John Sayles’s Closet Picks

[@benmcfee]

What I love most about John Sayles is that he not only excelled at making deep, thought provoking (and rage provoking, in the case of _Matewan)_ art films, but he was also more than capable of mastering the schlock horror film as well. People sometimes forget that he penned the screenplays to _The Howling_ and _Piranha._ And what's more mearly all his films have an unapologetically leftist political undertone, without ever coming off as preachy. An insanely difficult thing to pull off!

[@StonefieldJim4]

Love Sayles. Great to hear him talking in detail about his choices.

[@jeremyj427]

“Lone star” is one of the best screenplays ever written imo and Sayles is underrated. Great stuff here!

[@alexcamacho4880]

Incredibly underrated director. Loved everything about his movie Lone Star. What a cast.

[@Njbear7453]

Decent screenwriter too

[@greggae2735]

A great film. A magnum opus I dare say.

[@fabiengerard8142]

The man behind the original idea for Steven Spielberg's "ET" as well (as far as I remember). Most of his own films are truly remarkable -- "Lone Star", clearly, but also "Passion fish", or "Eight Men Out", among quite a few further titles. Utmost respect from Europe. 🙏🏻🙏🏽🙏

[@alisdairmckenzie]

Agree 100% with what you said. I remember sitting in a small arthouse cinema watching Lone Star for the first time... as it went on, I realised I was leaning forward in my seat, just so engrossed in the story unfolding - just completely absorbed. That's John Sayles' writing for you, as with his other films. A true auteur.

[@Nately22]

John Sayles, one of the great American film makers. Matewan is utterly brilliant and one of my favourite films and I think should be heard more in film discussions. Quietly fierce, but patient, filmed with intelligence and an understanding of the subject matter - treats the audience with respect and never patronises the story of characters.

[@ledeyabaklykova]

My colleague chimes in, saying Sayles in the early 80s was named a Macarthur Fellow (the so-called “Genius Grant”) for his unique approach to filmmaking and storytelling (he’s published acclaimed fiction too). He also wrote the screenplay for PIRHANA (‘78, dir: Joe Dante)!

[@kingvidor2747]

One of my favourite closet picks. Mature, intelligent and poliitcally astute filmmaker and it shows in the way he discusses films. I will be watching The Organizer now for sure.

[@General_Puffball]

Nice to see someone talk at relative length about a handful of films, instead of casually name-checking a dozen.

[@ZsMealsandMovies]

"The Greed of Barry Jenkins" is a title for a future Criterion-worthy documentary ;-)

[@hlcepeda]

Exactly. Too many other invitees simply give a bit of lip service to whatever they pick out (ex: "Oh, I loved this!") then drop the title into their gift bag. BTW: My BR copy of Matewan arrived a couple of days ago. I've been waiting years for the BR version!

[@roycastanon5754]

Hector Cepeda have you actually seen any of these movies? I’m new to this channel and have never heard of any of these films.

[@hlcepeda]

@@roycastanon5754 Of the ones Sayles picked out, I've seen La Strada a few times (at uni, and more so on DVD), and His Girl Friday (many years ago) on TV. I should be surprised that Sayles picked out His Girl Friday, if only because he's one of the film industry's most socially conscious directors (on par with Elia Kazan.) I highly recommend Matewan, and -- another favorite of mine -- Lone Star. His films usually unfold slowly (and the impatient may be put off), but things always development, and I've always ended up caring about his characters. I kick myself that I have yet to see his Secaucus Seven, but I will get around to it!

[@roycastanon5754]

Hector Cepeda hmmm yes I might check those out. I have only recently started watching lesser known films, before all I watched was blockbusters but I’m finding these smaller movies to be more entertaining

[@PentameronSV]

0:09 - *LA STRADA* _dir. Federico Fellini_ (1954) 1:27 - *THE ORGANIZER* _dir. Mario Monicelli_ (1963) 2:12 - *STATE OF SIEGE* _dir. Costa Gavras_ (1972) 3:24 - *HIS GIRL FRIDAY* _dir. Howard Hawks_ (1940)

[@leocoh89]

Simply the most underrated filmmaker ever. The best American writer-director of the last forty years. Criterion or someone need to release more blurays of sayles work like passion fish, lone star, men with guns and city of hope. All masterworks. Thanks criterion.

[@brandothecatmeow]

Agreed. I seek out his films and lately his TV work as well. I've suggested him to a few filmmaker friends and they have loved his work too. Just bought Baby It's You recently. He's also number 10 on my top 10 favorite directors.

[@bobbybeltran6142]

@@brandothecatmeow "Return to Secaucus 7" is an ideal introduction to John Sayles' minimalist films. "Matewan" is next.

[@Njbear7453]

His old stuff is the best

[@ikercompeanleroux1315]

I agree. He really is America's lone FilmMaker, making personal films about values AND subjects that are important but not popular. A true storyteller that never Yields to fashions or popularity AND that somehow (AND heroically) has managed to stay true. As Gene Siskel described him, he's an American treasure.

[@tholmes2169]

Matewan was criminally overlooked for a Criterion release for so long. I'm glad it was released. Sayles is amazing.

[@dannydontgoin237]

John Sayles, one of my favorite filmmakers. Eclectic, intelligent and mischievous. Great taste in Criterions, too!

[@NoirFan84]

I seen Matewan for the first time earlier this year. What a brilliant film.

[@-aku-1630]

Watched it just a couple of days ago for the first time. Was blown away by how good it was (and how good it looked!) Makes me want to watch more of his films

[@NoirFan84]

@@-aku-1630 I saw Lone Star years ago but I wasn't exactly blown away by it. I was young though so I should check it out again & see if I feel differently. Matewan though was great, I loved it.

[@FloraWest]

@@NoirFan84 Definitely worth a second look. All of his movies have something worthy about them.

[@simonwoods7112]

Yes! As a Schenectady native, it makes me so happy to see this wonderful screenwriter get a go in the room of wonders.

[@ZsMealsandMovies]

Always love watching these! Get Martin Scorsese in there please! I'd pay for a feature length documentary of him inside the Criterion closet.

[@BrendanMacWade]

While there is a Scorsese movie in the collection, his ego is far, far too big for that closet. Now a Willem Dafoe visit is OVERDUE.

[@johnsailorsgoat]

@@HAL-rx5ln You're joking right?

[@taufikhidayatlubis2890]

Marvel is not cinema period

[@inigo137]

@@taufikhidayatlubis2890 what an original thought, beep boop

[@DavidMatias79]

@@BrendanMacWade 2 Scorseses, 5 if you count laserdiscs

[@stephencampbell2115]

I have seen Matewan and its a masterpiece one of the great American films

[@HeavyH2006]

John Sayles - a truly great independent filmmaker. Some wonderful narratives he's created. Very insightful & knowledgeable about film context.

[@irishclams4all677]

This was great! Love John Sayles. I would LOVE to see Michael Haneke in the closet as well!

[@albiehay5567]

Get more Sayles films in the Collection!!

[@simonwoods7112]

As someone who lives in Schenectady and attended the John Sayles School of Fine Arts at Schenectady High School... Very humbled to see this brilliant, insightful man in the closet.

[@macabre_matinee]

This dudes a straight badass, giving us the low down on some never spoken about criterion picks. Just bought two Sayles films after watching, finding out this dudes a secret Hollywood hard worker.

[@miltontoro6594]

I had the privilege of chatting w John Sayles, just John & me. We chatted about writing, baseball & Roberto Clemente along Men with Guns. My cinematic moment w an amazing director, writer & actor. Take the time see his whole catalogue of films & don’t hesitate watching Men with Guns! Thank you John Sayles. Btw He rewrites Hollywood scripts to finance his own projects.

[@californication1992]

very cool

[@JoaoPedroCanhenha]

Mr. Sayles is such a phenomenal talent. So nice to see him talking about cinema.

[@jdigital7174]

It's always great to hear Sayles talk. Criterion, please release "Alligator" on Blu-Ray.

[@Njbear7453]

Good, fun movie

[@richardlaugan2811]

Thank you Mr. Sayles Watching you work was life changing to me.... I don't think I would have the passion for independent American films would it not be for you and all of those who choose to create honest art forms out of our beloved visual medium Men with Guns is a prime example of all of this....

[@quizarrdd1]

A great no frills, humanitarian filmmaker. I loved to see his picks and also love that he will never be a household name.

[@jorgealonzo8535]

My Criterion holy grail wish would be Lone Star. Hope it happens some time.

[@hlcepeda]

LS has been in my "Hold until BR arrives" DVD pile for a few years now. The pile is big!

[@richardfarrell2051]

It’s such a great film lone star, personally I think it’s his masterpiece. Has beautiful, bold things to say about race and relationships without ever getting preachy, and uniformly great acting from a remarkably varied cast. The ending got me big time, so moving. A great film

[@paulkitt5599]

If I was head of a movie studio I would give sayles an open check so he could make a movie a year

[@noblegas7073]

I love these, I’ve always been a movie enthusiast, but I’ve been trying to expand on my love of the craft. These help expose me to great cinema!

[@Trund27]

Noble Gas that’s awesome! I love movies and try to watch as diverse a selection as I can. It’s a great art form to dive into deeply.

[@thetramp123]

The Organizer is so good and deserves more recognition.

[@lizclegg7556]

Terrific choices and I really appreciate his intelligent commentary.

[@glenmorgan8503]

Sayles Limbo is cruelly underrated.

[@thomaswilke6312]

I think this is the best commentary ever

[@fairdose]

"Men with Guns", "Lonestar" and "The Secret of Roan Innish" should get the Criterion treatment.

[@brandothecatmeow]

I loved Lonestar, Chris Cooper is astounding in that movie.

[@joliecide]

Amen on Lone Star. Also, they should include 8 Men Out.

[@rickg8015]

Will Oldham (aka, Bonnie Prince Billy) was a stand out in Matewan.. Saw it when I was a kid before I discovered his music in the 90’s. Sayles has always been making really great films and is a good actor too. Saw one here on YT years ago, an early film of his called Lianna... He shot a film here too in the Philippines a few years ago.

[@xofpi]

Wow! I was just thinking this weekend about how underrated and unjustly forgotten Matewan is!

[@NomadicBrian]

John Sayles. While I was living in NYC and going to see films in Greenwich Village I watched 'The Brother From Another Planet' and thought wow this guy is really out there man. Fast forward 7 years and I saw 'City of Hope' and this film was a little more main stream but i was blown away. I think 'Sunshine State' was the next film I remember and by then I was going to see a 'John Sayles Film' Many good ones followed.

[@bigneon_glitter]

Matewan should be required viewing in every high school.

[@ambskater97]

@Loafy Thanks for telling me. Now it MUST be required viewing in every high school!

[@EastmanD]

agree. excellent film....James Earl Jones and Scott Glenn ?? Movie about union mine workers if I'm remembering correctly...but don't let that put you off...excellent performances.

[@benmcfee]

I've heard it described as a _High Noon_ style western, except instead of bandits versus a sherriff, it's Pinkertons versus a sherriff _and_ the entire town.

[@kamuelalee]

Criterion, please release the 1982 flick The Grey Fox starring the late Great Richard Farnsworth. Also, please release more John Sayles' movies...a brilliant writer-director!

[@BunnyMan456]

kamuelalee Oh my goodness, PLEASE release The Grey Fox. It’s beautiful and severely out of print.

[@edwardhp]

Kino Lorber is releasing The Grey Fox in North America on Blu-ray in early 2020.

[@jobrown95]

A Blu Ray release of The Brother from Another Planet would be awesome, even if it's highly unlikely

[@whitetigress7448]

Delightful. I love Closet Picks. And I luh, lerv, luff the Internet! What a marvelous time to be alive.

[@DamnWow]

Closet Picks are the best! Y'all should have Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington on

[@TheJohnnyonthespot1]

Shout out to John Sayles for getting me into independent cinema 20+ years ago with Men With Guns. Before that I had only seen blockbusters. Sayles opened a whole new world to me and I've never been the same since.

[@tontaelli]

Preach Brother!

[@RSmith6948]

Same with me but it was The Return of the Secaucus 7.

[@jonathanwiggins5366]

Matewan is excellent. My former college roommate was from Gary, Indiana and his dad was a union man in the steel mills-- he loved that movie and made his son watch it.

[@jayham____fromgeorgia]

I've watched Matewan like 10 times this year.. the extras on the criterion disc are really amazing, just like the film.. they really add to the feature, which is pretty rare.. more john sayles movies on criterion would be cool

[@dannyhullihan9302]

This may be my favorite out of all the “closets.” I’ve never seen a second of Sayles’ work, but I’ll be sure to now

[@danielstanwyck2812]

WHAT A PLEASURE!!! He holds the video up, he talks about it coherently and smartly, he gives you interesting analysis. 90 percent of them able and tuff the dvd into her loot bag and you've no idea what they are talking about! More John Sayles. and those of you who put thee criterions together, advise your selectors to show the damn video they are talking about, and really TALK abut it!!

[@pillettadoinswartsh4974]

Fellini admitted in an interview that out of all the characters in his films, Cabiria was the one he was most worried about. Fellini states, "The film doesn't have a resolution in the sense that there is a final scene in which the story reaches a conclusion so definitive that you no longer have to worry about Cabiria."

[@terrygracy8345]

Yeah. This dude makes solid films. 8 Men Out is one of the best baseball movies ever. And it’s just great as a movie.

[@Dontuween]

John Sayles is correct about Howard Hawks and the dialog aspect. "The Thing From Another World" is a great example.

[@rogerkincaid931]

His Girl Friday. My favorite Cary Grant flick.

[@NoirFan84]

Notorious is much better.

[@devon6941]

I'd also say North by Northwest is better as well but I suppose it's subjective.

[@rogerkincaid931]

@@NoirFan84 - Haven't seen it yet, but I'm planning to.

[@pillettadoinswartsh4974]

It's mine too. But also try "The Philadelphia Story" if you haven't already.

[@johnozed]

I love John Sayles and used to see him around Hoboken. Never in long sleeved shirts no matter the weather!

[@tontaelli]

For the love of God release more of his stuff. Please. Come on. Lone Star, Return of the Secaucas 7... you get the idea.

[@romanclay1913]

HIS GIRL FRIDAY was a 165 page script of a 90 minute film. That's fast talking. Rosalind Russell steals the film from Cary Grant and that took some doing.

[@dskinner6263]

So keenly attuned to the environment in which his films are set.

[@michaelstearnesstearnes1498]

The budget on a John Sales film wouldnt pay for the deck chairs on "Titanic". (From an L.A. Times article.)

[@MrUndersolo]

Glad to see him here. I mention his work to my students whenever I get the chance...

[@Thehandbanana]

I really want to check out State of Siege now.

[@dimitrihartmann6110]

That's how you show respect inside the CCC, Alfonso... Thank you, Mr Sayles...!

[@FloraWest]

I gave this a like even before I watched this. I love John Sayles as a filmmaker and a guy so much.

[@hapaXL]

Please add "Men with Guns" to the collection! I've been haunted by it for years...

[@HAL-rx5ln]

His Girl Friday is brilliant. Hawks was a master and I'd put him in the Mount Rushmore of american filmmakers.

[@DarinMichaelGrant]

One of the G.O.A.T.'s in world cinema, without a doubt.

[@kamuelalee]

Rather wonderfully there's almost too many great Hawks film to count: The Big Sleep, To Have and Have Not, Rio Bravo, Bringing Up Baby, among many others.

[@DarinMichaelGrant]

@@kamuelalee Definitely, although I would _still_ say His Girl Friday is incredibly unique and special.

[@WickedKingLycoan]

‘Lonestar’, that movie is perfect. Though I loved ‘The Howling’ as well.

[@geraldfrank1630]

Actor, writer & director par excellence! 👌👏👌👏👏

[@CameronYoung-fn6xy]

Love this guy. Matewan really got me when I was young.

[@alexgiron442]

Will we get a proper scan and release for The Brother From Another Planet?

[@Cookieboymonster1962]

Great stuff. I loved his Return of the Secaucus Seven which was a forerunner to The Big Chill

[@gavinkerslake]

LA STRADA is my favorite Fellini film. Have seen it multiple times.

[@felidiazbo]

Totally unrelated but i hope that Walter Murch, Martin Scorsese and/or Michael Mann visit the closet someday. I'd love to see their respective picks and commentaries.

[@Theomite]

Walter Murch should have his own closet video. And it should be 2 hours long. We're waiting for Scorsese to visit with a catered lunch 'cause he's gonna be there all day video.

[@virgorising7388]

I've always wanted to know how John Sayles got the Robicheaux sisters so spot on (Passion Fish). My mother's a Robicheaux.😂

[@emwa3600]

RETURN OF THE SECAUCUS SEVEN. We'd have slicker versions arrive in the next few years, but I still prefer SECAUCUS... rough cut feeling, some unslick dialog delivery... but so wonderful.

[@Buffaloc]

Lone Star is one of my favorite movies.

[@theman2017inc]

OMG without realising it I HAVE seen a John Sayles film without knowing, it was his take of the successful ET in the early 80’s THE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET with Joe Morton in his first leading role

[@aaronshouting588]

Hope to see Ari Aster and Robert Eggers make a visit to the closet!

[@FramesPerSecond]

Swapmeetsearcher to see what moves they’d pick...you know, the whole reason this series exists.

[@kenr.9177]

Thank you John Sayles. Film class. The opposite of Aubrey Plaza just stealing from the closet.

[@acbenepe]

Love, Love, Love the series. Can one of you geniuses on the shoot crew please figure out how not to turn the dvd into a light flair?

[@pillettadoinswartsh4974]

"His Girl Friday" !!! One of four adaptations of the 1928 stage play "The Front Page" Others include "The Front Page" (1931) - pretty good *"The Front Page" (1974) - EXCELLENT (Lemmon and Matthau, directed by Billy Wilder!)* "Switching Channels" (1988) - Good (remake of His Girl Friday, set on a TV news division)

[@Deepurplerain]

I saw earlier that John Sayle's Matewan was in the collection and it's not surprising to see him holding The organizer,a masterpiece by Mario Monicelli with a very similar story. His girl friday and Wilder's One two three are the fastests comedies i know, a director got to be on dope to get quicker than this.

[@savvysearch]

Why isn't this great director making more movies?

[@Peter32tjrksor]

Hey Criterion, do a special episode with Daisuke Beppu. If you don't want to bring him into your closet, go to his.

[@adikravets3632]

5:04 very true, even today only a few can do it correctly

[@rogerkincaid931]

John Sayles!

[@anodyne57]

REALLY good hat tips from such a knowledgable lover of the art form. And a d**'ed good fiction writer too...I can attest, having just gone to see him reading from his new novel, "To Save the Man."

[@Maximillionaire666]

Please try and get Martin Scorsese for a 2 hour closet video I will watch every second

[@zvimur]

www.imdb.com/title/tt0112120/

[@mellowhansen2274]

Cool stuff. Good closet picks episode

[@nativewizard]

hoping for a criterion of city of hope it's never been released on dvd!

[@alexanderclaylavin]

Amazon Prime has a good copy

[@Theomite]

Hey Criterion, on this note, are we gonna see BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET in the closet anytime soon?

[@JamieJobb]

Sayles's book "Thinking in Pictures" is based on his Matewan experience and it is an incredible read for the wannabe writer/director.

[@classicvideogoodies]

Some filmmakers like talking about movies, and some don't, and/or are not good at it. Talking about movies, like making movies, requires skills that some possess and some don't. That's why some filmmakers don't get interviewed in Criterion's special features. Criterion only hires people who are good at talking about movies for their featurettes.

[@romanclay1913]

If I were in the closet, I'd pick films that I love but already own. I'd just talk about why they're great films: JULIA(1977...)MEET JOHN DOE....TWO FOR THE ROAD...FROM HERE TO ETERNITY...A PLACE IN THE SUN...MCCABE AND MRS. MILLER....PARALLAX VIEW....KING OF MARVIN GARDENS....THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER, THE APARTMENT, ACE IN THE HOLE

[@Phicxtion]

“Doubt” needs a criterion release!!!

[@ellenolenska9141]

Really interesting video in the closet.

[@stevenbrash9572]

Really need help finding City of Hope (1991) online, as I don't want to buy a year subscription to Amazon Prime for just one film... please!? The film has never been released on DVD nevermind blu ray and which is ridiculous as its meant to be great, but no one in the universe can view it unless they buy this subscription for a year. Please release at least a DVD.

[@MrRazorblade999]

I'm surprised he didn't pick a Ken Loach movie...

[@PascoZach]

maybe he doesn't like socialist propaganda.

[@MrRazorblade999]

@@PascoZach Then you don't know very much about John Sayles

[@larrylicavoli]

Great novelist. Union Dues is fantastic.

[@nicolasturner-cdle3351]

These are great, but audio could be better.

[@mimicrybypravesh]

His Girl Friday and Charade. Best of Cary Grant.

[@Njbear7453]

Possibly the most Underrated mind in cinema ! Alligator, Piranha, The Howling, WILLY WONKA

[@DungeonStudio]

Did John actually take any movies away? I'm surprised at his tastes and passions, but come on man - you're in THE VAULT! LOL I gotta get Matewan AGAIN soon too. But think Criterion will be the be all and end all for it. :)

[@Armakk]

"Howard Hawks... he made a bunch of good movies." - John Sayles

[@RoyalWave79]

Tell him I love Battle Beyond the Stars!