Best Movie Releases of May 2010

Soon, I hope to be back on track, as this blog is now finished, and the blog for June should not be far behind. In the meantime, if you haven't done so, be sure to check out my newly redesigned homepage and the LightningFilmz Store (powered by Amazon.com). Notably, I update the "Coming to DVD/Blu-ray" section of the store, at least, 3 times a week.


Best Film of the Month – The Road

Released by Sony Pictures on May 25, 2010.
The Road is a post-apocalyptic tale about a father and son's journey across America and their struggle for survival. It is directed by John Hillcoat, who previously directed one of my favorite films, The Proposition, and is based on the book by Cormac McCarthy, author of No Country for Old Men. Also, the music is composed by Nick Cave (my favorite musician) and Warren Ellis.

Watch the Trailer  |  Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon


'Under the Radar' Film of the Month – One Deadly Summer

Released by Bayview Entertainment/Widowmaker on May 11, 2010.
A beautiful, young woman (played by Isabelle Adjani, who won the best actress César award in 1984 for her performance) moves to a small, French town with her German mother and handicapped father. Fairly quickly—almost too quickly—she is engaged in a relationship with a local young man. As One Deadly Summer progresses, it becomes more complex, mysterious, and thrilling. I believe this is one of the most 'under the radar' films that I have picked, thus far; and it's a shame One Deadly Summer has not been seen and enjoyed by more people, outside of France.

Buy the DVD from Amazon

Another 'under the radar' film I enjoyed this month: North Face (Watch the Trailer).


Blu-ray of the Month – Walkabout

Released by the Criterion Collection on May 18, 2010.
After a tragic event at the beginning of Walkabout, a young brother and sister find themselves stranded in the Australian desert. While journeying through the harsh terrain, they meet a young Australian Aborigine, who is on his walkabout—a rite of passage in which adolescent, Aborigine boys are initiated into manhood by journeying into the Australian wilderness alone, for a period as long as six months. With his help, the siblings attempt to find their way back to civilization. There seems to be something mystical (as in, otherworldly, spiritual, and mysterious) about films set in the Australian Outback, and Walkabout is no different. This Blu-ray gorgeously displays the natural beauty, and severity, of the the Outback. A great double-feature would be to pair Walkabout with Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Visit the Criterion Collection  |  Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon


DVD of the Month – Oshima's Outlaw Sixties

Released by the Criterion Collection on May 18, 2010.
Oshima's Outlaw Sixties is the 21st release in the Criterion Collection's Eclipse Series line. According to Criterion, "Eclipse is a selection of lost, forgotten, or overshadowed classics in simple, affordable editions. Each series is a brief cinematheque retrospective for the adventurous home viewer." This 5-disc DVD set includes five, Japanese New Wave, films directed by Nagisa Oshima.

Visit the Criterion Collection  |  Buy the DVD from Amazon

For information about the criteria I use to choose the best films releases of the month, please read my other blog post, located here.

Best Movie Releases of April 2010

Before I begin with my choices for April, I would like to apologize for the long delay. My business partner and I have been very busy building the CaseFunding.com website. I believe my time was well spent, though, as I am very pleased with the design and function of the site. Nevertheless, thank you for your patience.


Best Film of the Month – Ride with the Devil

First, I should address: what makes Criterion's new release of Ride with the Devil different from the film's previous DVD—released by Universal Studios on July 18, 2000? The difference is that the new release is a director's cut with an additional 11 minutes of footage added to the film. This may not sound like much of an addition, but according to the director, Ang Lee, the film has better pacing, more plot and action, and feels more epic. All of which, he stated, "makes a big difference to me."
Before the Criterion Collection announced their release of Ride with the Devil, I had never heard of the film. I looked over some reviews of the film, and they were very mixed. Some loved it, some hated it, and some were indifferent. Unfortunately, the same is still true, even with the release of the new director's cut. I'll admit, it is definitely not the greatest film ever made. Some of the acting is borderline and some portions of the dialog made me cringe. So how can a flawed film, like this, be the best film of the month? Because there are things about this film that are masterful. The cinematography is gorgeous; the costumes, hair, makeup, and settings are all period-specific, which instill the film with authenticity; and, finally, the story is engaging and, most notably, not one I've seen or heard told before. The film takes place during the American civil war, and follows a group of Southern guerrilla fighters, who fight Union soldiers and supporters, but are not, themselves, members of the Confederate army. Later, as the war nears its end, the remaining members of this resistance group must come to terms with their past transgressions and contemplate what to do next, in an unforeseen future.
Several weeks have passed since I watched Ride with the Devil, but it has left lasting memories. It's been quite a while since a film has stayed with me, the way this one has, and I hope to watch it again soon. The Blu-ray flawlessly presents the film with perfect picture and audio quality. I applaud the Criterion Collection for rescuing this film from obscurity!

Visit the Criterion Collection  |  Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon


'Under the Radar' Film of the Month – Kapò

Kapò tells the story of a young Jewish woman, who is separated from her parents when they arrive at a Nazi concentration camp. A sympathetic doctor enables her to switch identities with a recently deceased prisoner—thus, saving her from certain death. But as she witnesses her parents, and many other prisoners, being escorted to the gas chamber, it seems her heart hardens. And, even though she is determined to survive, is this lack of emotion really any better than death? Kapò was one of the first films to depict the horrors of the holocaust, but its age is definitely not an impairment. In fact, I think it is one of the best holocaust films I have seen. Besides the powerful, existential story, I was also captivated by the wonderful cinematography, which added radiance to such a dark subject matter. Fans of The Pianist, and other similar films, should not miss this overlooked gem.

Visit the Criterion Collection  |  Buy the DVD from Amazon

A couple more 'under the radar' films I enjoyed this month: Summer Hours (Watch the Trailer) and—so films released from the Criterion Collection do not dominate the entire month—Storm (Watch the Trailer).


Blu-ray of the Month – Vivre sa vie

Another early Jean-Luc Goddard film, Vivre sa vie [My Life to Live], starring Anna Karina, is released by the Criterion Collection. I feel Goddard's films defy description. So really, there's not much to say. Goddard is one of the pillars of the French New Wave film movement, which is one of my favorite film periods; Anna Karina is a goddess, who makes any film more elegant and enjoyable; and this Blu-ray showcases the film perfectly, and includes many resourceful extra supplements. If you know nothing about Goddard, Karina, or the French New Wave, then, in addition to watching Vivre sa vie, I would also recommend: Breathless, Band of Outsiders, and, my favorite Goddard film, Pierrot le fou. (By the way, these are some of the films, which Quentin Tarantino credits as inspiring him to become a filmmaker.)

Visit the Criterion Collection  |  Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon


DVD of the Month – The Fugitive Kind

I absolutely love films like this! The Fugitive Kind, based on a Tennessee Williams play, is set in a small town in the deep South, where the smoldering heat and humidity are not just in the atmosphere, they are also felt in the heated, and passionate, emotions and interactions between the characters. The film stars: Marlon Brando, a drifter looking to turn his life around for the better; Anna Magnani, a unhappily married, store manager, who employs the drifter; and Joanne Woodward, a local wild child, who is irresistibly attracted to the drifter. In addition to the regular attributes I could praise the film for, such as the acting, directing, and in this case, especially, the writing, I wanted to compliment the film on how well it highlights the closed-mindedness and gossiping nature of the some of the characters. Some films do this and it feels so clichéd, but in this film, the characters, and their ways, felt very authentic. Anyway, this is a director-approved 2-disc DVD set, which includes a new video interview with the director, Sidney Lument; "Three Plays by Tennessee Williams," an hour-long television presentation of one act plays, directed, too, by Sidney Lument; and much more. Suddenly, Last Summer is still my favorite film based on a Tennessee Williams play, but The Fugitive Kind is definitely not far behind. I think the DVD is worth purchasing, just for outstanding cover art—which is the best I've seen in quite a while! But with the purchase, the wonderful film and numerous extras are also included—making this one of the easiest recommendations I will ever have to make!

Visit the Criterion Collection  |  Buy the DVD from Amazon

For information about the criteria I use to choose the best films releases of the month, please read my other blog post, located here.

Best Movie Releases of March 2010

Best Film of the Month – Broken Embraces

Within Broken Embraces, a film of love, passion, repulsion, obsession, and filmmaking, are characters facing a turmoil of emotions. It's how they choose to react to these emotions that, ultimately, leaves the characters harboring numerous buried secrets. Though, this film is not, technically, a mystery, I was delighted at how the buried secrets of the past were gradually revealed—bringing to mind the great, classic films of Alfred Hitchcock. In addition to the story, and the marvelous performances by all the actors, I highly enjoyed the vivid colors used throughout the film. This film has received very mixed reviews. It's seems people either love it or hate it. In fact, I almost neglected to watch it—what a tremendous shame that would have been! Needless to say, I fall into the category of those who love this film. It's definitely most rewarding for those, like myself, who enjoy dark, destructive love stories... and this is the best I have seen since Match Point. Highly recommend!

Watch the Trailer  |  Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon


'Under the Radar' Film of the Month – The Baader Meinhof Complex

Last year's Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Picture, The Baader Meinhof Complex, has finally come to Blu-ray and DVD in the U.S. Based on actual events, which took place in the late-1960s to 1970s Germany, The Baader Meinhof Complex focuses on the, now adult, children of former Nazis. Fearing that the newly democratic Germany may, once again, be turning toward fascism, the group begins to organize and carry out robberies, kidnappings, assassinations, and destructive bombings, in an effort to stop German fascism forever. The film never tries to judge the characters or bias the viewer. Instead, the film simply, and authentically, portrays the historical events that occurred during this fearful time in Germany. Though, I didn't like this film as much as Munich—which I love—it is in a similar vein. So fans, or haters, of Munich will most likely feel the same way toward The Baader Meinhof Complex. If you have never seen either film, they would make a great—though, long—double-feature!

Watch the Trailer  |  Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon


Blu-ray of the Month – Bigger Than Life

I can only imagine the audience reactions to Bigger Than Life, when it was first released in 1956. Keep in mind, this was a year before, the television show, "Leave It to Beaver," which, supposedly, depicted the "normal" American family, went on the air. Bigger Than Life shows a similar, typical, American family, but with one huge difference: the father is dying, addicted to prescription drugs, going crazy, and becoming violent! The father, played by—the stellar—James Mason, is diagnosed with a rare medical condition, which will be fatal if not treated with medication. However, this medication, when not taken correctly, can cause psychosis. I greatly enjoyed watching James Mason begin to lose his sanity; and I believe this is one of his best performances! This is also a fabulous Blu-ray. I cannot remember ever seeing a film that looks the way this one does. The image reminds me of antique paintings I've seen in museums. In a sense, it's like watching a painting in motion. And the way the young boy's blue eyes, almost, seem to glow, make this Blu-ray's image unforgettable. With, not only, such a unique image, but also a story that is just as effective today, as it would have been 50+ years ago, Bigger Than Life easily receives a high recommendation from me.

Visit the Criterion Collection  |  Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon


DVD of the Month – Sous le soleil de Satan

In Sous le soleil de Satan [Under the Sun of Satan], a country priest, struggling with his spirituality, meets, and is bestowed a special gift of insight by, Satan. This is the seventh, and, probably, final, Maurice Pialat film to be released by the Masters of Cinema. Though I haven't seen as many films from the French director, Maurice Pialat, as I would like, I have seen enough to know his films are unlike any others I have seen. To me, Mr. Pialat's films are admirable due to, not only, the performances he evokes from his actors, but also, his, seeming, fearlessness to not cut the camera away—thus, ending a scene—when his character is having a deplorable experience. In Sous le soleil de Satan, one such instance—though, there are more—of this fearlessness can be observed in an unforgettable scene involving a young girl (portrayed, impeccably, by Sandrine Bonnaire), her lover, and a shotgun. Yes, Mr. Pialat's films are, at times, distressing; however, as an avid cinema fan, I find them highly rewarding and inspirational. This is a wonderful 2-disc DVD release, which contains abundant supplemental material for the film, as well as, two early short films by Maurice Pialat.

When I started choosing the best movie releases of the month, I did not intend to select a film that was not released in the U.S. However, this release, in my opinion, eclipsed all of the other DVD releases that I evaluated. So it deserves this recognition. Nevertheless, please note, this is a PAL European DVD and not a standard NTSC American DVD. So, in order to play this DVD, you will need a PAL DVD player or region-free DVD player, which is what I have.

Visit the Masters of Cinema  |  Buy the DVD from Amazon UK

For information about the criteria I use to choose the best films releases of the month, please read my other blog post, located here.

Best Movie Releases of February 2010

Best Film of the Month – Flame and Citron

Based on actual events that occurred in Denmark during World War II, Flame and Citron is a fierce WWII resistance film, with thrilling shootouts, intricate character relations, and, as with any films of this type, distressing war violence. The film is centered around two Danish resistance fighters, almost assassins, Flame and Citron. They are issued missions by a select group of higher-ups in the Danish resistance. But when doubt arises about the validity of some of the missions, Flame and Citron begin to wonder whether they can trust anyone, besides each other. The characters around Flame and Citron are so shady, I, personally, didn't know who they could trust, until the very end of the film. This, along with the many other outstanding qualities, such as the acting, writing, and direction, makes Flame and Citron my choice for the best film of the month.

Watch the Trailer | Buy the DVD from Amazon


'Under the Radar' Film of the Month – The House of the Devil

Technically, Flame and Citron belongs here as well. However, since it earned the distinction of best film of the month, I'll use the opportunity to award another film the honor of 'under the radar' film of the month. And that film is The House of the Devil. If, like me, you enjoy older horror films with a devilish and/or cult theme, such as Rosemary's Baby, Suspiria, The Wicker Man, or The Sentinel, you will most likely enjoy The House of the Devil. It is like a long, lost psychological horror film from the early 1980s. In fact, this was the intention. The locations, clothes, cars, music, and everything else, including the payphone and cassette tapes, are all reminiscent of the 1980s. And by being similar to the older horror films, The House of the Devil is much more psychological thrilling, than it is bloody or gory. Some have referred to it as boring, and though slow at times, I was never bored—even during my second viewing. It's a film that builds tension and slowly reveals its mysteries. Another striking aspect of the film is the lead actress, Jocelin Donahue. (I have to admit that I was a little entranced by her.) I thought she played her role marvelously. Also, she reminded me, slightly, of a young Margot Kidder, who has starred in several horror films, such as Sisters, Black Christmas, and The Amityville Horror, from around the same era in which this film is set. In any case, if you're a fan of any of the above mentioned films, don't miss this one!

Watch the Trailer | Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon


Blu-ray of the Month – A Serious Man

I watched a A Serious Man in theaters, and although I liked it, I was a little overwhelmed by all of the Jewish references. However, after watching it again, on this magnificent Blu-ray, I enjoyed it immensely! This is another terrific black comedy from, my favorite American directors, Joel and Ethan Coen (also known as: "the Coen brothers"). There are almost two films here: the feature film about a man who is striving to find meaning, and maintain order, in his life, as everything around him, including his family, career, health, and faith, is spinning into chaos; and a strange, yet contemplative short film, preceding the feature film, about a "dybbuk." [From Wikipedia, "In Jewish folklore, a dybbuk is a malicious possessing spirit, believed to be the dislocated soul of a dead person."] As for the Blu-ray, the picture and audio quality are, basically, stunning! It's nice to see, something, other than a comic book film, look and sound this exceptional!

Watch the Trailer | Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon


DVD of the Month – Bad Girls of Film Noir

"Bad Girls of Film Noir" is a two volume (sold separately) DVD set. While watching these films, I realized the title is a little misleading. The films in the set would not actually be classified as "film noir." However, I understand the title is referring to the leading actresses, who can be classified as "Bad Girls of Film Noir," based on other films completed during their respective careers. Nevertheless, it's nice to see these classic films on DVD. They all seemed to have been restored, as the picture and audio quality is really impressive.

Volume 1 includes the following films:
• The Killer that Stalked NY, starring Evelyn Keyes, is about a woman who, unknowingly, is spreading smallpox throughout New York. This was my least favorite of all the films. It almost seemed like a propaganda movie, saying, "hurry and get your smallpox vaccine." Though, it could easily be updated to "hurry and get your swine flu vaccine."
• Two of a Kind, starring Lizabeth Scott, is a splendid, con artist film with plenty of double-crosses.
• Bad for Each Other, starring Lizabeth Scott and Charlton Heston, is about a surgeon who must decide between helping people in desperate need or being well-paid. Lizabeth Scott's character was almost unbearably icy in this film. I much prefer her as loving and emotional, as seen in the film noir, The Strange Love of Martha Ivers.
• The Glass Wall, starring Gloria Grahame, is a suspenseful, race-against-the-clock film. This is my favorite film from Volume 1. Though, that could be attributed to the talented beauty, Gloria Grahame, as I really enjoy her other films, such as The Big Heat and In a Lonely Place.

Volume 2 includes the following films:
• Night Editor, starring Janis Carter, is about a cop, who, while on a date with his mistress, witnesses a murder. For fear of losing his wife and child, he does nothing about it. But when faced with the guilt and his duty as a policeman, will he come clean? And will the murderer let him? I enjoyed this one very much!
• One Girl's Confession, starring Cleo Moore, is about a woman who, justifiably, steals $10,000, buries it, and goes to jail because of it. Never telling anyone where the money is buried, she smoothly serves her time behind bars. But once released, will the owner of the money—or even, others who know about the crime—be waiting to see where it is buried? If she has someone else dig it up, can she trust them? I love these kinds of movies! This, and the previous, one remind me of something that might have been shown on the television show, "Alfred Hitchcock Presents."
• Women's Prison, starring Cleo Moore, Jan Sterling, and Ida Lupino, is, as the title states, about a women's prison. This film was a little melodramatic, but, at times, was so well-done that I was infuriated with the warden of the prison! Definitely an engaging film!
• Over-Exposed, starring Cleo Moore, is about a woman with a knack for getting what she wants. After training to become a photographer, she quickly becomes the number one 'camera girl' of a mafia-funded nightclub. But when her dream job, as a news photographer, opens, is she in too deep to leave her nightclub job?

If I were to pick one volume over the other, I would easily choose Volume 2. One of the main reasons for this is that, before watching this set, I had never seen, or heard of, Cleo Moore. I am now sad that more of her films are not currently available. She is, especially, great in these types of films. Regardless, I enjoyed both volumes, and happily choose the entire set as the best DVD release of the month.

Buy Volume 1 or Volume 2 from Amazon

For information about the criteria I use to choose the best films releases of the month, please read my other blog post, located here.

Playing on TCM in March

The best channel on television, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), has an outstanding schedule this month.

TCM Star of the Month – Ginger Rogers

Beginning on Wednesday, March 10 at 7:00pm (central time) and continuing every Wednesday night for the remainder of the month, TCM will be showing numerous films starring, my favorite classic actress, Ginger Rogers. On March 10, and continuing well into the next day, TCM will be showing all of the musical films, which pair Ginger with co-star, and friend, Fred Astaire. On March 17, TCM will be showing Ginger's earliest films, including Rafter Romance and Gold Diggers of 1933. On March 24, TCM will air the films that show off Ginger's terrific comedic ability. My two favorite films of hers—which, for reasons beyond my comprehension, are not yet available on DVD—Bachelor Mother and Vivacious Lady (co-starring Jimmy Stewart) will be among the films shown. And finally, on March 31, TCM will be showing the drama, Kitty Foyle, for which Ginger won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 1941. During that year, Ginger also starred in another drama, Primrose Path, which will also air on the 31st. I look forward to watching some of the few films starring Ginger Rogers that I have not yet seen, such as Primrose Path, and re-watching a few of the films I have seen many times before, such as Bachelor Mother. Ginger Rogers could do it all. Whether she was in a musical, comedy, or drama, Ginger never had a disappointing performance. So I believe, as do others, Ginger Rogers was one of the greatest (and my favorite) actresses of classic cinema!

TCM Spotlight – Akira Kurosawa's 100th Birthday

March 23, 2010 would mark the 100th birthday of the great Japanese director, Akira Kurosawa. To celebrate, TCM will be showing many of his films starting on Tuesday, March 9 at 7:00pm (central time) and continuing every Tuesday night for the remainder of the month. Last year, thanks to TCM airing Rashomon and Seven Samurai, I became an instant fan of Akira Kurosawa. I now have watched and own several of his films, but there are still many I have not yet seen. With all the Kurosawa films showing this month, including a 24-hour marathon of films on his birthday, I will now be able to catchup on the films I have not yet seen. If you have never seen any of his films, I highly recommend tuning in one of these Tuesday nights.

For more information, and to see the complete schedule, visit TCM.com. Also, my blog for "Best Movie Releases of February 2010" should be posted in a few days. I'm working on it now.

Best Movie Releases of January 2010

Best Film of the Month – The Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker, with its adept ability to depict the realities of war, its gorgeous slow-motion scenes, and its paralyzing suspense, is, by far, the best film of the month. At times, during this captivating film, I could feel the heat and dryness of the desert sand, the anxiety of being inches away from a deadly explosive, the heartbreak of losing a fellow comrade, and, despite all the danger and uncertainty, the euphoria of having the ability and confidence to do what you love. Powerful, emotional, and exceedingly suspenseful, The Hurt Locker should not be missed!

Watch the Trailer  |  Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon


'Under the Radar' Film of the Month – The Escapist

The Escapist is a not a typical prison escape film... it's much better! With its "Twilight Zone"-style ending and its enthralling characters and story, this film easily receives my pick for 'under the radar' film of the month. In the film, a con, serving a life sentence, learns that his estranged daughter has fallen terminally ill. He then enlists the help of some other inmates—who each have unique and useful skills—and, together, they plot their escape. Tense and dramatic throughout, this film should not be ignored. Unfortunately, however, I know many people will not like the ending. Probably the same people who dislike the ending to No Country for Old Men. I, for one, love open endings, which allow me to ponder the fate of the characters of a film. I don't need, nor want, every loose end in a film spelled out for me. If you feel the same way, watch this film soon!

Watch the Trailer  |  Buy the DVD from Amazon

Before I move on to the next category, I wanted to mention a few more 'under the radar' films I enjoyed this month: Bright Star (Watch the Trailer); Trucker (Watch the Trailer); and, last year's Academy Award winner for best foreign language film, Departures (Watch the Trailer). I predict, in the months to come, this 'under the radar' section will become my favorite category. And with that, it could be challenging to pick just one film. So, like this month, I will mention any other films that, I feel, may have been overlooked, but deserve to be seen by a wider audience.


Blu-ray of the Month – Paris, Texas

Paris, Texas, one of my top 10 favorite films, has been given a first-class Blu-ray release, thanks to the Criterion Collection. The picture quality is magnificent; the audio quality, exquisite; and the supplements, bountiful! The talent that created this film, for me, is dreamlike. It is directed by Wim Wenders; written by, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Sam Shepard; and stars Harry Dean Stanton. I love what these three gentlemen create separately. But when all three came together, back in the early 1980s, to create one film, it was destined to become a cinematic masterpiece. I am thrilled to own this film on Blu-ray. As I now love it even more—though, I didn't know that was possible!

Visit the Criterion Collection  |  Buy the Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon


DVD of the Month – Roberto Rossellini's War Trilogy

The Criterion Collection finally reached spine number 500 with this three film set, which includes Rome Open City, Paisan, and Germany Year Zero. The more well-known of the three, Rome Open City, had previously been released on an atrocious DVD, which had extensive damage and large amounts of the dialog not even subtitled! However, all of this is now in the past, as the picture quality has never looked better, and the subtitles are now complete. (To see how much Criterion has improved these films, check out the comparisons on DVDBeaver.) Knowing the terrible quality of the previous DVDs, I was waiting for the day that these films were given a proper release, before ever attempting to watch them. Now, with that proper release finally available, I couldn't wait to watch each film.
The first film in the set is Rome Open City. Many times, I've heard this film being touted as one of the most influential films ever made. As usual, I was skeptical of such a proclamation. But after watching the film, I completely agree! With the creation of this film, the director, Roberto Rossellini, became known as one of the originators—if not the originator—of Italian neorealism. [From Wikipedia, "Italian neorealism is a style of film characterized by stories set amongst the poor and working class, filmed on location, frequently using nonprofessional actors. Italian neorealist films mostly contend with the difficult economical and moral conditions of post-World War II Italy, reflecting the changes in the Italian psyche and the conditions of everyday life: poverty and desperation."] In addition to being widely influential to any or all movies which came after, I can, specifically, see Rome Open City being influential to any subsequent World War II Resistance movie. Recently, I have noticed how much I really enjoy World War II Resistance movies—including older films such as Army of Shadows, and newer films such as Black Book and Flame and Citron. Now I wonder, would any of these films be as good, if not for Rome Open City, which was made well before any of them, back in 1945? Needless to say, I loved this film and highly recommend it!
The next film in the set is Paisan, which means "friend" or "fellow countryman." This film is much different than the previous, as this one is composed of six independent episodes. The only similarity of the episodes is that they show what life was like for American or British soldiers in Italy during WWII. All of the episodes were interesting. My favorite was episode 1, my least favorite—though not bad at all—was episode 2, with the rest falling somewhere in between.
The final film in the set is Germany Year Zero. This time, the setting is in Berlin, Germany, not long after WWII has ended. The narrative of the film follows a young boy, and his interactions with his family, and other various people, who live in the war ravaged city. Sadly, he, his family, and the other people around him are all struggling to survive the lack of food, jobs, and shelter; all the while, attempting to return their lives and city back to normal.
This is a great DVD set. I can only imagine the extensive amount of restoration work that went into these three films, but it was well worth the effort.

Visit the Criterion Collection  |  Buy the DVD from Amazon

For information about the criteria I use to choose the best movie releases of the month, please read my other blog post, located here.

Criteria for Best Movie Releases of the Month

Beginning January 2010, and continuing every month after, I plan to post a blog with my picks for the Best Film, 'Under the Radar' Film, Blu-ray, and DVD of the month. These picks will consist of the films which were released on Blu-ray and/or DVD during the given month. Theatrical releases will not be included. Below, I will outline the criteria for each category.

Best Film of the Month - For this category, I will simply choose the film I thought was the best. A reissue of a film, which has been previously released on DVD or Blu-ray, is excluded.

'Under the Radar' Film of the Month - For this category, I will choose the best film which, I feel, was overlooked by most people. It is possible for the winner of this category to also be the "Best Film of the Month."

Blu-ray of the Month - For this category, I will choose the Blu-ray I thought was the best. I will not only be considering the film, but also the picture and audio quality, as well as, the supplements. A Blu-ray that is simply a re-release of an existing DVD—which only upgrades the picture and audio quality, and adds no new supplements—will not be eligible. However, a complete remastering of a film, in which, both, a new Blu-ray and DVD are released (example: Paris, Texas in January 2010), is absolutely eligible.
Update: Blu-rays from regions outside the U.S. are also eligible, provided the film has not been previously released on Blu-ray or DVD in the U.S. However, I currently do not own a region free Blu-ray player. So if I choose a Blu-ray from another region, it will not be region locked.

DVD of the Month - For this category, I will choose the DVD I thought was the best. Again, I will not only consider the film, but also the supplements and picture and audio quality. If a film is also released on Blu-ray, it will not be considered for this category. This will be for DVD-only releases.
Update: DVDs from regions outside the U.S. are also eligible, provided the film has not been previously released on Blu-ray or DVD in the U.S.

Of course, I cannot watch every film that is released during a given month, nor would I even want to watch some of them. However, from the many I do watch, I should have no trouble choosing a rightful winner for each category. To stay updated on what films are chosen each month, please subscribe to this blog (on the right), or check back around the 15th of the following month. Thanks for your interest!