Ok, firstly, how many of you watched this?

I think this was my 4th time with the movie and I honestly had forgotten how utterly exhausting it is. In a good way. In a good way, once you get past the realization that a. it’s going to be a slow movie to say the least and b. you have to pay complete attention. It’s like making sense of a dream.

And I’ll tell you the rest: Rachael copped out 35 minutes in and went to bed. (She was tired, it was late. Not because she wasn’t enjoying it. She said.) So we haven’t finished it yet. And the second disc won’t arrive from Netflix for a few more days.

Here is what I can tell you:
1. see this movie. You’ll hate it the first time. But regardless of your strong opinion, the movie sticks with you. You’ll talk about it, think about it and want to see it again. And that, my friends, is the mark of an excellent movie.
2. the transfer doesn’t look restored. (After looking at details on the Criterion site though, it is.) It does appear they restored the audio, as you have the choice between original and restored. There is also commentary and a second disc with interviews, a few shorts and some other stuff like that. Worth buying? If you love the movie, you’ve already gotten it — this is the first time it has been released as a R1 DVD I believe. (If not, it’s the first time it’s been in print in years and years.)
3. see this movie.

I haven’t decided if I’m buying the DVD; this might be the last DVD I feel I truly must own. But even a once a year viewing no longer seems worth a purchase.

Oh and:
1. I had forgotten there is a Hitchcock cameo of sorts in the film.
2. Kottke, just the other day, wrote about Marienbad and Nim (the game played in the film).
3. The wikipedia page mentions “The Invention of Dr. Morel” as a possible influence. When I start my book club to accompany this movie club, it’ll appear on the list.

OK.

A+. And I think I have to go buy the DVD.

What did you think?

Popularity: 1% [?]