Julianisms

I recently decided to expand my collection of classic movies, thanks to a promotion of selected Criterion DVDs on Amazon. Managed to save up to 30% on Playtime by Jacques Tati, a DVD title that I’ve been eyeing for a while now.

I also could not resist picking up the remastered version of Carol Reed’s noir classic The Third Man, starring Orsen Welles and written by Graham Greene. It now comes as a two-disc Special Edition DVD set and is a huge improvement over the original single platter edition, also by Criterion. It’s on par with the remastered boxset for Seven Samurai which I already own.

Criterion have also released the following three films for the first time: Sansho The Bailiff by Kenji Mizoguchi, Ivan’s Childhood by Andrei Tarkovsky, and Ace In The Hole by Billy Wilder. All three films are masterpieces of art in motion, crafted by some of the finest directors the world has known. Of particular note is Ace In The Hole, which is the first time ever this film is appearing on the DVD format.

One of the marks of a great film is that it stands the test of time. Like fine wine, many improve with age. These five films - and the messages they convey - effortlessly pass that test because they remain remarkably relevant even today.

Playtime, The Third Man, Sansho The Bailiff, Ivan’s Childhood, Ace In The Hole.

Jacques Tati, Carol Reed, Kenji Mizoguchi, Andrei Tarkovsky, Billy Wilder.

French, English, Japanese, Russian, American.

True joy is finally getting to watch and experience so many great films that you’ve only ever heard about for years. Most of these films were made before I was even born. That, I know, will be an immediate turn-off for many people. But, like all good things in life, some films - like fine cuisine - is a distinctly acquired taste.

The sooner you learn to enjoy them, the sooner you will experience a marked change in the way you perceive the world around you. Trust me, try it.