do though… I do give them a shot. My point (and I guess I wasn't that good at getting it across) is that at times when for the first time sitting to watch any revered film (which is usually in the Criterion Collection) there's a daunting feeling that somehow I'm supposed to walk out of this experience feeling what everyone keeps saying about it. But that's just messed up and after viewing a lot of the more arty Criterion entries I wonder how this thing really works… is it something wrong with me? (yes that question is rhetorical. I know there's nothing wrong with me) or is it that there's something innately flawed with the general selection of the Criterion entries?
I say this as I try to find what other Criterions I need to own (staring down Paths of Glory).
For me, it gives me a chance to own the films the way they're meant to be presented and the fact that it's in the care of people who really give a shit about the film and the work put into it. Plus, having written some essays on my own favorite films. I hope to be a contributor in writing essays for that company as long as it's a film that I really love.
Oh that would so rock if a review of mine or article was deemed worthy enough to be in a Criterion booklet… I'd nominate my thoughts on Moneyball, or Bad Santa. Probably not Criterion level films for some, but I say they are.