Comments on: DVD of the Week: Pierrot le fou (1965) http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/ Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:45:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: danielle http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-2005 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:21:44 +0100 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-2005 My favourite Godard, and one of my all time faves. It's so rich and full of life, unsentimental yet loving, unpretentious yet thought provoking and intelligent. Love your blog ; My favourite Godard, and one of my all time faves. It’s so rich and full of life, unsentimental yet loving, unpretentious yet thought provoking and intelligent. Love your blog ;

]]> by: Richard http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1545 Sun, 09 Mar 2008 15:03:47 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1545 Wow, your screenshots are crystal clear. You have made me want to see this again, I really liked it when I saw it some 15 years ago. Wow, your screenshots are crystal clear. You have made me want to see this again, I really liked it when I saw it some 15 years ago.

]]> by: Jim Flannery http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1510 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 23:09:51 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1510 Actually, <i>Pierrot</i> played the PFA on 2/15/2007, in a spectacular brand new print ... the colors, my god, the colors. Be sure to check their new calendar, I'm sure there's some stuff in the "Clash of 68" series, starting end of March, that you'll want to see ... oh, and the Frank Tashlin series ... Actually, Pierrot played the PFA on 2/15/2007, in a spectacular brand new print … the colors, my god, the colors.

Be sure to check their new calendar, I’m sure there’s some stuff in the “Clash of 68″ series, starting end of March, that you’ll want to see … oh, and the Frank Tashlin series …

]]> by: cinebeats http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1496 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:53:06 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1496 Gareth - I hope you get a chance to see the new Criterion presentation of Pierrot le fou! It's really amazing and considering all the comments that mention how bad the previous Fox-Lorber DVD was, I expect you'll be able to enjoy the film much more now. Erich - Thanks for the nice comment! The film is indeed "sublime joy!" Film Walrus - Pierrot le fou is really a "full" film and thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. The extras on the new Criterion DVD are really wonderful! Toshi -I think you'll probably be able to enjoy the film more with the new Criterion transfer, but there is a lot of driving in Pierrot le fou. And your so right about the French being "politically ahead" of Americans in many regards. ;) Jeremy - I know you'll love the new Criterion transfer so I hope you get a chance to see it again. I really think it's one of Godard's best films from the sixties. I wish I had seen it sooner, but I'm glad I was able to experience it for the first time in all its Technicolor glory. Gareth - I hope you get a chance to see the new Criterion presentation of Pierrot le fou! It’s really amazing and considering all the comments that mention how bad the previous Fox-Lorber DVD was, I expect you’ll be able to enjoy the film much more now.

Erich - Thanks for the nice comment! The film is indeed “sublime joy!”

Film Walrus - Pierrot le fou is really a “full” film and thanks for sharing your thoughts on it. The extras on the new Criterion DVD are really wonderful!

Toshi -I think you’ll probably be able to enjoy the film more with the new Criterion transfer, but there is a lot of driving in Pierrot le fou. And your so right about the French being “politically ahead” of Americans in many regards. ;)

Jeremy - I know you’ll love the new Criterion transfer so I hope you get a chance to see it again. I really think it’s one of Godard’s best films from the sixties. I wish I had seen it sooner, but I’m glad I was able to experience it for the first time in all its Technicolor glory.

]]> by: Jeremy http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1494 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:08:44 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1494 Absolutely among my favorite Godard films. I first saw it via a poor quality VHS copy late at night at a friends apartment in the early nineties and it haunted my dreams for years after until I finally got the original Fox-Lorber dvd. I haven't gotten the Criterion yet but will as soon as I can...the screenshots you posted here are stunning. Absolutely among my favorite Godard films. I first saw it via a poor quality VHS copy late at night at a friends apartment in the early nineties and it haunted my dreams for years after until I finally got the original Fox-Lorber dvd.
I haven’t gotten the Criterion yet but will as soon as I can…the screenshots you posted here are stunning.

]]> by: toshi http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1487 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:51:14 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1487 Love Pierrot! I think My Life to Live may be my favorite (or Band of Outsiders, or A Woman is a Woman, or...) but strictly in terms of striking images Pierrot has them all beat, especially (do I have to call spoiler alert?) the dynamite scene... Also love the Fuller scene at the beginning and the filter stuff... Very vague memory of what happens in between (I remember a lot of driving), which is why it never cracked my top 5, I suppose - it seemed lacking in story or emotional appeal (neither of which would have mattered much to JLG, I guess, at least not in the normal sense of the words). Anyway, I've gotta see this new transfer - if only to show myself how wrong I was about this movie (it happened with Band of Outsiders - really didn't like it at first, but after the second time through it became one of my faves). Side note: the French were always politically ahead of the Americans on Vietnam, including the occupying and screwing-it-up bits. Love Pierrot! I think My Life to Live may be my favorite (or Band of Outsiders, or A Woman is a Woman, or…) but strictly in terms of striking images Pierrot has them all beat, especially (do I have to call spoiler alert?) the dynamite scene… Also love the Fuller scene at the beginning and the filter stuff… Very vague memory of what happens in between (I remember a lot of driving), which is why it never cracked my top 5, I suppose - it seemed lacking in story or emotional appeal (neither of which would have mattered much to JLG, I guess, at least not in the normal sense of the words). Anyway, I’ve gotta see this new transfer - if only to show myself how wrong I was about this movie (it happened with Band of Outsiders - really didn’t like it at first, but after the second time through it became one of my faves).

Side note: the French were always politically ahead of the Americans on Vietnam, including the occupying and screwing-it-up bits.

]]> by: Film Walrus http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1486 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 23:01:03 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1486 Pierrot le Fou really deserved the Criterion release. It is so full, not just in terms of the hectic action, fast-pace references and non-stop genre blending, but also in terms of the colors and visual panache. I got to see the movie on film for a class and I remember being disappointed when I checked out the Lorber DVD later. Not that you could sap the energy of the film even in the poorest transfer. I'm not surprised, either, that the DVD extras or packed as well (there is just so much to be said about the film whether you helped make it or are trying to unravel it) and I'm really excited to check them out. Glad to hear all the enthusiasm! Pierrot le Fou really deserved the Criterion release. It is so full, not just in terms of the hectic action, fast-pace references and non-stop genre blending, but also in terms of the colors and visual panache. I got to see the movie on film for a class and I remember being disappointed when I checked out the Lorber DVD later. Not that you could sap the energy of the film even in the poorest transfer. I’m not surprised, either, that the DVD extras or packed as well (there is just so much to be said about the film whether you helped make it or are trying to unravel it) and I’m really excited to check them out. Glad to hear all the enthusiasm!

]]> by: Erich Kuersten http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1483 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:28:07 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1483 Don't regret not seeing this sooner, dear. The Fox Lorber disc was totally crappy, with burnt in subtitles and non-anamorphic and so forth. Luckily (for me) I was able to sell mine before this new version came out, which was an answer to my prayers. I wrote Criterion begging them to release Pierrot, and they did! What sublime joy! I could watch this movie endlessly and one day, my obsessive insanity permitting, I will. God bless and keep you, in the future. Don’t regret not seeing this sooner, dear. The Fox Lorber disc was totally crappy, with burnt in subtitles and non-anamorphic and so forth. Luckily (for me) I was able to sell mine before this new version came out, which was an answer to my prayers. I wrote Criterion begging them to release Pierrot, and they did! What sublime joy! I could watch this movie endlessly and one day, my obsessive insanity permitting, I will. God bless and keep you, in the future.

]]> by: Gareth http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1479 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:17:12 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1479 The screencaps look really fabulous: the last time I saw the film was on a pretty crummy DVD transfer that I almost felt guilty about watching! I need to get the new version into my Netflix queue to erase the bad taste... The screencaps look really fabulous: the last time I saw the film was on a pretty crummy DVD transfer that I almost felt guilty about watching! I need to get the new version into my Netflix queue to erase the bad taste…

]]> by: cinebeats http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1477 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:42:41 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1477 <i>I guess I’m a little quirkier than most </i> Indeed, but I like quirky! I'm rather quirky myself. ;) I was very surprised by all the references the film made to the Vietnam war. Godard was really years ahead of American filmmakers in that regard, and I'm sure the French experience during/after the Algerian conflict probably made him more aware of some things that hadn't really hit home yet in the U.S. The more I think about <strong>Pierrot le fou</strong>, the more I'm knocked out by it. It's such an amazing film! I guess I’m a little quirkier than most

Indeed, but I like quirky! I’m rather quirky myself. ;)

I was very surprised by all the references the film made to the Vietnam war. Godard was really years ahead of American filmmakers in that regard, and I’m sure the French experience during/after the Algerian conflict probably made him more aware of some things that hadn’t really hit home yet in the U.S. The more I think about Pierrot le fou, the more I’m knocked out by it. It’s such an amazing film!

]]> by: Vanwall http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1476 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:33:19 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1476 Kimberly - I guess I'm a little quirkier than most - Godard films in general aren't usually viewed as accessible, it seems, but I connected well with the bright stylized look, and anti-war sentiments were part and parcel of my formative years, so it's not a hurdle for me at all. Didn't someone say we covet what we see? ;-) As this was kind of early for the most serious 'Nam involvement by the USA - it must've been filmed in late '64 or early '65, so my guess is the Diem assassination and the first real troop build-ups, plus the general anti-imperialist sentiments, were the actual targets, and the Algerian conflict was certainly a main one for the effects on French viewers. I noticed the release date in the US was '69 - it must've seemed like awfully prescient work by Godard - things were beyond control by then. You nailed it with the comic-book esthetic - this is like one big, bright trip with some pretty wacky people thrown in - altho the criminals are hard-core for sure. I love looking at it. Kimberly -

I guess I’m a little quirkier than most - Godard films in general aren’t usually viewed as accessible, it seems, but I connected well with the bright stylized look, and anti-war sentiments were part and parcel of my formative years, so it’s not a hurdle for me at all. Didn’t someone say we covet what we see? ;-) As this was kind of early for the most serious ‘Nam involvement by the USA - it must’ve been filmed in late ‘64 or early ‘65, so my guess is the Diem assassination and the first real troop build-ups, plus the general anti-imperialist sentiments, were the actual targets, and the Algerian conflict was certainly a main one for the effects on French viewers. I noticed the release date in the US was ‘69 - it must’ve seemed like awfully prescient work by Godard - things were beyond control by then. You nailed it with the comic-book esthetic - this is like one big, bright trip with some pretty wacky people thrown in - altho the criminals are hard-core for sure. I love looking at it.

]]> by: cinebeats http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1475 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:58:20 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1475 Robert - Thanks for the positive feedback! I wish I had seen the film sooner, but I'm really thankful that Criterion has released it on DVD. I absolutely love the look of <strong>Pierrot le fou</strong> as well. I'd like to see <strong>Alphaville</strong> again since I haven't seen it in about 20 years, but as I mentioned above, I love the way Godard played with color in the sixties and <strong>Contempt</strong> and <strong>Pierrot le fou</strong> really are two of the most remarkable looking films made during that decade. I haven't seen <strong>In Praise of Love</strong> yet myself, but I've had mixed reactions to the post 80s Godard films I've seen. I'd be curious to read your thoughts about the movie. Robert - Thanks for the positive feedback! I wish I had seen the film sooner, but I’m really thankful that Criterion has released it on DVD. I absolutely love the look of Pierrot le fou as well. I’d like to see Alphaville again since I haven’t seen it in about 20 years, but as I mentioned above, I love the way Godard played with color in the sixties and Contempt and Pierrot le fou really are two of the most remarkable looking films made during that decade. I haven’t seen In Praise of Love yet myself, but I’ve had mixed reactions to the post 80s Godard films I’ve seen. I’d be curious to read your thoughts about the movie.

]]> by: cinebeats http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1474 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:48:30 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1474 Vanwall - Thank you! Belmondo is amazing in this and he's rarely looked better. Together him and Karina make one of my favorite on-screen couples here. The blue war paint was a nice touch and rather perfect. I wouldn't exactly consider <strong>Pierrot le fou</strong> to be Godard's most approachable film though (far from it actually), but it's interesting that you think it is. I personally think many of earlier efforts and even some of his much later films would be a lot more accessible to the average film viewer. Keith - I think you'd find it interesting. It's worth a look just for the amazing photography! Joe - I hope I do too. Now that you mention it, the film does have a very hallucinogenic effect. It's very avant-garde at times and I loved that aspect of the film. I think you would find Anna Karina's interview and the documentary about Godard &amp; Karina very interesting. I know I did, and it was nice hearing Karina talk so fondly about Godard. I only wish Godard would have been interviewed about Karina. I'd like to see how he would respond to questions about his long ago muse. Jonathan - I think you'd probably like <strong>Pierrot le fou</strong> a lot. I enjoyed your comment about “one Godard a year” since I can understand that. I'm the type of film viewer who enjoys watching a film multiple times and really taking my time to savior and enjoy everything it has to offer. It makes blogging tough since I tend to need time in-between posts to sort out my thoughts. I can't understand film viewers who watch more then 4 or 5 films a week. That would be really hard for me to do. <strong>Band of Outsiders</strong> is really wonderful, but I personally tend to favor Godard's color films. I think I'm mesmerized by all the lush eye-candy in them. Vanwall - Thank you! Belmondo is amazing in this and he’s rarely looked better. Together him and Karina make one of my favorite on-screen couples here. The blue war paint was a nice touch and rather perfect. I wouldn’t exactly consider Pierrot le fou to be Godard’s most approachable film though (far from it actually), but it’s interesting that you think it is. I personally think many of earlier efforts and even some of his much later films would be a lot more accessible to the average film viewer.

Keith - I think you’d find it interesting. It’s worth a look just for the amazing photography!

Joe - I hope I do too. Now that you mention it, the film does have a very hallucinogenic effect. It’s very avant-garde at times and I loved that aspect of the film. I think you would find Anna Karina’s interview and the documentary about Godard & Karina very interesting. I know I did, and it was nice hearing Karina talk so fondly about Godard. I only wish Godard would have been interviewed about Karina. I’d like to see how he would respond to questions about his long ago muse.

Jonathan - I think you’d probably like Pierrot le fou a lot. I enjoyed your comment about “one Godard a year” since I can understand that. I’m the type of film viewer who enjoys watching a film multiple times and really taking my time to savior and enjoy everything it has to offer. It makes blogging tough since I tend to need time in-between posts to sort out my thoughts. I can’t understand film viewers who watch more then 4 or 5 films a week. That would be really hard for me to do. Band of Outsiders is really wonderful, but I personally tend to favor Godard’s color films. I think I’m mesmerized by all the lush eye-candy in them.

]]> by: robertmonell http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1473 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:42:46 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1473 Kimberly: as always, you say it so well. I first saw this film when I programmed it at my film series in 1971. A loooooooooong time ago. I haven't seen it for at least a decade and I can't wait to see this DVD presentation. I love the LOOK of this film. The red, white and blue color scheme seems to be Godard's signal that this will be his deconstruction of American cinema (Nick Ray and Sam Fuller) and the US involvement in Viet Nam at the time. He sees the crime film as a way to make another free form essay on genre and politics. Godard said of this film that he wanted it to be about the spaces between objects and people and that's what it is to a great degree. Everything is very stylized, the ride out of the city represented by lights on the windshield, the elliptical violence, the musical numbers. I'd like to read the Lionel White novel upon which it is based. Godard's use of the frame is very similar to Sam Fuller's in presentation a kind of cubist cut up of events and the reorganization of space into an authorial comment on what is being represented. A kind of double vision. Just today I picked the Criterion BAND OF OUTSIDERS and the controversial IN PRAISE OF LOVE DVD. My favorite Godard's are PIERROT LE FOU, ALPHAVILLE, WEEKEND and NOUVELLE VAGUE. Thanks for the thoughtful preview. Kimberly: as always, you say it so well. I first saw this film when I programmed it at my film series in 1971. A loooooooooong time ago. I haven’t seen it for at least a decade and I can’t wait to see this DVD presentation. I love the LOOK of this film. The red, white and blue color scheme seems to be Godard’s signal that this will be his deconstruction of American cinema (Nick Ray and Sam Fuller) and the US involvement in Viet Nam at the time. He sees the crime film as a way to make another free form essay on genre and politics. Godard said of this film that he wanted it to be about the spaces between objects and people and that’s what it is to a great degree. Everything is very stylized, the ride out of the city represented by lights on the windshield, the elliptical violence, the musical numbers. I’d like to read the Lionel White novel upon which it is based. Godard’s use of the frame is very similar to Sam Fuller’s in presentation a kind of cubist cut up of events and the reorganization of space into an authorial comment on what is being represented. A kind of double vision.

Just today I picked the Criterion BAND OF OUTSIDERS and the controversial IN PRAISE OF LOVE DVD. My favorite Godard’s are PIERROT LE FOU, ALPHAVILLE, WEEKEND and NOUVELLE VAGUE.
Thanks for the thoughtful preview.

]]> by: Jonathan Lapper http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1471 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 12:02:21 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1471 This is <i>still</i> on my "to see" list. I finally caught up with <b>Contempt</b> this year, and <b>Weekend</b> the year before that. Kind of a "one Godard a year" thing. I loved both <b>Weekend</b> and <b>Contempt</b> so I have high hopes for this as well. I think my purely favorite Godard film is still <b>Band of Outsiders</b> though. This is still on my “to see” list. I finally caught up with Contempt this year, and Weekend the year before that. Kind of a “one Godard a year” thing. I loved both Weekend and Contempt so I have high hopes for this as well. I think my purely favorite Godard film is still Band of Outsiders though.

]]> by: Joe D http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1470 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:15:17 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1470 Dear C.B. I hope you get a chance to see it in a theater. It has a powerful effect like taking a hallucinogen. But after reading your review I want to get the DVD. I'm really interested in the working relationship of Godard/Karina, they were so unique and so groundbreaking together. Dear C.B.
I hope you get a chance to see it in a theater. It has a powerful effect like taking a hallucinogen. But after reading your review I want to get the DVD. I’m really interested in the working relationship of Godard/Karina, they were so unique and so groundbreaking together.

]]> by: Keith http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1468 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:16:15 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1468 I've never seen this film, but I've wanted to. Your review of it definitely has me inspired to see it. I love the pictures that you posted. They look quite beautiful. It does look like it's a good transfer of the film. I’ve never seen this film, but I’ve wanted to. Your review of it definitely has me inspired to see it. I love the pictures that you posted. They look quite beautiful. It does look like it’s a good transfer of the film.

]]> by: Vanwall http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1466 Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:45:14 +0000 http://cinebeats.blogsome.com/2008/02/24/dvd-of-the-week-pierrot-le-fou-1965/#comment-1466 Nice rundown of this film - Belmondo rocks, as usual. One more for the List. This looks like a better transfer than previously available, that's a big plus. Godard's most approachable film for me, with great visuals, a good script based a story from Lionel White that was way ahead of its time, and much like real-life crime, nobody gets out alive. I, too always wondered what the blue paint was all about but presumed it was some kind of woad, which it is after all. And it had Belmondo. That was enough. Nice rundown of this film - Belmondo rocks, as usual. One more for the List. This looks like a better transfer than previously available, that’s a big plus. Godard’s most approachable film for me, with great visuals, a good script based a story from Lionel White that was way ahead of its time, and much like real-life crime, nobody gets out alive. I, too always wondered what the blue paint was all about but presumed it was some kind of woad, which it is after all. And it had Belmondo. That was enough.

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