Most OVERRATED Films in the CRITERION COLLECTION

[@ElliotCoen]

My question to YOU - What is the single most overrated film in the Criterion Collection? (No Barry Lyndon answers allowed, sorry)

[@swaggyquaggy5077]

400 blows

[@michaelsmith1262]

Anything with Jacques Tati. I have actually not watched one of his films all the way though, but I have sampled them enough to know I don't find them funny at all. I think maybe if you are French, you can more easily see the humor, but to me they are painfully unfunny and boring.

[@spaceodds1985]

Well said, Barry Lyndon is underrated of all things

[@luissegovia8205]

Andrei rublev.... 3 hour of... Zzzzzzzz!!!!

[@EBFido1973]

Pierro le fou from Goddard

[@NoStasis]

I also love Kurosawa’s later films, but Seven Samurai and a lot of his other films in that era had an incredible magic from the cast and scripts that are hard to surpass. Interesting that you seem to take points off of a film for being so influential that others then refine the ideas from it, that influence would seem to speak to it’s greatness if you ask me. I’ve long believed that Seven Samurai is a legitimate contender for greatest film of all-time, it’s all subjective but to me it checks all the boxes.

[@h.calvert3165]

As I was watching it for the first time, I kept checking how much was left. I wasn't bored. I was saying, "AARRGGHH! There's only two & a half hours left! AARRGGHH! There's only two hours left! AARRGGHH!. . . ." 🤯

[@jnagarya519]

It can't be "all subjective" because the film in question exists as an objective entity.

[@NoStasis]

@@jnagarya519 the film is the film, it is the opinions are subjective.

[@jnagarya519]

@@NoStasis And yet interpretations of a film or other work of "art" are limited by the elements and strictures within the work. A painting of a tree is not a painting of a motor vehicle.

[@voidgrrl]

I was still recovering from the French New Wave slander and then Mulholland Drive???? My favourite film of all time???? I'm seething, lad

[@ElliotCoen]

I’m sorry to let you down so harshly 😂

[@robertfaulkner1824]

I thought I was not a very good lynch fan as elephant man is my favorite of his but a straight story?! I mean it’s a very endearing little movie… better than dune. Lost highway I wasn’t a fan of… o wonder what he thinks about blue velvet

[@rodneyleon3645]

That's it! That's the final straw! I. Am. Out. Of. Here!

[@agnosoul]

When you pulled up Breathless I went "yeah and so is Godard, and honestly so is the entire French New Wave" and you beautifully followed up with that. hilarious

[@ElliotCoen]

Haha!

[@realjoelgomes]

Thought provoking video Elliot!! 👌👌👌👍👍👍. Next I'd suggest you make a couple of videos on Criterion titles that have DVD versions, but have never been released on Blu-ray: a video on the best ones that deserve a BR release, and another on "Not sure how this title made it to Criterion?!"

[@ElliotCoen]

Great ideas, Joel. I’ll add these to my list. Thank you so much for the support! 🙌

[@m.dorado6966]

I have one in my collection called The Thief of Baghdad I've had for years waiting for a BR release. What does Criterion have against Sabu?

[@anthonym8205]

Even if they had the rights, would people double dip on Tout va bien?

[@MarvinDeLeon-hx4hi]

You know what? Everything is overrated. Because people find everything overrated.

[@gurutattoo75]

I was sitting here waiting for you to say "The Red Shoes" or "Come and See", and if that was the case, we would've had words, butI actually agree whole-heartedly with your picks. Barry Lyndon is a gem, I hope some day we get a 4k release of it.

[@ElliotCoen]

I could never have included those films here! The Red Shoes is vital cinema for me. Thanks for watching, Kevin!

[@JoseChavez-rf4ul]

Yes! “Barry Lyndon” in 4K please! In fact, as much as I adore the Kubrick films that have already seen a release in 4K, “Lyndon” is the film I would have chosen ahead of all the others… Here’s to hoping it gets one soon. 🤞🏽

[@raminagrobis6112]

@@ElliotCoen I couldn't agree more. The Red Shoes was one of my most extraordinary discoveries of my last 19 years of cinema exploration, after " Black Narcissus".. Sacrilege !! 😂

[@sensitivedogs]

Well I'm glad you would have had words if those were chosen. I had words for those that were actually chosen based on the fact it was hitting criterion directly for their choices. Elliot should start his own boutique label and see how we rate his choices.

[@andrewhladek3528]

I think what a lot of the haters don't seem to understand is that you still show respect these directors and share appreciation to these works. Out of the five films you've discussed, Seven Samurai was the only film I watched. I'll consider watching the other four. Overall, your explanation for each these is professionally done! Great job!

[@ricahrdb]

Interesting but I disagree with you 5/5. I am not necessarily a fan of all these films but I do recognise that all 5 are either landmark films or key films for their specific director. I definitely wouldn't pick these in the category "overrated" as most of them (specifically Citizen Kane, Mulholland Dr. and Breathless) are actually often criticised for being "snobbish" and "elitist".

[@saharapage1]

Well you went for it Elliott and I must say you expressed your opions very well. You are always interesting and thought provoking. I really enjoy your channel.

[@waltersboxx]

Talked my children who hated old or black and white films into watching at least five minutes Seven Samurai before leaving the room; they were still there three hours later.

[@princesmith8008]

Lol nice, my cousin hates black and white too. Made him watch only 10 minutes of "Strangers on a Train" and then I left the room as I had some stuff to do. When I came back 2-3 hours later, he was watching it for the second time.

[@tdbourneproductions8220]

Royal Tenenbaums is my favorite W Anderson film. He had shown promise with Bottle Rocket and Rushmore, but still had to prove himself with a larger ensemble A-list cast. He was still at a phase of growth. After this film, he could do whatever he wanted and has.

[@andrewwilson4733]

I personal love bottle rocket and rushmore the most, I think his underdeveloped style was better and more pure. He quickly became so stylised and predictable with his formula (my opinion obv.)

[@tdbourneproductions8220]

@@andrewwilson4733 I haven't watched the French Dispatch for that reason.

[@machtnichtsseimann]

@@andrewwilson4733 - I'll throw a wrench into the discussion on W. Anderson. "Rushmore" was and is still my favorite of his. And among my favorites of all films of all time. It hits the ground running, great soundtrack, tight editing, snappy dialog ( one of the most quotable films I've ever seen to enter itself quickly into Cult status ), solid acting. Comedy/Tragedy. Lot of heart. Subjectively, continues to touch and entertain me all these years later.

[@michaelsmith1262]

I agree with some choices, and I really like this topic. Some filmmakers do not connect with me at all. Lynch is one of them. I'm glad you've shifted your focus for this channel to these kinds of topics, rather than just haul videos. Seems like the time you took off was good for you. Would like to see you post videos more often, but of course whatever you are comfortable with is what you should do.

[@Bob-Savage]

This is off topic but I just thought of it - Spielberg Criterion?!. He’s probably the last of the ‘big’ directors to not have any films in the collection. Scorsese, Kubrick, Kurosawa, DePalma… The closest is ‘I wanna hold your hand’ as a producer. Off the top of my head I can only think of ‘The Color Purple’ as a possible candidate… anyone else have a thought??

[@cody_t]

Empire of the Sun

[@BackstageBackDoor]

Schindler's list would be amazing.

[@jshimmy786]

Absolutely heresy.. Seven Samurai, Breathless and Citizen Kane are the greatest movies of all-time.. yeah, its subjective... and I love those movies after taking film classes in college so context is definitely needed and helpful. Those movies greatness is not "intuitive". But you're spot on regarding Royal Tenenbaums.

[@codenamecatatonic8894]

I remember stepping out of my film class during “Breathless”😂 That burned feeling of being oversold on a “documentary” style b/w home movie.

[@unityoc]

I completely agree with all of your picks. The only one I might have to (slighlty) push back on is Mulholland Dr. but that's ok, Lynch isn't for everyone, in fact he's not for most people.

[@movieedge7370]

In my opinion, any Wes Anderson movie is overrated he can release a movie once a year, and it automatically gets a criterion. It’s ridiculous. His movies are not that great.

[@nomad6218]

I think that not only is The French new wave the most vital era in cinema, but objectively as a brilliant era of cinema that has some of the best and some of my favourite films, like Cleo for 5 to 7, Last year at Marienbad, Day for Night, etc.

[@ElliotCoen]

Day for Night is one of my favourite Truffaut’s. I think the late silent era is the most vital. If only Murnau and other masters had another decade to play around with before sound!

[@elizabethveldonstuff]

not going to disagree there.

[@valentinedussaut3839]

Day for Night isn't part of the French New Wave. The problem with you Americans is that you have a shallow understanding of French cinema. The French New Wave lasted from 1958 to 1962. Anything after that, even Godard, and Truffaut isn't French New Wave. Bresson isn't French New Wave, Melville and Pialat neither. It is even disputed if Demy or Resnais were.

[@mr.40-15]

Nah bro french new wave films are trash

[@valentinedussaut3839]

@@mr.40-15 I challenge you to a duel.

[@balto8111]

Despite the showy staging of its second half, he first hour of Mullholand Drive simply cannot disguise what it really is: a pilot for a cancelled TV series.

[@ThePanPiper89]

Your take on Godard is one I see often and very much understand. There are those moments where a very fast paced film with a short duration suddenly derails for 10 minutes for a conversation. It’s very hit or miss. I really liked it in Contempt. Contempt is a real outlier in that StudioCanal set.

[@Ally140992]

Citizen Kane is a great movie but Ambersons was Welles' masterpiece and I just wish we got to see his own cut.

[@storysightmedia]

Thank you for doing this video!! I love your hot takes and even agree with some of them. More film lovers should not be scared to share their controversial opinions.

[@finlaylonghurst]

funnily enough, the royal tenenbaums is the wes anderson film that i connect with the most, always makes me emotional

[@toffeur23]

Lynch's case is special. Because he does not make only cinema but also painting and artistic installations. He has several strings to his bow. But my thesis is that he does not make a thing beside another, but one through another. There are indeed two Lynch, one in a vein that I would call "traditional" or conventional, respecting narrative codes, the other that I would name "surrealist", and which upsets the traditional codes of the narration. The most representative works are Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive.

[@k-boxmotionpictures1337]

It’s your experience in finding underrated films so that you can rule out gate blocker overrated films and secondly with age we want to refresh some mind buttons and files. I agree with all of your 4 picks except Citizen Kane. After 5 years you will feel same about Vertigo

[@ElliotCoen]

We will see if you’re right about Vertigo! Have loved that now for 8 years and counting… thanks for watching!

[@brutusalwaysminded]

Wow, I agree (vehemently) with all of your picks except for ‘Seven Samurai’. I don’t think Kurosawa ever achieved his ideal of “pure cinema”; I find his later work often too static. Movies aren’t paintings, though they can be influenced by them, which is why I feel filmmakers like Peter Greenaway are more successful with expressing the dynamism inherent in what the best paintings suggest. Kurosawa’s mid-career features, imo, are among his most compelling work. Oh, there’s nothing more “meandering” than ‘Barry Lyndon’; not in terms of narrative or storyline but within the frames. Someone like Tarkovsky is almost exactly the opposite: his narratives meander like a mofo, but he is rigorously painstaking about the story within the frame. Kubrick is so much like Hitchcock who also takes great pains to arrive at a scene but he’s so plastic that when we get there we find that there’s nothing much going on (usually a joke)! My two cents. 😁 Thanks!!

[@Shah-of-the-Shinebox]

I couldn’t agree with you more with Royal Tenenbaums, it’s a film I just couldn’t get into, as with most of Wes Anderson’s filmography (except Grand Budapest Hotel, thats Anderson’s masterpiece). You’re right about Seven Samurai not being Kurosawa’s best (that honor belongs to Ran) but I wouldn’t call it overrated.

[@ShanghaiRooster]

Overrated is perhaps a poor word. Better maybe to describe some of these films as being ones that unfairly overshadow others in the director's canon. In a similar way, Elliot's previous 'underrated' video is better described as under-appreciated.

[@GM-nz1te]

Hi Elliot. Thank you so much for your video, much appreciated. It is refreshing. On the side note, I actually often wonder how honest some of the Criterion Collection buyers are about the titles they purchase. I feel there is a bit of dishonesty from some of them and it is more about showing off than anything else. It just takes to look at all the messages posted by Criterion buyers on the KZbin Criterion channel during the sales (look at my collection of Criterion titles! look what I bought! - honestly, who cares what they purchased, we know the titles they bought are available from Criterion). Especially when it comes to 'blind buys'. Just because it is Criterion doesn't mean it is that good or they are going to enjoy the films. Anyway. You have picked some major titles. I agree 100% with you on Wes Anderson. I recently watched his French Dispatch and felt exactly as you have described it - which is the way I feel about all his films. Cold is the word. I think his movies are overrated, even if I acknowledge their technical and aesthetic value. I watched The Seven Samurai only once some years ago and did not really connect to it (same thing with The Magnificent Seven, actually). I do like Citizen Kane, Breathless and Mulholland Drive, but I understand that some may consider them as overrated (or worse). I see Citizen Kane as a great film. To be honest, I don’t understand everything Lynch does, but I enjoy his films nonetheless and don’t see them as pretentious, including Mulholland Drive. I don’t consider Breathless pretentious either, although it might be the way some feel about it. It has to be put in the context of the time. I watched it again the other day and deeply enjoyed it, for what it is but also in the light of what had been done until then and what was shot at the time in France. I agree that from the end of the 60s on Godard’s work becomes increasingly experimental and hard to watch (and some would say pretentious). I really struggled to watch Le Gai savoir last year. Thanks for all the videos!

[@sensitivedogs]

And you put these films in that same context? These films are great films Criterion or no criterion. You just have to know what you like and the difference between something that's genuinely good and make your opinion on film knowledge not on a whim to be controversial.

[@NotOrdinaryInGames]

I only saw 3.5 of Wes Anderson's movies (not sure if watched all of parts of one of them), and that included Budapest Hotel. A solid piece of work, good choice to pick it as #1.

[@OGMillwood]

Completely agree re: Citizen Kane. I watched this years ago, and went in with an abundance of excitement and reverence, and left feeling... Let down? Underwhelmed? Thankfully it's all subjective, but for me, I'm totally in agreement with you on this one.

[@LeonardoJJardim]

I'd love to see in the Criterion Collection in 4K Sunset Boulevard (1950) Directed by Billy Wilder.

[@ElliotCoen]

YES! Love Wilder and Sunset Boulevard. If this can happen, it would make my year!

[@mitch89014]

Agree with most you stated, Not Mulholland Drive, For me personally, a great film is one that you watch over and over and no matter how many times you have seen it, still brings you some joy, Some of my favorite films are little known films, Citizen Kane is a great film, but for me it’s not the kind of film I reach for when looking for a complete pleasurable experience watching, it is a great film study, but the story is cold and not emotional at all

[@gorehound3414]

Seven Samurai is a masterpiece, it isn’t the best Japanese film but it is a masterpiece. MullHolland Drive; is a flawless masterpiece. It isn’t even my favourite Lynch probably ranking 5th, that’s only because some of his films feel more personal to me. I don’t understand how MullHolland Drive can’t leave you emotionally blown away.

[@toms9453]

Hope you don’t get any hate for this. Feel like you have solid reasoning behind all of your comments. I agree for the most part, I even agree with you on Godard, although for me Breathless just remains effortlessly cool. I really enjoy the American remake of Breathless as well. I love Kane but it’s totally overrated you’re 100% on that one. I’ve felt the same way you do about Seven Samurai since I first saw it, only difference is that 3 and a half hours was a slog for me to get through. I haven’t seen a ton by Kurosawa but Rashomon is absolutely better in every way than Seven Samurai.

[@ElliotCoen]

Cheers, Tom. I think I’d agree that Rashomon is the better film, and the one I’d be more likely to watch often.

[@endresee]

Man I was ready to hate but I agree with all these picks, though as you say many of these are amazing films despite being overrated. The problem, I think, is the whole concept of a “best” film or “10 best” or whatever. Film is such a varied medium and so many kinds of films try to do so many different things. No one film, no matter how good, can be defended as “the best” or 10 best, etc.

[@trevorbartram5473]

Agree with Breathless, Royal Tennenbaums & Mulholland Drive. I havn't seen Seven Samurai in years. You are wrong regarding Citizen Kane. You need to see the PBS series on William Randolph Hearst or read a good biography. At the tail end of the Depression, Welles was documenting the excesses of American commerce and experimenting with cinematic techniques within a thinly disguised biographic movie, plain genius!

[@ElliotCoen]

Oh yes, I completely understand the historical context and how brilliant that is! That doesn’t affect the film itself though. I can’t remember who said it first but you shouldn’t have to read a book to enjoy a film to its fullest! Thanks for watching and commenting, Trevor!

[@trevorbartram5473]

That is the brilliance of Kane, it's a reflection of a life not a mirror, and is still a compelling story in it's own right.

[@SamDavies94]

Breathless has always been an overrated film for me. Studying film at Uni, it was recommended viewing and a lot of lecturers loved it. I don't think it works - I find the general 'plot' of the film to be a nonsensical drag. I do really like some of Godard's other films, Vivre Sa Vie, Bande a Part, Un Femme Mariè really worked for me. I also really dislike that one of the stylistic elements that's praised is the editing in the car during conversations. When I did the background reading, I read that Godard was told to shorten the film before release, so he decided to save time by jump cutting the scenes - this really took the magic out of the edit, and every time I watch it those moments make me roll my eyes.

[@s.m.whiteII]

At least you are honest enough to admit you might not connect with Lynch. Kudos. As for me, Blue Velvet, Lost Highway and Mulholland Drive were all movies that had a DEEP impact on me, each viewed at different times of my life. No single director comes close in that respect for me personally

[@josephingrao5556]

LOL What a silly segment, first off and if you want to use the term "overrated" well there's a reason why movies that you mentioned like The Seven Samurai and why it's so beloved because it was heavily influential to all filmmakers, almost revolutionary to a degree. Very strange that you think his films picked up in the 80s like the movie "Ran" well no disrespect to Kurosawa, but that movie sorta put me to sleep. In my humble opinion the 80s and 90s is where his films started to decline. And don't get me started with "Citizen Kane" it is almost blasphemous that you think that movie is overrated. Dude again the same reason why it's such a beloved movie. It didn't start with the Italian neo realism films, it didn't start with the French New Wave, the REAL revolution started with Orsen Welles. Thats it! Period! End of story! Um I'm quite confused on your assessment on The Royal Tenenbaum being uh overrated? Don't know what you're talking about, sorry that movie is not overrated. I rarely hear anyone talking about that film except amongst the Wes Anderson nerds.... no disrespect to the Wes Anderson fans. But what do you expect from this pretentious hipster who thinks there's no history before the 1980s LOL

[@ElliotCoen]

😂 thanks for watching!

[@josephingrao5556]

@@ElliotCoen I won't anymore LOL 🤣

[@simonfilmfan4899]

Those Criterion discs are seriously expensive and too arty to risk blind buys. I only own a few.

[@WorldsCollide23]

Yes! Normalize finding the French New Wave and Godard overrated. Meandering is right. I understand what the movement did for cinema, but I also dislike when people talk about what came before it as stuffy. Just look at masterpieces like “Children of Paradise.” Nothing stuffy about that film.

[@Methuselah969V]

I agree with you about Mulholland Drive being overrated Naomi Watts and the other actress are super hot 🔥 but the film was so weird I didn't get it though I probably need to watch it a second time one of these days

[@fv5681]

Respect Elliot for taking on this monumental task. Taking on some heavy hitters. Seems like an emotional connection is key to leave a lasting impression on you. I will agree on Royal and Breathless. To me the most overrated is Ingmar Bergman so I am sure that would go really well with the Internet! 😂 Enjoyed the video.

[@cconditsunstone1256]

Good for you! Takes guts to put out a like this. My short take: wrong about The Seven Samurai (my favorite film of all time) but absolutely right about all the rest. Fellini, anyone?

[@michaelplato6449]

Yup, I agree with every choice and will stand with you! Each one of these can best be described as a "clever tricks" film, all of which I could admire the craftsmanship of, but which also left me completely unmoved.

[@cheapcinemachannel4548]

I appreciate your contrarian opinions. You didn't go the easy route, that's for sure. I kind of agree about Mulholland Drive. It's very good, probably great but also probably overrated. Blue Velvet and Fire Walk With Me are better. Personally I think the best thing he ever directed was the Twin Peaks pilot. With Wes Anderson it's his more modern movies that leave me a bit cold. Rushmore, Tenenbaums and Life Aquatic rank way above Budapest and Dispatch. I wish he'd write with Owen Wilson again.

[@helliot666]

Since you put Godard and Anderson here, I’ll let you go with Mulholland as most people that says they love cinema just don’t understand the film as they are not able to go with the core theme (also the parts that were supposed to be extended in the TV series doesn’t help). Now a question for you, can you do a list of films that should be on the Collection and they have not do enough to get the rights and add it to the collection: e.g. many horror fans think Dawn and Day of the Dead should be there and get a box set release along Night. Oh, and I’ll add Solaris and Dr Strangelove to the overrated.

[@jaredmiller7365]

As someone who would put Seven Samurai in my Top 5, I actually completely understand. King Lear became my favorite Shakespeare play in college and around that time I discovered Ran, and I was completely blown away. It is just a slight bit below Samurai for me, and I get that exhaustion that comes from Samurai's influence and from a standpoint in scope and full directorial potential his later films are technically superior. I also agree with Tenenbaums as well, his more recent work has certainly held up as more emotionally enjoyable.

[@praapje]

Largely I´m in agreement with you. I like Seven Samurai, but I wouldn´t put it in my top ten of Kurosawa movies. Waaaay overrated imo. And Breathless? Don´t even get me started on that. What a turd! Influential perhaps, but overall crappy af. Pardon my French. Yes, Citizen Kane I find also overrated, but still an amazing and wonderful movie. I have to disagree on Mulholland though. Yes, every best of list is ultimately a matter of taste and personal preference no matter how much one tries to rationalize it, but to me it´s probably THE best film ever made alongside Inland Empire.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

Seven Samurai is one of the 10 greatest films ever made, but then again, I saw it twice on the big screen in 35 millimeter prints, in a vintage theater with audiences, where films should be seen, not just on blu ray. Same for Citizen Kane.

[@keancv]

**Elliot** ref Citizen Kane that you say is over rated. What would you say was a better O-W- title available on Blu or 4K disc?

[@ElliotCoen]

It still is probably his best, just about. That said, I’m very excited for The Trial getting a 4K disc later this year. I’m a huge fan of The Magnificent Ambersons in its current state. If the lost footage is ever found in Brazil, I think that film will be his masterpiece.

[@sgist7824]

This is a great video thank you. I am interested to start collecting Criterion, do you have any videos on how best to do this in the UK?

[@leonardkrasner4399]

I just started following you recently. I like your style. I like that you’re soft-spoken and of course I love your accent, being from the US, I love a British accent. I agree with most of your choices for overrated films. I am not a big West Anderson fan. Ive tried watching a number of his movies. I find them difficult to get through. As recently as last 2 nights I tried to watch The Grand Budapest hotel. Actually I think it was on your recommendation. I couldn’t finish it. I don’t appreciate his style. As for citizen Kane, being a lot older than you, I have found, on many occasions, when I see a movie years after I saw it the first time, I not as impressed. I personally don’t think that Citizen Kane is overrated. It is a one of a kind movie, that has been used as a stepping stone for other filmmakers to rip off over the years. I ‘ve liked all your Criterion reviews since started. I have bought more than I should have. As for my most overrated would be Valley of the Dolls. Everything about it is terrible. It should not have a place on the Criterion roster. I look forward to your future vlogs.

[@davidlevy4291]

Its not about offending.. its about weather or not someone agrees or not...and perhaps someone has derived more meaning from the work than than you have and all the better for them

[@scottylovesthings]

I do and I don’t agree with Seven Samurai. I actually finally saw it for the first time just two years ago. Now, personally, I did love it, but also agree that Kurosawa has made quite a few better movies. But at the same time, I would never call it overrated because of reasons you actually stated in this video. It was enormously influential as a film, even within Kurosawa’s own filmography. If a single movie influenced and inspired so many others in film history, can it really be called overrated, no matter what our individual opinions of it may be?

[@danevans6812]

Enjoyed the video, thanks for making this - nice change from the standard issue even with some disagreement.

[@ElliotCoen]

My pleasure, Dan. Thanks for watching!

[@iakona23]

I like your choices. Thank you for making this video. I despise Wes Anderson films. They are all over-rated. I happen to like a lot of French New Wave films, but I am not a big Godard fan. Seven Samurai is a nice movie but it’s probably not as great as it is hyped to be. I don’t know David Lynch films very much. Citizen Kane used to always be listed as the greatest film of all-time so it’s got to be over-rated.

[@MyBennyO]

How can you choose one Kurosawa over another? One of the few filmmakers that one can say that has created almost 100% masterpieces! "Seven Samurai" is one of the greatest films of all time! So is "Ran", "Kagemusha", "Dreams", Yojimbo", "High & Low", etc. Difficult for me to choose a favorite Kurosawa! I do agree 1,000% that "Barry Lyndon" is one of the greatest films ever made! Seen it twice so far this year! By the way, Kubrick is another filmmaker that has created almost 100% masterpieces! I'm so glad you left Scorsese out of the overrated! He's my personal favorite! Thanks and keep up the good work Elliot!

[@mattylujan]

Highly disagree regarding Tenenbaums. Highly. I find Moonrise Kingdom and after to be whatever.

[@MrKahlerHahn]

Was expecting or hoping for tarkowsky's andrej rublov

[@brutusalwaysminded]

How dare you! 😡😁 No. 1 for me. 😉

[@DamienTalksMoney]

Nailing the topics and titles recently lad!

[@ElliotCoen]

Cheers pal! I’m always looking at your videos for how to do it!

[@DamienTalksMoney]

@@ElliotCoen hahah well if you figure it out let me know mate because I am clueless!!

[@wharfrat7900]

I agree with you on The Royal Tenenbaums and Citizen Kane. I've never seen Mulholland Drive. I never wanted to. I didn't like David Lynch's other films. I thought he was always trying too hard to be arty. However, Seven Samurai remains my all-time favorite film.

[@colaguy29229]

Wow, Eliot. We are so simpatico. I can honestly say I agree with all of your selections. (Except for Seven Samurai, which I haven't watched yet.) I particularly agree with your comments on Breathless and Godard.... And The Straight Story is also my favorite Lynch film. I dare anyone to get through the ending without tearing up or crying.... Great video! And I'm sure some people who work at "Criterion Headquarters" secretly feel this way too.

[@SirTheory]

My personal pick for most overrated would be Parasite. And I picked Parasite by finding one of those Criterion Spine lists on Letterboxd and sorting by popularity. It's at #2. Look, I like Parasite, but to be the #2 most popular Criterion film on Letterboxd strikes me as an overreach. (I realize that Letterboxd popularity is inherently going to elevate newer films over older films, so there's a bit of a flaw to my methodology, but it's the best I've got, lol.) (Spoilers for this video in case anyone is reading this comment before watching.) 1. I do agree that Seven Samurai isn't even Kurosawa's best film (although I probably have controversial opinions re: Kurosawa), I do wonder if it's so much so overrated as to deserve being on a list like this. I guess just by pure numbers it does-the more wide and deep the critical lauding of a film, the more popular it is, the more likely it is to be overrated, right? So ultimately I don't have an issue with it being here, even though I doubt it would make my personal list. 2. 100% Breathless is overrated. Also agree that Godard is overrated, although I generally don't dislike his films I also find most of the other French New Wave directors to be more interesting. 3. I've grown to like Wes Anderson after spending the early part of my film fandom days considering him overrated. And I reckon he is overrated in the same way anything super popular is. But while I've come around on him, there are two earlier films in his oeuvre that I kinda think are rubbish: Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums. So no qualms with you picking the latter, though I definitely dislike Rushmore more and would have leaned that direction. (Plus, I think Rushmore is MUCH more widely appreciated-ie, overrated-than Tenenbaums is.) 4. OK, now you're just being contrarian for contrarian's sake. (I'm kidding, btw) I have mixed feelings about this one. Not Mulholland Drive, but its inclusion here. On the one hand, it's hard for me to consider the film overrated despite how ambiguous and hazy the plot and film conclusion are because of how wonderfully Lynch wraps me into this weird, horrifying world. For me the Mulholland Drive experience is about that time within the runtime, a rollercoaster journey that's both exhilarating and mysterious. On the other hand, it's definitely an oddball film to be as popular as it is. It feels more suited to being a hidden gem, where you stumble upon it naturally and fall into Lynch's absurdities, rather than a hype film that is thrust at you as you start getting into non-mainstream cinema. I guess it's a testament to Lynch that Mulholland Drive has become the latter, even though the film would be better served by the former. 5. I mean, yeah. Citizen Kane was my first thought, tbh, mostly because it's on such a high pedestal that in addition to the effluent praise it also receives plenty of backlash. That's just the curse of being one of the most widely influential, classic of the classics films.

[@kz.m4251]

Citizen Kane: Technically compelling and innovative, but outside of a scene or two, emotionally, the middle 85% of the movie mostly leaves me feeling indifferent. Not a recipe for a "great" movie.

[@ericgeneric135]

Personally, I always end up buying new Criterion releases from Visconti and I don't think I've ever managed to watch one all the way through (except for Death in Venice). I just can't connect with his movies at all. Also, I'm a big fan of John Waters as a person/icon, but I never like his films. They do nothing for me.

[@getyourheroupatree8870]

I think most people think Kane should be better and mistake it for want of an entertainment piece. I think the thing that throws it off is the protagonist. The largely absent protagonist who is tasked with finding out who this enigma of a man was. Kane isn't the protagonist, he's the mystery. I think that is where the disconnect happens. It is a documentary of sorts about Kane's life and loss. I think that Arkadin tries to rectify that a bit as the protagonist wants to marry Arkadin's daughter. Welles ' films were all mostly commercial flops as he is less interested in entertaining but rather liked to push the form. Too smart for his own good.

[@darkomilicevic9900]

I agree on Citizen Kane and Seven Samurai, I don’t have problem with you picking Royal Tenenbaums and Breathless but I do like these two movies. David Lynch is my favourite director and if I had to pick one of his movies that is overrated is Eraserhead. We just have to remember that overrated doesn’t mean bad. Great video.👍

[@BadGuyRants]

Saying that Citizen Kane is overrated because it isn’t the best thing you’ve ever seen is kind of ridiculous.

[@margaretadamopoulos-kt5kq]

If I had to make an immediate and honest list in a few seconds, it would be this: 8 & 1/2 Band Of Outsiders Tokyo Story Rules Of The Game Down By Law

[@WhirlingMusic]

Mulholland Drive and Drive My Car are probably the worst Criterion movies I own. Drive My Car being the worst of the two.

[@nikomiller]

I agree on Kurosawa. I prefer both his later color period (Dreams is one of my favorite movies of all time), as well as his noir films to his samurai stuff.

[@LJStudioslj]

I’d have to say Rosemary’s Baby. I understand why it’s in the collection and why peolle think it’s great but I’m not a fan of it

[@CodPatrol]

Starts off good, gets repetitive towards the end and the “evil” characters seemed gimmicky

[@WhirlingMusic]

I just like the theme song. That's about it.

[@TheBigMclargehuge]

I agree with you for the most part, however I wouldn't be worried about anyone being mad at you. It doesn't appear you had the courage to actually criticize or make any valid points other than none of these films are perfect tens to you. Films like citizen Kane have some very very glaring problems and there's points at which it's downright stupid. The whole rosebud thing? Oh yes people think to their childhood on their deathbed how astute of you Mr Wells you are a genius. You can tear any of these films a new butthole and rightfully so.

[@HallgeirOlsen]

If you switch Goddard's Breathless with McBride's you listed what could be a list of my favourite fims!

[@ElliotCoen]

Hey it’s still a great list!

[@HallgeirOlsen]

@@ElliotCoen These are in my view overrated: Throw Down - Not bad, but not in Johnnie To’s top 5 I am curious Yellow and I am curious Blue - Two uninteresting movies Kes - has dated terribly Fellinis’s Roma - one of his worst By the way, Barry Lyndon can never be overrated

[@paulyoung2302]

If I want to watch an Orson Welles movie I pop in Touch of Evil! Never drags like Citizen Kane can!

[@thombendtsen399]

Citizen Kane may be an important film for people that are interested in filmmaking, but it’s not a great movie, especially for modern audiences

[@hollyswoods]

weirdly enough the Criterion version of Royal Tenenbaums always seems to be at Goodwills. it feels like people bought it due to the hype then got bored with it, but it is odd that I've not only seen so many but in particular the Criterion version

[@davidlevy4291]

I actuwlly agree on seve samurao and breathless. Both influential but dont hit on the git level the same way as they used to. Also with regards to goddard in general i find him largely hostile to his audience in his aesthetic as well as "experimental" techniques and that sort of hostility is something that i fundamentally repudiate in artists and filmmakers. More recently i find Haneke to be an example of a filmmaker who has done some undeniably brilliant cinematic work but who i ultimately disdqin as an artist for his palpable hostility to you, the viewer ad you watch hisbfilms.

[@classiccinemac9480]

Elliot!!! Happy Sunday!! I absolutely loved your video on overrated movies on the Criterion Collection! I do think some films are really great but are movies I also don’t see myself owning on Criterion. Yes, they still may be strong films to appreciate but they just don’t capture my taste the same as other film buffs. From my personal taste, the overrated film I’m not the biggest fan of on Criterion is the 1979 film The Tin Drum 😂 I only watched the film once and I had ALOT of squirmy feelings after my first viewing. The film was definitely well shot with fantastic direction and performances but I just deeply feel very odd about that film haha. But I do love some of the others you mentioned like Seven Samurai and Breathless! 🎥🎥

[@johnthevoice6270]

I fully agree with you on every director but not on every film by the director. For Wes Andersson I would have picked Moonrise Kingdom or I would even gone as far The Grand Budapest Hotel. While they are fantastic films, they tend to overshadow Anderson’s other films like The Djarling Express or Rushmore. For David Lynch I would have picked instead, Eraserhead. There’s something about that film that I cannot wrap my head around and I most definitely don’t understand what possess people to admire it and even posses it.

[@johnmorris8472]

Also where's Paper Moon??!!!!!! Have been waiting a long time for that........also I would love to see a criterion done on Young Frankenstein....

[@Jurry253]

Nah this is based as hell the only one that hurt is Mulholland Dr. but when I think about it, it’s my third favorite Lynch film so technically I’d agree that it’s overrated but I still love it (and connect with it emotionally as well as intellectually) so much. But yeah, otherwise I’m with you 110%.

[@amarsharma2766]

What’s your take on Harakiri instead of Seven Samurai

[@anthonym8205]

I feel that Salo could have been number six. It's not because it's a terrible movie (it's not) but because if you stripped away the theory of the film you are left with vapid tortureporn.

[@ElliotCoen]

Yes very interesting take, Anthony. I’ll be touching on Salo sometime soon on the channel. Cheers!

[@WhirlingMusic]

I was shocked to see that disgusting movie was on criterions label lol. I'd have thought some niche boutique label would have used it. When I think of criterion, I think of ... well.... not poop eating movies lol. Pink flamingos is on criterion too now. Crazy. I bet Gummo will be picked up by criterion someday.

[@anthonym8205]

@@WhirlingMusic I'd be ok with Gummo, as I am with Salo, Pink Flamingos, Armageddon, and Breakfast Club

[@borisying3204]

Hello, Elliot! First off, I enjoy watching your video show on films on blu rays. I also wish to give you my thumbs up on these ‘Over-Rated’ Films. Here’s my response: Films should be judged by its stand on the history of filmmaking, its stand on when it was first released, and its stand as of now. Another criteria is, the film shall remain not dated. My favourite Kurosawa’s films are Rashomon, Throne of Blood, and Dersu Uzala. Among his film category, Seven Samurai is probably voted as his best film. J L Godard in some circles he’s god! His Breathless was a classic when it was released and shall remain so. I also liked his Alphaville and Le Mempris, but not for repeated watch. I agree the Royal Tannbaum is over-rated, like many of Wes Anderson’s films. Most are good to look at but one hardly remembers the storyline after watching it. His good ones are Isle of Dogs and Grand Hotel Budapest. His last one French Dispatch is dreadful. David Lynch is an artist cum painter. Personally I think his Mulholland Drive was one of his best films. One should look at his films as pieces of artworks, which are subject to interpretation. Finally, you hit the jackpot with Citizen Kane! It is The Most Over-Rated Film in History, if you ask me. The Third Man is a better film, it doesn’t look dated, and not directed by Orson Wells.

[@bookiester]

I was out after Godard and New Wave. Fold the channel.

[@ElliotCoen]

You can find echo chambers elsewhere!

[@deckofcards87]

Honestly, I like at least 5 or 6 Kurosawa films more than Seven Samurai, including the great RASHOMON.

[@ACertainGoldEevee]

While I agree that Seven Samurai is not Kurosawa's best film, I just can't agree that his works got better over time. There's some gems later in the 70s and 80s for sure, but for me he has never topped High and Low. Wes Anderson deserves all the attention he gets, besides maybe Moonrise Kingdom and Bottle Rocket, every movie of his is fantastic! One of the best directors living today. Now David Lynch I can totally get behind being overrated. Mullholand Drive felt like I was watching some artsy college kid's project for school, and I think Lost Highway might just be in the running for the worst movie I've ever seen. But I guess if everyone liked the same things this world would be a pretty boring place to live in, so hey more power to you guys I guess.

[@IshiGoturi]

Having rewatched Seven Samurai last week, I believe it’s strength comes from its accessibility to the average person. It’s a very simple action-adventure story that anyone from any culture can understand, and it has a relatively uplifting ending despite some of the characters perishing in the battle with the bandits. Unfortunately, the ease of watching that movie is hindered by the long runtime, as well as the deteriorated condition of the film print itself. The movie that is often considered the second-greatest Japanese film of all time, Godzilla, is much shorter and in much better condition than Seven Samurai, despite both being produced by Toho Studios in 1954.

[@mitch89014]

CK, to me was a film to study, but it’s entertaining and enjoyment level is just not there for me, leaves me cold and just not really saying anything, Once you have really unpacked and watched several times, no need to rewatch it, just not a fun film to go back and watch over again, I much rewatch “ The Stranger”

[@joshg1845]

Not gonna lie, I didn't get past Seven Samurai. I have no issue with someone using actual opinions on the film itself to say they don't think it's the best ever. If you stopped at "I liked the Kurosawa works of the 80's and 90's because of his fantastic use of color and more refined camera work" then there would be zero issue with this. However, your reasoning is some contrarian "look at how original I am" bulls--t. "The reason this isn't one of the best films ever made is because later films were inspired by it". If this Play-Doh brained take is what you start your video with the rest of your opinions are not worth hearing. Looking at your timestamps and seeing both Breathless and CItizen Kane further proved my point. Luckily KZbin has a button that lets me never see your face in my recommended feed again

[@thelisteningroom5818]

Mulholland Drive.........why Elliott?.....why'd you have to do it?? Like a dagger in my heart. Good video as always 👍

[@elnick1000]

WOW, very much agree with you about SEVEN SAMURAI, I fell his film RAN, is one of the ten greatest films ever made. BREATHLESS. yes, agree, it has not really aged well. Actually enjoy the remake with RICHARD GERE. It is a film I can watch again and again, and have a good time. Also agree about MULHOLLAND DRIVE. fro me PULP FICTION is a far superior film. As far as WES ANDERSON, not really a big fan, but you like GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, saw it in the theater, and could not understand why he shot the film in the ratio that he did, the modern stuff in wide screen, and the past scenes in the 4:3 format. Disagree verymuch about CITIZEN KANE. It might be a generational thing. I have it as the third greatest film ever made, have above it THIRD MAN, and INCEPTION.

[@thewalkingdunning-krugeref9664]

I was with ya until you got to The Royal Tenenbaums. Mulholland Drive I somewhat agree with (and with a bit of blasphemy of my own), I haven't even seen Citizen Kane yet. 🙃

[@devonbrooks246]

You have some great picks that I agree with. Criterion is guilty of using their favorite directors Wes Anderson, David Lynch, etc even when the movies are not so great. With Wes Anderson I always will watch his movies and give it a chance. But he does have some weak ones. I enjoyed Budapest Hotel the best. It all comes down to the rewatch ability for me. I think people can be quite snobbish when they don’t understand that you rather watch mindless fun comedies or cheesy horror movies over art films like Mulholland Drive.

[@truth-uncensored2426]

Agreed with Breathless, Citizen Kane and Mullohand Drive, disagreed with Seven Sumurai, and the other I have not seem yet.

[@sorenthefilmbrony]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned Jeanne Dielman. I can't stand that boring-ass movie... 😒