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.
