The Best of the Criterion Collection 2013

"The Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, has been dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements."

I apologize I never got this list posted last January.  It is well past due, but I will be to the point in highlighting the top ten new releases the Criterion Collection put out in 2013.  Following soon after will be my top ten new releases from Criterion for 2014.  I will also be putting together my regular review of the Academy Award wins for 2014 soon (well, once they have aired!).  But right now, I want to highlight one of my favorite outlets for viewing films: the Criterion Collection. They have had some incredible releases this year. While there have been several blu-ray upgrades of existing titles, I have enjoyed many of the new titles in the collection.  Currently at 739 blu-ray and dvd releases (with the most recent mentioned below and in the Best of 2014 list coming soon), Criterion has earned its reputation.

I want to focus on my ten favorite new releases from the Criterion Collection for 2013. One great promotional tool that Criterion began last year was their "Three Reasons" videos.  They even have released bonus dvds under the "99 Reasons" label collecting many of these great videos. A good way to explain why the film is important and worth including in the collection.  I have included them when available.

10. Frances Ha (Noah Baumbach, 2013, #681, United States)

Greta Gerwig.  That is all.

9. City Lights (Charles Chaplin, 1931, #680, United States)

Along with their first Harold Lloyd release (Safety Last!), Criterion has been doing right by the silent comedians.

Here's a trailer.

8. 3 Films by Roberto Rossellini Starring Ingrid Bergman (Roberto Rossellini, 1950-1954, #672, Italy

Ignore the noise and scandal about the affair and eventual marriage between Rossellini and Bergman.  These two have an interesting collaboration in front of the camera.

 

Stromboli (1950, #673, Italy)

Europe '51 (1952, #674, Italy)

Journey to Italy (1954, #675, Italy)

Here's a trailer for Journey to Italy.

7. Repo Man (Alex Cox, 1984, #654, United States)

Ordinary fucking people.  I love that Criterion put this out.

 

6. Medium Cool (Haskell Wexler, 1969, #658, United States)

I turn on the news today and see the same thing Wexler captured on film nearly 50 years ago.

Here's the great opening sequence.

 

5. Badlands (Terrence Malick, 1973, #651, United States)

Stephen King and Terrence Malick have a fascination with the Charlie Starkweather killing spree.  "True Romance" this is not!

 

4. Nashville (Robert Altman, 1975, #683, United States)

One of my favorite films.  I'm trying to remember the words of the national anthem...

 

3. On the Waterfront (Elia Kazan, 1954, #647, United States)

Marlon Brando headlines a powerhouse cast.  This is what American filmmaking should have been aspiring to in the 1950s, but it was not as common as we might hope.

 

2. Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman (1962-1973, #679, Japan)

A behemoth of a release! 25 films to entertain and enthrall!

The Tale of Zatoichi (Kenji Misumi, 1962)
The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (Kazuo Mori, 1962)
New Tale of Zatoichi (Tokuzo Tanaka, 1963)
Zatoichi the Fugitive (Tokuzo Tanaka, 1963)
Zatoichi on the Road (Kimiyoshi Yasuda, 1963)
Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (Kazuo Ikehiro, 1964)
Zatoichi's Flashing Sword (Kazuo Ikehiro, 1964)
Fight, Zatoichi, Fight (Kenji Misumi, 1964)
Adventures of Zatoichi (Kimiyoshi Yasuda, 1964)
Zatoichi's Revenge (Akira Inoue, 1965)
Zatoichi and the Doomed Man (Kazuo Mori, 1965)
Zatoichi and the Chess Expert (Kenji Misumi, 1965)
Zatoichi's Vengeance (Tokuzo Tanaka, 1966)
Zatoichi's Pilgrimage (Kazuo Ikehiro, 1966)
Zatoichi's Cane Sword (Kimiyoshi Yasuda, 1967)
Zatoichi the Outlaw (Satsuo Yamamoto, 1967)
Zatoichi Challenged (Kenji Misumi, 1967)
Zatoichi and the Fugitives (Kimiyoshi Yasuda, 1968)
Samaritan Zatoichi (Kenji Misumi, 1968)
Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo (Kihachi Okamoto, 1970)
Zatoichi Goes to the Fire Festival (Kenji Misumi, 1970)
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman (Kimiyoshi Yasuda, 1971)
Zatoichi At Large (Kazuo Mori, 1972)
Zatoichi in Desperation (Shintaro Katsu, 1972)
Zatoichi's Conspiracy (Kimiyoshi Yasuda, 1973)

Here's a Criterion trailer for this massive set.

1. Shoah (Claude Lanzmann, 1985, #663, France)

A nine-hour-plus collection of first-person testimonies brings the Holocaust into the light in horrific clarity.  One of the most important releases from the Criterion Collection, and the best of 2013.

Here is a trailer for this film.