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.
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.
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!. . . ." 🤯
@@No_Time_4_Caution 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.
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
I agree on the French New Wave being Overrated for sure. It feels like it’s trying too hard to be stylistic if that makes sense, like if that genre of film was a person, it would be very arrogant
Films should be judged on an individual basis. Your comment is painting with a broad brush a whole bunch of films as if they all have the same tone or sense. Because of the impact and revolutionary nature of what the French New Wave did and then all the mountains of writing done about it I think there is sometimes a push back and urge to puncture the balloon of it's status. To me that is all irrelevant. I'm drawn to that period sometimes just as I'm drawn to other periods from other cultures as a way to experience interesting works of art and learn something along the way. The French New Wave has dozens of films of different styles and some are better than others. I don't see anything arrogant about those films. They are films, not people.
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
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
I kept a copy of the September 2012 issue of S&S with the results of their poll. I look at it from time to time to get some inspiration. But one thing that has always fascinated me is how the critics results are much more uniform than the directors results. And I think that ties to one key idea you mentioned in your video: we watch/love/make movies for a variety of reasons. The films that stay with me the longest are the ones with which I really connect emotionally. Directors probably rank movies highly based on which ones inspired them the most. Academics may focus more on form than content.
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.
Honestly, I wish they did this with more directors. Just have all of the movies from the best directors. I would love to see the rest of Kubrick's filmography on the Criterion Collection. The idea that "2001 and The Shining are too mainstream" is pretentious and cringe. If Criterion is billing itself as the one stop shop of the greatest films in cinematic history, more of Kubrick's films than just Spartacus, The Killing, and Barry Lyndon deserve to be represented.
Elliot, great video and topic! I agree with all your choices (with the exception of maybe Citizen Kane). Doesn’t mean that the films are bad as you say - I actually love all those films - but one can definitely argue that they are slightly overrated. I love Seven Samurai and think it’s brilliant but I actually like Rashomon, High and Low, and Dreams from Kurosawa way more with High and Low being my favorite of his films.
I have always felt the way you do about Wes Anderson... and I LOVED The Grand Budapest Hotel. For me, that's his masterpiece, where the style and content finally meshed brilliantly.
1. People adapting and refining a classic doesn't take away from the original or make it overrated. 2. I get that this movie could be called overrated. It has memorable scenes and stuff but there's not a ton of substance. 3. The Royal Tenenbaums is still Wes Anderson's best film. It has a ton of great themes in it about family relationships, jealousy, fears, and desire. And it still manages to have a bunch of funny stuff in it. 4. I agree that Mulholland Drive might not be David Lynch's best movie but I don't hear many people who try to argue that it is. I think it's one of his most emotional ones though and I'm surprised you don't feel anything when watching it. 5. If it's hugely influential and ahead of it's time I'm not really sure how it can be overrated. Once again I don't really see how a movie can be greatness when it comes out but then after it gets older it loses what makes it special. The cinematography still looks good and that's what matters. Plus to be overrated, I feel like film snobs have to bring it up all the time and I really don't hear it brought up all that much. I'd really expect something more like bicycle Thieves to appear on a list like this, hell there's even a running joke in The Player of film snobs constantly bringing it up and saying the title wrong. But idk, I think all of these movies are pretty incredible, the only two I'm not like incredibly wowed by are Citizen Kane though I appreciate the cinematography a lot and Breathless which I enjoy moderately but it's not one of my favorites.
@@ElliotCoen saying 7 samurai is overrated and that his later works are better is your opinion, but I think objectively wrong. Rashomon, hidden fortress, 7 samurai among others have had a huge impact on film, kinda indisputable, therefore they cant be overrated.
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!
I wouldn't call these movies "overrated". Based on your arguments, at least 60% of the criterion collection would be overrated. In México we have a word we use which is "quemado", Something that is known to everyone and everyone talks about it, and can sometimes blind us from other things that can be equally as great or better. But overrated is something that is highly rated or regarded and does not deserve the title. Some of the movies you mention here are vital to film history and are landmarks of the art, and you can't call history overrated. I think I get what you're trying to communicate with this video, I just don't think overrated is the right word for the likes of Seven samurai, Breathless, or Citizen Kane.
Red River is an overrated title. I love Hawks, I love Wayne, and I love Westerns. But Red River was just okay with a great Wayne performance. But you know what, even as I say it, I kinda want to watch it again.
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?!"
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.
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. 🤞🏽
@@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 !! 😂
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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".
It's all subjective, so you're obviously entitled to your opinion. "Citizen Kane" used to be overrated just about unanimously, but lately I've run across your opinion among critics much more frequently than ever before. Personally, I've never connected to it emotionally, but appreciate the innovation and visionary talent that it took to make a such an excellent film, particularly in the period in which it was made. IMO, "overrated" is the most misunderstood term out there. Let me give some context. Watch ANY YT review of a popular film nowadays, I guarantee that at least once the term "great" will be stated. If one considers "greatness" to be the ultimate achievement in filmmaking, it's obvious that a relatively few films are truly "great," and to suggest that a movie is great simply because one finds it very entertaining is ridiculous. Ergo, by definition, it's more likely than not "overrated." It doesn't mean it's bad, unentertaining, not worthy of admiration, nor even unimportant. Just not the ultimate that cinema has to offer! Gutsy video!
Completely agree, G A! Overrated and underrated are rather nebulous terms, but they feel like the easiest to use in these circumstances. It makes for interesting discussion!
It isn't "all subjective" -- which is an excuse to avoid the issue. There are objective objects called "films". There are standards which apply to them. The objective object can be objectively evaluated critically.
@@jnagarya519 Um, no. Perhaps you misunderstand my point. Film is art. And art is always subjective in terms of its merit or lack thereof. There's no objectively "great" film. In reality, it's always a matter of someone's or some group's opinion. But art's value is not a matter of consensus among certain critics. Art cannot be defined by an elite, otherwise it becomes dogma, which is more the province of religion. The only element of film that might be considered "objective" MAY be in the technical aspect, e.g., the sound is bad, the lighting is poor, etc. But otherwise a movie's ultimate impact to the individual viewer is what counts. And that's undeniably a subjective experience.
@@GA-1st So you reject aesthetic valuations based upon objectively-existing art objects. Why not just argue that any "opinion" about a work of art is as legitimate as any other. You know, a painting of a tree being described as being instead a painting of a motor vehicle. I mean, there's no "right and wrong" when it comes to "opinion," correct? And what is an "elite"? -- those who know more about a subject than others? Those who know stuff you don't know?
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.
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??
hahahaha, i was listening to you talk about breathless and seven samurai and thinking, he's going to close with citizen kane, isnt he? :D i disagree with a lot of this, in particular mulholland drive, which is a favorite of mine (what do you think of fire walk with me,btw?). but it was a fun video. :) just, brace yourself for the hate :D
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!
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!
The most overrated title is Stalker. I have seen at least 2 SCI-FI / Post apocalyptic lists put it at top of their list. I drove all the way to my local Barnes and Noble during a 50% sale to buy it. Upon watching it, I was interested at the beginning (Escaping the city scenes), but then got progressively angry and bored. The movie ended, and I felt like I misspent my money on a bad title instead of something greater that I overlooked at the store. Agreed, on Citizen Kane. I like the film, but I can see how if you took away all the great cinema techniques, it would be a very boring film. Now Seven Samurai, is what I disagree on. Good video regardless.
Excellent program. "Overrated" is such a subjective term, and you do a great job of explaining why you think these films are overrated, despite the importance of some of them in the history of film (for me, however, that is a very important factor when determining if a film is overrated or not). Definitely agree with your Goddard and Anderson choices, My big disagreement with you is Mulholland Drive: I remember when I first saw it, someone asked me why I thought and my reply was "I can't tell you why, but I think I've just seen a great film." Subsequent viewings (and reading several critics' interpretations) of the film reinforced this feeling, and I find that with each viewing there is something new that bubbles to the surface.
The arguments you make don't make sense. "Other film makers refined them later". If Kurosawa didn't do seven samurai and the French new wave never happened- The cinema you love today would not exist. Future filmakers would have nothing to be following and refining.
The films that came after are more enjoyable to watch. I’m not doubting any historical importance here. I know how important the French New Wave is and that cinema would be different without it - that doesn’t mean I have to pretend to like it more than I actually do.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
@@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.
3 AMAZING dark comedy films that absolutely need to be in the CC: The King of Comedy (1983), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), and In The Company of Men (1997).
Wes Anderson has become a parody of himself. At this point if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. No offense but as a Brit you may not fully appreciate the critique of the notorious American media tycoon William Randolph Hearst that Citizen Kane represents. One film that has me baffled as being one of the greatest movies ever is “Tokyo Story” by Yasujiro Ozu. Given all the high praise it has generated I feel like a cretin for having found it very boring. What am I missing?
I am a huge Ozu fan, and 'Tokyo Story' is far from my favorite among his works. Even though I do regard the film as a masterpiece, I also think it's overrated. It was loosely adapted or inspired by Leo McCarey's 1937 melodrama 'Make Way for Tomorrow', and I also think that's an overrated picture. Among Ozu's works, I prefer, in chronological order, 'Tokyo Chorus' (1931), 'I Was Born, But...' (1932), 'Passing Fancy' (1933), 'Late Spring' (1949), 'Early Summer' (1951) [my contender for Ozu's single greatest achievement], and 'The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice' (1952).
@@barrymoore4470 thank you for your recommendations. I will add ‘Early Summer’ to my list. What do think of ‘Floating Weeds’? That one sounded interesting.
@@reddykilowatt 'Floating Weeds' is a bit of an outlier in Ozu's oeuvre. It is a remake, in color and sound, of the director's 1934 silent feature 'Story of Floating Weeds'. In both cases, the story has a rural setting (not the Tokyo and suburbs typical of Ozu) and transpires among a troupe of travelling actors (not the settled domestic dynamics we associate with Ozu). The film is more overtly dramatic than is usual with Ozu, so those who find his movies slow might enjoy this one more. The color cinematography is beautiful (Ozu was a a subtle master of color), and the performances are compelling. I do think the film is worth a look, though it's not among my favorites by this favorite director.
I totally agree with your Breathless take. I found the main character just insufferable. Now your Mulholland Drive take is bonkers to me haha but I also kinda get it. I personally love Mulholland Drive because it makes more sense with every rewatch and feels so rewarding.
Ha ha, yea found the main character over the top myself (the guy, Belmondo). Damn, Godard must have made him smoke 5 packs of cigarettes a day while filming scenes. BTW I notice a LOT of cigarette smoking by characters in French New Wave films, more so than U.S. films of same time period......imo.
I would nominate Pan's Labyrinth. I was never dazzled by this film though it certainly catapulted Guillermo del Toro to a sort of unexpected borderland between prestige film and monster movie. It just didn't really work for me. I think his best is The Shape of Water, which I don't expect he'll ever top.
Even though I disagree with most of your candidates, I admire you for putting yourself in the line of fire. My criticism isn't so much of your choices as your criteria for including them. In several instances you justify a film's inclusion based on there being better incarnations of the same theme or genre in later films. But to my mind this implies the validity of the very films you're choosing as overrated. It seems to me if these movies weren't "overrated" enough for filmmakers to want to emulate, the "more deserving" examples you prefer might never have gotten a green light. All that being said, I really enjoy your channel. Keep up the good work!
Apart from Breatheless, I have viewed all of these and do believe that there is some substance to your opinions. Of course, respect to all those who say otherwise. In regards to Lynch, Inland Empire (2006), is the movie of his that I most currently rate. Although long, it has all those Lynch elements that we know and love and is capably anchored by Laura Dern. That opinion should cause at least some concern.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
To say a film is no longer great because of it's influence on other films is really a silly thing to say. Seven Samurai laid down a marker and it's influence must be considered when evaluating it's greatness.
@Boutique Blu-rays with Elliot Coen Don't you acknowledge in your video that it influenced films you like better? What would those films be without it? And while it should stand alone on its own merit, that cannot be the only standard when measuring greatness.
Something that gets lost in translation for many younger film enthusiasts is the ability to put one’s self within the time of a films release. You do offer some caveats but stating that others have gone on to do something better doesn’t diminish the original idea, which is why many of the films you mention are so revered. It’s like a casual filmgoer stating Star Wars (1977-1983) is boring because Marvel does special effects so much better.
It’s totally fine Man. I haven’t actually seen any of the films you mentioned in this video. But I have encountered other criterion films that were massively hyped up and when I watched them…. I felt not much connection with them at all. For example, one of them was Easy Rider, Seriously I was so disappointed with it and couldn’t understand it’s positive reputation. But nothing lost nothing gained, I just move on and turn to the next recommendation 🙂👍
How can you not like Easy Rider? You’re Rider Rated! _De gustibus_ I guess... Still, what you’re doing is very wrong. Never move on after the first try! Give it a second try. At least start watching for a second time. You might miss something you actually like, just wasn’t in the mood for it first time. Watch for a second time for at least 15 mins. If the feeling persists, then ok, move on, perhaps for good. If not, stay for another 15, etc. I’m not talking about the crap - the consumerist stuff and so on - you can skip those if you don’t immediately like them. But critically acclaimed films deserve a second chance. It doesn’t mean you’ll change your mind, you might even end up hating it even more, and being even more disappointed hehe, but you might see it in a new light. I know it happened to me a couple of times. Usually, a great film will be great first time watching it, but I know for sure that in my case I’ve had different viewings and reception of the same thing, watched on separate occasions. (Can work in reverse too: being less impressed on a second viewing.) Same for music, especially classical music. Sometimes I discount a piece, a symphony for instance, only to revisit it later on and change my mind completely. Try it man, nothing to lose, especially since you can find some of these online nowadays.
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.
TOP-5 hugely overrated films that still cannot understand what does Criterion find so important to include in the collection: 1) The Tree of Life 2) Menace II Society 3) The Worst Person in the World 4) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 5) Drive my Car Most of them are newer films and although I do believe some older films are overrated as well, at least they DO made some impact back in the day for a reason. All of the above... Huh?
05:50 "I think some people will have clicked off by this point, but let's continue, I want to enrage more people." Hahahaha, best words in the entire video.
My problem with The Royal Tenenbaums is that I really dislike all the characters. The kids are so twee and spoiled and even a bit icky and I don’t really care what happens to them. Breathless feels disjointed and trendy and I honestly don’t like it when I’m distracted by editing or art direction to the point I’m not really following the story. Mulholland Drive and Citizen Kane are two of my favorite movies but I appreciate a different opinion.
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.
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.
Every film you mention might had encouraged a small amount of directors to become directors and have box office success, so this video is overrated, hello Spielberg
Undoubtedly! That’s sort of my point. The great films inspired by the classics refine and improve on them, and are only judged as subordinate because they came after.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the most overrated film ever is Tarkovsky’s - Mirror. The worst flaw a film can have is if it’s boring. And mirror was dreadfully boring.
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.
Me: What?! These choices are perfectly reasonable for a list of underrated Criterion films. I don’t understand why anyone should get ma- You: Mulholland Dr. Me: *Jaw dropping* You: And it left me feeling nothing…. Me: *jaw falling off. I have no jaw now.*
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
You’re brave to do this. 🤣 If I did I’d be railing against so many of their modern inclusions. I fully agree on Mullholland Drive which is one of the absolute worst things I’ve ever seen. Then again I don’t like Lynch at all and am not a Wes Anderson person. I think the issue with the old standards is that they were picked up by the emerging critical culture and mentioned to death without keeping the spirit of the films alive. Seven Samurai isn’t my favorite Kurosawa film either and like Rashomon it’s a bit harder to get a fresh view on it whereas lesser discussed Kurosawa classics are easier to look at with a fresher perspective. My favorites are just before this period like Ikiru, Drunken Angel, Stray Dog or just after like the bemused cynicism of Yojimbo. Breathless is iconic and timeless due to its breezy and cynical “screw it” attitude. That’s what immediately spoke to me and what I felt Godard was after as sort of the flip side of the coin to Truffaut’s emotionally devastating 400 Blows. Plus to look at Jean Seberg with the iconic pixie haircut once makes you swoon for life… I knew you would probably mention Kane. Kane is the one that everyone has to discover for themselves. What people often miss nowadays is the energy and progressive can-do attitude that so defined the 1930’s theater and radio-much of which drives Kane itself. That combined with the never ending levels of fascination Welles had that are felt in the film itself-creates a sort of cross between a never ending magic trick and the most inspirational film ever made for us cinema nerds. And then you see Ambersons and weep for life.
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.
I knew Royal Tenenbaums was overrated right when it came out. I don't buy any of Wes Anderson's films on physical. I watch them on Disney Plus only. Most of his films are better than The Royal Tenenbaums. I don't buy any of the Godard either. Streaming only for me too. Citizen Kane is pretentious and always a bit boring. Seven Samurai isn't overrated in my book. I prefer Kurosawa's earlier films to his later films tremendously. I never liked Ran but thought it was a very nice looking film. Great video, but it dragged a little bit in places.
Well, you could not be more wrong about The Royal Tenenbaums, lol…. It is Wes Anderson’s best, most emotionally satisfying film. And the Citizen Kane take, while very trendy now, I disagree with as well… But, hey, I always enjoy your videos. And the other choices I agree with - I think everything by David Lynch other than Eraserhead is overrated. Truth be told there are many Criterion titles that are skating on an intellectual reputation that does not translate to an entertaining, well-told story. I would say 90% of Kubrick’s work is overrated, including….oops. Opinions, no two are alike.
If somebody says that The Straight Story is the least-Lynch film, I question what they’re seeing in a lot of Lynch’s work. The good-hearted, melancholy tone that defines The Straight Story is present in most of Lynch’s work, but that was the one that brings it most to the fore. The Straight Story is excellent-a top 3 David Lynch film for me!
Great video! Mulholland Drive is (one of) the best of the 21st century imo, but isn’t Bay’s Armageddon in the Collection too? Speaking of overrated. But honestly I get it, there are a lot of great movies in the collection but they’re there for their importance to cinema rather than fun or interesting watch I guess. So overrated yeah, but not Mullholland Drive man, come on.. 😅
Nooooo! Armageddon in the Criterion Collection. I can't accept that. Two and a half hours of my life I'll never get back. By the time that stupid tear runs down Bruce Willis's stupid stone face as he's about to make his heroic sacrifice I was rooting for the asteroid. I wanted everyone in the film to die. I wanted everyone involved in the making of the film to die. I wanted everyone who enjoyed the film to die. And now, with that rotting vegetable in the White House leading us into war with not one but two nuclear armed powers, maybe, just maybe, my dream can come true. Bwahahahaha!
One should be carefull with words. It seems to me that you are mixing subjective and objective matters here. A film is not suddenly overrated because YOU have changed your taste in movies. You simply dont like theese films as much as you used to, or as much as somebody else, and that is of course completely fair. By the way. I think Citizen Kane is pretty darn close to the greatest movie ever made. When thats said. You have a great channel! I watch your videos a lot, and now I have also subscribed. Thats what you get for beeing controversial. Keep up the good work. PS. I`m norwegian, so please forgive any possible "carelessness" with words.
Hey, thanks for the comment! I understand where you’re coming from and others have made the same point. It’s an age old discussion but I believe there is no objective matter here. Saying something is overrated is not me measuring my own opinion against anything objective - It is my personal subjective view vs the aggregated subjective view. It’s all subjectivity. Anyway thanks for the support!
@@ElliotCoen In danger of sounding too filosophical, and old... The use of the word overrated implies an objectiveness. If not, one could simply say "I dont like the film as much as many other people. In my view those two statements doesnt mean the same. And I am curious,. Do you realy mean that its all personal taste (subjective) when it comes to movies,, or other art for that matter? So a director can direct a seen or a movie without any "rules". The result will just satisfy different audiences? What about if nobody wants to see the movie. Does that stand for something objective?
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
Every one’s opinion is theirs, no more or less valid than anyone else’s. People who are offended by someone else’s opinion are far too thin skinned to survive, and (in my opinion) the biggest problem with the world today. I 100% agree with your opinion on Citizen Kane. A good movie especially for its time but too many believe it is the GOAT. It’s good but not GOAT.
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.
I DESPISE the term ‘overrated’. It’s nothing more than a way of snobs shunning certain audiences of certain films. It’s an incredibly lazy way of describing why someone doesn’t like a film; by pinning it on the popularity of film itself - rather than giving a prime and tactile reasoning. The sooner this ‘overrated vs underrated’ malarky stops, the better. Peace ✌️
this is the best blu ray collection channel on youtube. Citizen Kane is definitely overrated. I'm a huge Kurosawa fanboy so I disagree with the Seven Samurai claim. The Royal Tenenbaums is a movie I grew out of as I got older. Mulholland Drive is my favorite Lynch but it's definitely a taste thing. I think everyone thinks Breathless is overrated, ive never met anyone who like it.
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?
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.
My question to YOU - What is the single most overrated film in the Criterion Collection? (No Barry Lyndon answers allowed, sorry)
400 blows
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.
Well said, Barry Lyndon is underrated of all things
Andrei rublev.... 3 hour of... Zzzzzzzz!!!!
Pierro le fou from Goddard
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.
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!. . . ." 🤯
It can't be "all subjective" because the film in question exists as an objective entity.
@@jnagarya519 the film is the film, it is the opinions are subjective.
@@No_Time_4_Caution 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.
I have mentiones that I prefer RAN, but also prefer his RASHOMON.
You know what? Everything is overrated. Because people find everything overrated.
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
I agree on the French New Wave being Overrated for sure. It feels like it’s trying too hard to be stylistic if that makes sense, like if that genre of film was a person, it would be very arrogant
I was always much a fan of Left Bank, more playful and emotional.
Films should be judged on an individual basis. Your comment is painting with a broad brush a whole bunch of films as if they all have the same tone or sense. Because of the impact and revolutionary nature of what the French New Wave did and then all the mountains of writing done about it I think there is sometimes a push back and urge to puncture the balloon of it's status. To me that is all irrelevant. I'm drawn to that period sometimes just as I'm drawn to other periods from other cultures as a way to experience interesting works of art and learn something along the way. The French New Wave has dozens of films of different styles and some are better than others. I don't see anything arrogant about those films. They are films, not people.
I was still recovering from the French New Wave slander and then Mulholland Drive???? My favourite film of all time???? I'm seething, lad
I’m sorry to let you down so harshly 😂
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
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
Haha!
I kept a copy of the September 2012 issue of S&S with the results of their poll. I look at it from time to time to get some inspiration. But one thing that has always fascinated me is how the critics results are much more uniform than the directors results. And I think that ties to one key idea you mentioned in your video: we watch/love/make movies for a variety of reasons. The films that stay with me the longest are the ones with which I really connect emotionally. Directors probably rank movies highly based on which ones inspired them the most. Academics may focus more on form than content.
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.
Honestly, I wish they did this with more directors. Just have all of the movies from the best directors. I would love to see the rest of Kubrick's filmography on the Criterion Collection. The idea that "2001 and The Shining are too mainstream" is pretentious and cringe. If Criterion is billing itself as the one stop shop of the greatest films in cinematic history, more of Kubrick's films than just Spartacus, The Killing, and Barry Lyndon deserve to be represented.
Elliot, great video and topic! I agree with all your choices (with the exception of maybe Citizen Kane). Doesn’t mean that the films are bad as you say - I actually love all those films - but one can definitely argue that they are slightly overrated. I love Seven Samurai and think it’s brilliant but I actually like Rashomon, High and Low, and Dreams from Kurosawa way more with High and Low being my favorite of his films.
I have always felt the way you do about Wes Anderson... and I LOVED The Grand Budapest Hotel. For me, that's his masterpiece, where the style and content finally meshed brilliantly.
1. People adapting and refining a classic doesn't take away from the original or make it overrated.
2. I get that this movie could be called overrated. It has memorable scenes and stuff but there's not a ton of substance.
3. The Royal Tenenbaums is still Wes Anderson's best film. It has a ton of great themes in it about family relationships, jealousy, fears, and desire. And it still manages to have a bunch of funny stuff in it.
4. I agree that Mulholland Drive might not be David Lynch's best movie but I don't hear many people who try to argue that it is. I think it's one of his most emotional ones though and I'm surprised you don't feel anything when watching it.
5. If it's hugely influential and ahead of it's time I'm not really sure how it can be overrated. Once again I don't really see how a movie can be greatness when it comes out but then after it gets older it loses what makes it special. The cinematography still looks good and that's what matters. Plus to be overrated, I feel like film snobs have to bring it up all the time and I really don't hear it brought up all that much.
I'd really expect something more like bicycle Thieves to appear on a list like this, hell there's even a running joke in The Player of film snobs constantly bringing it up and saying the title wrong. But idk, I think all of these movies are pretty incredible, the only two I'm not like incredibly wowed by are Citizen Kane though I appreciate the cinematography a lot and Breathless which I enjoy moderately but it's not one of my favorites.
Your take on kurosawa is tragically bad😂
Why? I’d love to hear it
@@ElliotCoen saying 7 samurai is overrated and that his later works are better is your opinion, but I think objectively wrong. Rashomon, hidden fortress, 7 samurai among others have had a huge impact on film, kinda indisputable, therefore they cant be overrated.
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!
I wouldn't call these movies "overrated". Based on your arguments, at least 60% of the criterion collection would be overrated. In México we have a word we use which is "quemado", Something that is known to everyone and everyone talks about it, and can sometimes blind us from other things that can be equally as great or better. But overrated is something that is highly rated or regarded and does not deserve the title. Some of the movies you mention here are vital to film history and are landmarks of the art, and you can't call history overrated. I think I get what you're trying to communicate with this video, I just don't think overrated is the right word for the likes of Seven samurai, Breathless, or Citizen Kane.
Red River is an overrated title. I love Hawks, I love Wayne, and I love Westerns. But Red River was just okay with a great Wayne performance. But you know what, even as I say it, I kinda want to watch it again.
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?!"
Great ideas, Joel. I’ll add these to my list. Thank you so much for the support! 🙌
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?
Even if they had the rights, would people double dip on Tout va bien?
That's it! That's the final straw! I. Am. Out. Of. Here!
Wait! Come back!
I do feel royal tenenbaums is overrated. Moonrise Kingdom is my personal favorite.
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.
I could never have included those films here! The Red Shoes is vital cinema for me. Thanks for watching, Kevin!
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. 🤞🏽
@@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 !! 😂
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.
I remember stepping out of my film class during “Breathless”😂
That burned feeling of being oversold on a “documentary” style b/w home movie.
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.
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!
not going to disagree there.
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.
Nah bro french new wave films are trash
@@mr.40-15 I challenge you to a duel.
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.
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.
funnily enough, the royal tenenbaums is the wes anderson film that i connect with the most, always makes me emotional
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".
It's all subjective, so you're obviously entitled to your opinion. "Citizen Kane" used to be overrated just about unanimously, but lately I've run across your opinion among critics much more frequently than ever before. Personally, I've never connected to it emotionally, but appreciate the innovation and visionary talent that it took to make a such an excellent film, particularly in the period in which it was made. IMO, "overrated" is the most misunderstood term out there. Let me give some context. Watch ANY YT review of a popular film nowadays, I guarantee that at least once the term "great" will be stated. If one considers "greatness" to be the ultimate achievement in filmmaking, it's obvious that a relatively few films are truly "great," and to suggest that a movie is great simply because one finds it very entertaining is ridiculous. Ergo, by definition, it's more likely than not "overrated." It doesn't mean it's bad, unentertaining, not worthy of admiration, nor even unimportant. Just not the ultimate that cinema has to offer! Gutsy video!
Completely agree, G A! Overrated and underrated are rather nebulous terms, but they feel like the easiest to use in these circumstances. It makes for interesting discussion!
citizen kane is a great film but it is the one of the director's films i'm least likely to watch.
It isn't "all subjective" -- which is an excuse to avoid the issue. There are objective objects called "films". There are standards which apply to them. The objective object can be objectively evaluated critically.
@@jnagarya519 Um, no. Perhaps you misunderstand my point. Film is art. And art is always subjective in terms of its merit or lack thereof. There's no objectively "great" film. In reality, it's always a matter of someone's or some group's opinion. But art's value is not a matter of consensus among certain critics. Art cannot be defined by an elite, otherwise it becomes dogma, which is more the province of religion. The only element of film that might be considered "objective" MAY be in the technical aspect, e.g., the sound is bad, the lighting is poor, etc. But otherwise a movie's ultimate impact to the individual viewer is what counts. And that's undeniably a subjective experience.
@@GA-1st So you reject aesthetic valuations based upon objectively-existing art objects.
Why not just argue that any "opinion" about a work of art is as legitimate as any other. You know, a painting of a tree being described as being instead a painting of a motor vehicle. I mean, there's no "right and wrong" when it comes to "opinion," correct?
And what is an "elite"? -- those who know more about a subject than others? Those who know stuff you don't know?
Those Criterion discs are seriously expensive and too arty to risk blind buys. I only own a few.
I'd love to see in the Criterion Collection in 4K Sunset Boulevard (1950) Directed by Billy Wilder.
YES! Love Wilder and Sunset Boulevard. If this can happen, it would make my year!
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.
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??
Empire of the Sun
Schindler's list would be amazing.
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
hahahaha, i was listening to you talk about breathless and seven samurai and thinking, he's going to close with citizen kane, isnt he? :D i disagree with a lot of this, in particular mulholland drive, which is a favorite of mine (what do you think of fire walk with me,btw?). but it was a fun video. :) just, brace yourself for the hate :D
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!
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!
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.
The most overrated title is Stalker. I have seen at least 2 SCI-FI / Post apocalyptic lists put it at top of their list. I drove all the way to my local Barnes and Noble during a 50% sale to buy it. Upon watching it, I was interested at the beginning (Escaping the city scenes), but then got progressively angry and bored. The movie ended, and I felt like I misspent my money on a bad title instead of something greater that I overlooked at the store. Agreed, on Citizen Kane. I like the film, but I can see how if you took away all the great cinema techniques, it would be a very boring film. Now Seven Samurai, is what I disagree on. Good video regardless.
Excellent program. "Overrated" is such a subjective term, and you do a great job of explaining why you think these films are overrated, despite the importance of some of them in the history of film (for me, however, that is a very important factor when determining if a film is overrated or not). Definitely agree with your Goddard and Anderson choices, My big disagreement with you is Mulholland Drive: I remember when I first saw it, someone asked me why I thought and my reply was "I can't tell you why, but I think I've just seen a great film." Subsequent viewings (and reading several critics' interpretations) of the film reinforced this feeling, and I find that with each viewing there is something new that bubbles to the surface.
The arguments you make don't make sense. "Other film makers refined them later". If Kurosawa didn't do seven samurai and the French new wave never happened- The cinema you love today would not exist. Future filmakers would have nothing to be following and refining.
The films that came after are more enjoyable to watch. I’m not doubting any historical importance here. I know how important the French New Wave is and that cinema would be different without it - that doesn’t mean I have to pretend to like it more than I actually do.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
@@andrewwilson4733 I haven't watched the French Dispatch for that reason.
@@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.
3 AMAZING dark comedy films that absolutely need to be in the CC: The King of Comedy (1983), The Heartbreak Kid (1972), and In The Company of Men (1997).
Wes Anderson has become a parody of himself. At this point if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.
No offense but as a Brit you may not fully appreciate the critique of the notorious American media tycoon William Randolph Hearst that Citizen Kane represents.
One film that has me baffled as being one of the greatest movies ever is “Tokyo Story” by Yasujiro Ozu. Given all the high praise it has generated I feel like a cretin for having found it very boring. What am I missing?
I am a huge Ozu fan, and 'Tokyo Story' is far from my favorite among his works. Even though I do regard the film as a masterpiece, I also think it's overrated. It was loosely adapted or inspired by Leo McCarey's 1937 melodrama 'Make Way for Tomorrow', and I also think that's an overrated picture.
Among Ozu's works, I prefer, in chronological order, 'Tokyo Chorus' (1931), 'I Was Born, But...' (1932), 'Passing Fancy' (1933), 'Late Spring' (1949), 'Early Summer' (1951) [my contender for Ozu's single greatest achievement], and 'The Flavor of Green Tea over Rice' (1952).
@@barrymoore4470 thank you for your recommendations. I will add ‘Early Summer’ to my list. What do think of ‘Floating Weeds’? That one sounded interesting.
@@reddykilowatt
'Floating Weeds' is a bit of an outlier in Ozu's oeuvre. It is a remake, in color and sound, of the director's 1934 silent feature 'Story of Floating Weeds'. In both cases, the story has a rural setting (not the Tokyo and suburbs typical of Ozu) and transpires among a troupe of travelling actors (not the settled domestic dynamics we associate with Ozu). The film is more overtly dramatic than is usual with Ozu, so those who find his movies slow might enjoy this one more. The color cinematography is beautiful (Ozu was a a subtle master of color), and the performances are compelling. I do think the film is worth a look, though it's not among my favorites by this favorite director.
Citizen Kane is a great movie but Ambersons was Welles' masterpiece and I just wish we got to see his own cut.
I totally agree with your Breathless take. I found the main character just insufferable. Now your Mulholland Drive take is bonkers to me haha but I also kinda get it. I personally love Mulholland Drive because it makes more sense with every rewatch and feels so rewarding.
Ha ha, yea found the main character over the top myself (the guy, Belmondo). Damn, Godard must have made him smoke 5 packs of cigarettes a day while filming scenes. BTW I notice a LOT of cigarette smoking by characters in French New Wave films, more so than U.S. films of same time period......imo.
Highly disagree regarding Tenenbaums. Highly. I find Moonrise Kingdom and after to be whatever.
I would nominate Pan's Labyrinth. I was never dazzled by this film though it certainly catapulted Guillermo del Toro to a sort of unexpected borderland between prestige film and monster movie. It just didn't really work for me. I think his best is The Shape of Water, which I don't expect he'll ever top.
That’s a choice I think I agree with! They’re both films that I need to rewatch soon for sure
Blade 2
Even though I disagree with most of your candidates, I admire you for putting yourself in the line of fire. My criticism isn't so much of your choices as your criteria for including them. In several instances you justify a film's inclusion based on there being better incarnations of the same theme or genre in later films. But to my mind this implies the validity of the very films you're choosing as overrated. It seems to me if these movies weren't "overrated" enough for filmmakers to want to emulate, the "more deserving" examples you prefer might never have gotten a green light. All that being said, I really enjoy your channel. Keep up the good work!
Apart from Breatheless, I have viewed all of these and do believe that there is some substance to your opinions. Of course, respect to all those who say otherwise. In regards to Lynch, Inland Empire (2006), is the movie of his that I most currently rate. Although long, it has all those Lynch elements that we know and love and is capably anchored by Laura Dern. That opinion should cause at least some concern.
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.
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.
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.
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
Starts off good, gets repetitive towards the end and the “evil” characters seemed gimmicky
I just like the theme song. That's about it.
Rushmore favorite
Mine too.
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.
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
We will see if you’re right about Vertigo! Have loved that now for 8 years and counting… thanks for watching!
Video idea: Which films do you wish had the Criterion treatment? For me Kurosawa’s Ran would be up there.
I was shocked that you mentioned Seven Samurai, but after you explained why, I am ok with your choice.
You lost me at 1:07.
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.
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.
I predict either BFI Sight & Sound will pick Vertigo again or Tokyo Story or 2001 will top the list.
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.
I'm so glad someone else thinks Kurosawa's later work was his best.
To say a film is no longer great because of it's influence on other films is really a silly thing to say. Seven Samurai laid down a marker and it's influence must be considered when evaluating it's greatness.
Should something great not stand alone on its own merit? I think the film is great! But not because of its influence.
@Boutique Blu-rays with Elliot Coen Don't you acknowledge in your video that it influenced films you like better? What would those films be without it? And while it should stand alone on its own merit, that cannot be the only standard when measuring greatness.
Nailing the topics and titles recently lad!
Cheers pal! I’m always looking at your videos for how to do it!
@@ElliotCoen hahah well if you figure it out let me know mate because I am clueless!!
Something that gets lost in translation for many younger film enthusiasts is the ability to put one’s self within the time of a films release. You do offer some caveats but stating that others have gone on to do something better doesn’t diminish the original idea, which is why many of the films you mention are so revered. It’s like a casual filmgoer stating Star Wars (1977-1983) is boring because Marvel does special effects so much better.
It’s totally fine Man. I haven’t actually seen any of the films you mentioned in this video. But I have encountered other criterion films that were massively hyped up and when I watched them…. I felt not much connection with them at all. For example, one of them was Easy Rider, Seriously I was so disappointed with it and couldn’t understand it’s positive reputation. But nothing lost nothing gained, I just move on and turn to the next recommendation 🙂👍
How can you not like Easy Rider? You’re Rider Rated! _De gustibus_ I guess...
Still, what you’re doing is very wrong. Never move on after the first try! Give it a second try. At least start watching for a second time. You might miss something you actually like, just wasn’t in the mood for it first time. Watch for a second time for at least 15 mins. If the feeling persists, then ok, move on, perhaps for good. If not, stay for another 15, etc.
I’m not talking about the crap - the consumerist stuff and so on - you can skip those if you don’t immediately like them. But critically acclaimed films deserve a second chance.
It doesn’t mean you’ll change your mind, you might even end up hating it even more, and being even more disappointed hehe, but you might see it in a new light.
I know it happened to me a couple of times. Usually, a great film will be great first time watching it, but I know for sure that in my case I’ve had different viewings and reception of the same thing, watched on separate occasions. (Can work in reverse too: being less impressed on a second viewing.)
Same for music, especially classical music. Sometimes I discount a piece, a symphony for instance, only to revisit it later on and change my mind completely.
Try it man, nothing to lose, especially since you can find some of these online nowadays.
seven samurai, Breathless and Citizen Kane are three of the greatest films ever made. Your opinion can be safely discounted from now on.
And yet, people still listen to my opinions on film whilst no one listens to yours :(
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.
Cheers, Tom. I think I’d agree that Rashomon is the better film, and the one I’d be more likely to watch often.
TOP-5 hugely overrated films that still cannot understand what does Criterion find so important to include in the collection:
1) The Tree of Life
2) Menace II Society
3) The Worst Person in the World
4) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
5) Drive my Car
Most of them are newer films and although I do believe some older films are overrated as well, at least they DO made some impact back in the day for a reason. All of the above... Huh?
05:50 "I think some people will have clicked off by this point, but let's continue, I want to enrage more people."
Hahahaha, best words in the entire video.
You didn’t lose me. I also think Kurosawa made his best work later in his career
I was out after Godard and New Wave. Fold the channel.
You can find echo chambers elsewhere!
My problem with The Royal Tenenbaums is that I really dislike all the characters. The kids are so twee and spoiled and even a bit icky and I don’t really care what happens to them.
Breathless feels disjointed and trendy and I honestly don’t like it when I’m distracted by editing or art direction to the point I’m not really following the story.
Mulholland Drive and Citizen Kane are two of my favorite movies but I appreciate a different opinion.
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.
Yes very interesting take, Anthony. I’ll be touching on Salo sometime soon on the channel. Cheers!
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.
@@WhirlingMusic I'd be ok with Gummo, as I am with Salo, Pink Flamingos, Armageddon, and Breakfast Club
Every film you mention might had encouraged a small amount of directors to become directors and have box office success, so this video is overrated, hello Spielberg
Undoubtedly! That’s sort of my point. The great films inspired by the classics refine and improve on them, and are only judged as subordinate because they came after.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the most overrated film ever is Tarkovsky’s - Mirror. The worst flaw a film can have is if it’s boring. And mirror was dreadfully boring.
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.
Me: What?! These choices are perfectly reasonable for a list of underrated Criterion films. I don’t understand why anyone should get ma-
You: Mulholland Dr.
Me: *Jaw dropping*
You: And it left me feeling nothing….
Me: *jaw falling off. I have no jaw now.*
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
😂 thanks for watching!
@@ElliotCoen I won't anymore LOL 🤣
You’re brave to do this. 🤣 If I did I’d be railing against so many of their modern inclusions. I fully agree on Mullholland Drive which is one of the absolute worst things I’ve ever seen. Then again I don’t like Lynch at all and am not a Wes Anderson person.
I think the issue with the old standards is that they were picked up by the emerging critical culture and mentioned to death without keeping the spirit of the films alive. Seven Samurai isn’t my favorite Kurosawa film either and like Rashomon it’s a bit harder to get a fresh view on it whereas lesser discussed Kurosawa classics are easier to look at with a fresher perspective. My favorites are just before this period like Ikiru, Drunken Angel, Stray Dog or just after like the bemused cynicism of Yojimbo.
Breathless is iconic and timeless due to its breezy and cynical “screw it” attitude. That’s what immediately spoke to me and what I felt Godard was after as sort of the flip side of the coin to Truffaut’s emotionally devastating 400 Blows. Plus to look at Jean Seberg with the iconic pixie haircut once makes you swoon for life…
I knew you would probably mention Kane. Kane is the one that everyone has to discover for themselves. What people often miss nowadays is the energy and progressive can-do attitude that so defined the 1930’s theater and radio-much of which drives Kane itself. That combined with the never ending levels of fascination Welles had that are felt in the film itself-creates a sort of cross between a never ending magic trick and the most inspirational film ever made for us cinema nerds. And then you see Ambersons and weep for life.
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.
I wish you would do a video on Criterion films where you ask yourself, " for heaven's sake why in the world is that movie in the collection?"
Being there. Has a couple of good moments but overall fell flat for me
I knew Royal Tenenbaums was overrated right when it came out. I don't buy any of Wes Anderson's films on physical. I watch them on Disney Plus only. Most of his films are better than The Royal Tenenbaums.
I don't buy any of the Godard either. Streaming only for me too.
Citizen Kane is pretentious and always a bit boring.
Seven Samurai isn't overrated in my book. I prefer Kurosawa's earlier films to his later films tremendously. I never liked Ran but thought it was a very nice looking film.
Great video, but it dragged a little bit in places.
You started so well with the first three films, but then with Mulholland drive and Citizen Kane you ruined it, two great masterpieces of all time 😂
Well, you could not be more wrong about The Royal Tenenbaums, lol…. It is Wes Anderson’s best, most emotionally satisfying film. And the Citizen Kane take, while very trendy now, I disagree with as well… But, hey, I always enjoy your videos. And the other choices I agree with - I think everything by David Lynch other than Eraserhead is overrated. Truth be told there are many Criterion titles that are skating on an intellectual reputation that does not translate to an entertaining, well-told story. I would say 90% of Kubrick’s work is overrated, including….oops. Opinions, no two are alike.
If somebody says that The Straight Story is the least-Lynch film, I question what they’re seeing in a lot of Lynch’s work. The good-hearted, melancholy tone that defines The Straight Story is present in most of Lynch’s work, but that was the one that brings it most to the fore. The Straight Story is excellent-a top 3 David Lynch film for me!
Great video! Mulholland Drive is (one of) the best of the 21st century imo, but isn’t Bay’s Armageddon in the Collection too? Speaking of overrated. But honestly I get it, there are a lot of great movies in the collection but they’re there for their importance to cinema rather than fun or interesting watch I guess. So overrated yeah, but not Mullholland Drive man, come on.. 😅
Nooooo! Armageddon in the Criterion Collection. I can't accept that. Two and a half hours of my life I'll never get back. By the time that stupid tear runs down Bruce Willis's stupid stone face as he's about to make his heroic sacrifice I was rooting for the asteroid. I wanted everyone in the film to die. I wanted everyone involved in the making of the film to die. I wanted everyone who enjoyed the film to die. And now, with that rotting vegetable in the White House leading us into war with not one but two nuclear armed powers, maybe, just maybe, my dream can come true. Bwahahahaha!
Breathless: Ok
Jean-Luc Goddard: Fair
The French New Wave movement in general: AUX ARMES CITOYENS
One should be carefull with words. It seems to me that you are mixing subjective and objective matters here. A film is not suddenly overrated because YOU have changed your taste in movies. You simply dont like theese films as much as you used to, or as much as somebody else, and that is of course completely fair. By the way. I think Citizen Kane is pretty darn close to the greatest movie ever made. When thats said. You have a great channel! I watch your videos a lot, and now I have also subscribed. Thats what you get for beeing controversial. Keep up the good work. PS. I`m norwegian, so please forgive any possible "carelessness" with words.
Hey, thanks for the comment! I understand where you’re coming from and others have made the same point. It’s an age old discussion but I believe there is no objective matter here. Saying something is overrated is not me measuring my own opinion against anything objective - It is my personal subjective view vs the aggregated subjective view. It’s all subjectivity. Anyway thanks for the support!
@@ElliotCoen In danger of sounding too filosophical, and old... The use of the word overrated implies an objectiveness. If not, one could simply say "I dont like the film as much as many other people. In my view those two statements doesnt mean the same. And I am curious,. Do you realy mean that its all personal taste (subjective) when it comes to movies,, or other art for that matter? So a director can direct a seen or a movie without any "rules". The result will just satisfy different audiences? What about if nobody wants to see the movie. Does that stand for something objective?
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
Every one’s opinion is theirs, no more or less valid than anyone else’s. People who are offended by someone else’s opinion are far too thin skinned to survive, and (in my opinion) the biggest problem with the world today. I 100% agree with your opinion on Citizen Kane. A good movie especially for its time but too many believe it is the GOAT. It’s good but not GOAT.
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.
I 100% agree that Jean-Luc Godard is overrated. Give me Varda or Truffaut any day of the week before Jean-Luc.
Amen to this sentiment. But most of all, give me a bit of Demy!
@@ElliotCoen
Yes, with Demy at his best (e.g., 'Lola' from 1961), he is the most directly appealing among this roster of filmmakers.
I DESPISE the term ‘overrated’. It’s nothing more than a way of snobs shunning certain audiences of certain films. It’s an incredibly lazy way of describing why someone doesn’t like a film; by pinning it on the popularity of film itself - rather than giving a prime and tactile reasoning. The sooner this ‘overrated vs underrated’ malarky stops, the better. Peace ✌️
Your comment is overrated!
@@ElliotCoenPlease be a bit more articulate with your response - thanks
six months and still awaiting a response…. lol
Was expecting or hoping for tarkowsky's andrej rublov
How dare you! 😡😁 No. 1 for me. 😉
this is the best blu ray collection channel on youtube. Citizen Kane is definitely overrated. I'm a huge Kurosawa fanboy so I disagree with the Seven Samurai claim. The Royal Tenenbaums is a movie I grew out of as I got older. Mulholland Drive is my favorite Lynch but it's definitely a taste thing. I think everyone thinks Breathless is overrated, ive never met anyone who like it.
Aww thanks so much, Rafi!
@@ElliotCoen when you get criterions from the barnes and noble 50% off sale, how much does it cost for your people to send them over to UK?
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?
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.