My Top 5 Least Favorite Criterion Films

You can follow me on Letterboxd @natethefilmnerd.

[@maxciulla8302]

Aw man, kiarostami is my favorite director so it bummed me out to hear that "Friend's House" didn't click with you, because it was such a beautiful piece of art to me. Didn't find it boring or bland at all. Your interpretation of the movie was different than mine though. I wouldn't say its about how children's troubles seem so much bigger than they are. It WAS big for him. It was an odyssey. Ultimately, the reason I love it so much is for it's poetic nature and altruistic themes, but I understand how that won't speak to everyone the same way it does to me. Definitely give the rest of the movies in the Koker Trilogy a shot. Regarding plot, they are nothing alike. Take care

[@LoganAlbright73]

To me, a major theme of the film is the inability of children and adults to communicate with each other, as well as the fact that the adults are not as different from the children as they think they are. It’s a beautiful film that goes a lot deeper than it seems.

[@oliiverbetts]

Refreshing to see a healthy and respectful response to an opinion.

[@derelictfields]

With Cassavetes, I started with Shadows and loved it. It was like no other film I'd seen from its time period and must have seemed especially daring and scandalous at the time.

[@MO-tp8lh]

Great idea for a video… most Criterion videos on KZbin are about favorites and this least favorites was welcome. It’s not about agreeing or disagreeing but rather just listening to others opinions and insights into their own experiences with a title that I enjoy.

[@georgestreng]

Refreshing to hear opinions about films that are not enjoyed and why.

[@whybegin1285]

Nice concept! Most of the ones I haven’t liked much are ones I honestly didn’t realize were a part of the collection, like curse of Benjamin button, spinal tap, and chasing Amy. But there are still some pretty famous ones I’ve failed to connect to so far despite hoping to like House, Pierrot Le Fou, and My Dinner With Andre (really struggled with it until it became more of an actual dialogue later in). The are other ones that I could appreciate the greatness of while watching but never fully clicked on a personal level, like pickpocket and bicycle thieves, that I would be more likely to rewatch than not in hopes that they work on me this time around.

[@simeonteitelbaum3673]

Didn't think there was anyone who didn't like This Is Spinal Tap

[@whybegin1285]

@@simeonteitelbaum3673 it’s not that I hate it, I just have 0 interest/attachment to the culture that’s being mocked, there are funny bits but mostly I just felt very indifferent throughout

[@chopster01]

I think the best beginner Cassavetes film might be Faces, or Woman Under the Influence, but you may find them not to your taste as well. He is a film- maker most interested in character, not plot. You could accuse many of them of being “meandering.” Those of us with the Cassavetes jones were prepared for Chinese Bookie. I loved it, though not as much as Faces. It may be a difference in temperament because I liked Shoot the Piano Player as well, though not as much as 400 Blows and some of his other films.

[@hvitekristesdod]

I like Funny Games but I can definitely see it not being for everyone. Try The Piano Teacher or Benny’s Video for other Haneke goodness 😊

[@steveporter3161]

Which version of killing of a Chinese Bookie? I’m guessing the long version based on your comments the shorter version is much better

[@harryorenstein1144]

The two Cassavetes films tat I would highly recommend are Faces and A Woman under the Influence.

[@sonbendys7432]

In terms of the Koker trilogy, you'll like Life and nothing more much, much better

[@AbrasiousProductions]

I actually watched Le Samouraï (1967) recently and I thought it was profoundly boring, stylistically rich but substantially vacant, I've seen two French New Wave films so far and they've both left me ennui

[@elnick1000]

Saw LADY SNOWBIRD. For me, this was just a way for Criterion to try to make money for them when there other high art films probably don't. SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER is my favorite Trufaut film, as many of the others, especially JULES AND JIM,, start out really nicely, but for me get kind of tedious as you go on. FUNNY GAMES, the director says if you were in the theater and walked out on it, he applauds you. KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE, kind of understand you here, though I did enjoy it the first time I saw it in the theater.

[@nickharris5231]

Man, the Criterion blind buy that haunts me the most is Picnic at Hanging Rock. I was really excited to see an early Peter Weir at work, and reviews raved about the mysterious atmosphere. I'm a sucker for atmosphere, but I found the pan flute score just grating. It's like the musician played at the exact frequencies my ear drums never want to experience again, for the entire length of the film. It just meanders and grates. I can't recall if I even finished it, but I'm usually quite a patient film watcher, I like a slow cooked story, but this was just unbearable.

[@ModernPlague]

I saw Metropolitan years & years ago, but I still remember being really irritated by how pretentious, boring, and uneventful it was---boring, spoiled rich kids, doing & saying absolutely nothing of interest. (And for context: I remember liking My Dinner With Andre!)

[@adolphsanchez1429]

Shoot the Piano Player is on many critics' "best films" lists, and I remember enjoying it, but it's been years since I have seen it. I have yet to see Metropolitan or Funny Games (Funny Games is listed in the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die reference book, but it looks like a disturbing film, so I have put off seeing it). I must disagree with The Killing of a Chinese Bookie. There are at least two versions of the film, but I have watched it twice and found it one of Cassavetes more accessible films (more so than films like Shadows and A Woman Under the Influence).

[@heartofcinema3454]

RE cassavettes, if i was you, then i would stay away from “Husbands", although i like it quiet a lot, you might find it similar to Killing of a chinese bookie. Opening night is good to start with.

[@weirdelf8604]

Which Funny Games did you see? I personally saw his 2008 exact remake of the original and loved the hell out of it. I thought the use of more famous actors like Roth and Watts better applied to the commentary of violence in "every" film and using bigger names almost like a lure itself, and from what I've seen of the 1st Funny Game's clips, the brothers are way better performed and creepy and just overall more entertaining in the remake vs the original. I do agree it's still got its slower moments and it's pretentions (after seeing 4 of his films though, I think that's just Hanake in general hahah), but this is easily my favorite film of his; Cache close 2nd.

[@rlh1984]

I didn’t really care for The Uninvited. It’s not bad; it’s just kind of dull and hokey with no edge and a schmaltzy Hollywood ending. Though, what can you really expect from Hays-era Hollywood? Also, the special features are pretty lacking. I don’t regret buying it because it’s cheaper than most Criterion releases, and it’s another piece of my collection.

[@jesusperez7108]

My Top 5 Least Favorite Criterion Films: 5. Days of Heaven 4. Salo 3. Crisis 2. Boyhood 1. The Night Porter

[@NoirFan84]

Days Of Heaven? 🥺 One of my favourite films of all-time.

[@jesusperez7108]

@@NoirFan84 I might give Days of Heaven another shot, but it just didn't click with me when I watched it.

[@derelictfields]

I love Days of Heaven, but I can totally understand why someone would hate it.

[@petersonj198]

I need to make a video like this. Woman Under the Influence is great

[@chrisbender8714]

I think if you were not a fan of Where Is The Friends House, you likely won't care much for the rest of the trilogy. But I'd be interested to hear if you like Taste of Cherry because the premise is very simple, however, much more "adult"

[@rvluvi8337]

Same feeling w Metropolitan 😷

[@manueltoledo7895]

Well... I think you started with the wrong Cassavetes film. He has his own style, and sometimes it's hard to watch when you don't know it, or at least expect it. I recommend you to watch A Woman Under the Influence, I think it's his most easy film to watch,

[@NoirFan84]

Gloria is surely his easiest film to watch I'd say to ease you into his work. A Woman Under The Influence was where I started with his films though & I don't disagree it's still a great starting point, hands down my favourite of his films with one of the greatest performances I've ever seen from Gena Rowlands. I love Killing Of A Chinese Bookie too though. Faces is the one Cassavettes film that does nothing for me.

[@shitpostheavy]

Meandering Cassavetes... Ahahhaha

[@bertroost1675]

Chinese Bookie is not a film for Hollywood movie people. I love it. The film is about Cassavetes' fight against Hollywood. I don't know what the guy is talking about when he mentions surreal. The movie isn't surreal at all.

[@barrymoore4470]

@@bertroost1675 Agreed, that adjective was misapplied in this instance. I also love 'The Killing of a Chinese Bookie' (one of my favorite films of the Seventies), and also appreciate Peter Bogdanovich's 'Saint Jack' from 1979, which also stars Ben Gazzara portraying a similar character navigating similar situations.

[@bertroost1675]

@@barrymoore4470 Nice. I'll check it out.

[@davidsudak5114]

My vote for worst Criterion release ever is Prince of Tides.

[@davidkusterman6878]

There's actually a shorter version of "Chinese Bookie". The shorter version is Cassavetes' preferred version, and it is MUCH better than the longer version you saw. It moves much better and makes a lot more sense. But I do agree with another commenter that you started with the wrong Cassavetes film. Try "Faces".

[@nathanmoore5435]

That's the version I watched.

[@NoirFan84]

I like all of Cassavettes films barring Faces. 😄 Just shows he's one of those filmmakers who dramatically divides opinion. To Nathan above I would say try Gloria, I think that's Cassavettes most purely entertaining & easiest film to get on with. You have to get to A Woman Under The Influence though at some point because that's an incredible film & Gena Rowlands' performance will blow you away, one of the great film performances.

[@paulvoorhies8821]

@@nathanmoore5435. A Woman Under The Influence really is a must.

[@leoinsf]

I agree with your assessment of these movies. Yes, there are horribly overrated movies out there and people are afraid to report the truth about them. Congratulations on "breaking through" the bull-shi--!

[@Bob-Savage]

Walkabout - didn’t get it. I understand the whole ‘juxtapose between lifestyles’ message… meh. I may in the minority.

[@davedalton1273]

I hated, hated, hated Funny Games! I loathed it. Haneke complains about movies being manipulative and then what does he do? Correct, he manipulates us into thinking that the couple is going to escape, but no, they don't! Of course not! That would be too Hollywoodish. Talk about condescension, huh.

[@LJStudioslj]

Crazy that this is just Salo 5 times…. jk I don’t think I’ve seen any “bad” films in the collection but there’s been a few I didn’t care for: 1. Naked Kiss 2. Destry Rides Again 3. Beauty and the Beast

[@unityoc]

Give "Husbands" a try

[@davefsmith6040]

Wait til you watch Salo --- Yikes !

[@MagnitudeReviews]

Some Criterion films that did absolutely nothing for me? (This list is in no particular order) - La Cienaga (2001) - The Battle of Algiers (1966) - Days of Heaven (1978) - Cameraperson (2016) - Dr. Strangelove (1964) I’m not calling any of these films bad. But yeah. They did nothing for me. I’ll probably sit down and give Dr. Strangelove another go. But meh. It was beyond disappointing for me. I don’t understand what made this film so great other than Kubrick’s name being attached to it. ... Also bonus addition: this film is not in the collection yet but it was announced back in like February how it will eventually come to the collection... this film that I was underwhelmed by was the 2020 film “One Night In Miami”.

[@barrymoore4470]

I also find 'Dr. Strangelove' overrated, far from my favorite Kubrick film.

[@LxLore-j5b]

I don't understand the collection 90% of the movies are slow boring not good, there is this wierd hivemind spin that people have to be told what a good movie is. Take 8 1/2 and A tatse of Honey I have both of these, they suck. I could put togehter 1,000 movies to match the Criterion collection and my collection would be much better... I think these movies are just the ones they have the rights to, not good movies...

[@BigE8718]

I gotta agree with you on funny games.

[@kylechristiansen4959]

I think Funny Games’ hand-over-fist messaging is its way of venturing into comedy/satire but I can see how it reads as pretension as well

[@Birdini626]

1. Don't Look Now 2. The Tree of Life 3. Rashomon 4. Videodrome I couldn't pick a 5th, every other film was pretty decent to me. Rashomon barely made it to the list, that one I would say wasn't real bad. But, The Tree of Life was just the worst one I've seen.

[@jordan34023]

Yeah Tree of Life was so damn boring for me

[@1cathexis]

Based on ones I actually paid money to own: 1. Bresson's, The Pickpocket 2. Mr. Arkadin 3. Dr. Mabuse 4. The Lady Vanishes 5. Odd Man Out. Bresson is just garbage, sorry. At some point Criterion went from issuing films of major importance with an Auteur bent to - putting out the lesser films of of the same. Each of these is an example of that. Sometimes that works, sometimes it just looks like a money-grab.

[@bertroost1675]

Why didn't you like Dr Mabuse?

[@1cathexis]

@@bertroost1675 A couple reasons: 1. Because this is a Fritz Lang film! Just sticking with his silent work then "M" and "Metropolis" are miles above this effort. 2. Because I thought the supporting cast sucked big time. Compare the cast with M. Compare the production with Metropolis. Honestly, compared to all Lang film I even think "Tigress of Bengal" which I have in 4K (looks sooo good) I like better even though it is basically a popcorn movie. Imagine Criterion wanted to do an Homage to Clint Eastwood and they brought out "Paint Your Wagon" and "Creature from the Black Lagoon." I mean, really? Not hating on Fritz, but - meh!

[@bertroost1675]

@@1cathexis For me there are certain scenes that I really love in the movie. M is one of those special films that should always be highly regarded. I love the characters in it so much. Metropolis is certainly great but I don't go back to it like I do M and Mabuse

[@1cathexis]

@@bertroost1675 That I can respect!

[@samlyf101]

You look like Karsten Runquist if he decided to dye his hair and up his facial hair game