What’s good on Criterion Channel right now? Hitchcock classics, Robert Altman gems, and Parker Posey’s Party Girl
This month's hand-picked films also include Marnie, Variety, and The Long Goodbye
Film Features Robert Altman
Alfred Hitchcock and Tippi Hedren on the set of Marnie Photo: Hulton Archive
This month’s featured films from the Criterion Channel delve into the psychosexual and the obsessive, with coming-of-age stories, thrillers, and neo-noirs. Some of these titles chart sexual awakenings, while others document fully formed sexual identities. There’s a bit of fun here and there, but since it’s the dead of winter, let’s get strange.
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Parker Posey saying “I want to be a librarian” in Party Girl is my personal favorite line reading of all time
I watched Party Girl last night, and I really like how her performance has the same big, emphatic energy that Parker Posey brings to her characters, but it’s a little more subdued and a little more laced with uncertainty. Dazed and Confused and Best in Show were around the same time, and it’s kind of great to see how she calibrated that screen persona to different effects. She’s been around for so long that it’s easy to take her for granted.Also, good on Daisy von Scherler Mayer for staying in the game as a working director.
I’ll watch Marnie as soon as I’m emotionally ready for Connery’s pluck eyebrows. It’s Bond meets the Jersey Shore.
I believe “Sullivan’s Travels” is still there as part of the Screwball collection. I highly recommend the (edited together) commentary that features 2/3rds of Spinal Tap.
The Long Goodbye is great. Everyone should check it out.
Not every Altman movie has aged equally well, but The Long Goodbye certainly has (Not sure I love MASH or Nashville as much as I once did)
I love them enough for both of us. There are other Altman films that aren’t good, mainly because they’re REALLY not any good. But I still love M*A*S*H, The Long Goodbye, Nashville, and McCabe & Mrs. Miller. Especially Nashville, which I think is his best.
It’s probably heresy, but the only Altman movie I’ve ever really enjoyed is Gosford Park.
I’ve wondered if Elliot Gould’s Marlowe was the inspiration for the character design for Spike Speigel.
“3 Women” is one nutty-ass movie, but it’s great. Spacek and especially Duvall are brilliant.
I’ve been meaning to ask this for years, but it only now finally bubbled to the surface: does the slideshow format save *time*, or something? I mean, from an editorial or publishing standpoint? What is the actual benefit (from the website’s POV)?Anyway.Good list of movies. But the slideshow format really drilled up my ass tonight, for some reason. /shrugs