Armchair Vacation: Five Must See Films From Criterion’s Recent Hulu Plus Additions

NOTE: As you may know, Hulu Plus and Criterion have recently made their lineup free for anyone. Subscriber or not, you can stream, until February 18, any and all films from Criterion’s Hulu Plus page for free. 

If you haven’t heard by now, The Criterion Collection made one hell of a return to their Hulu Plus page, adding a bevy of new films, 44 pictures to be exact, including large collections of pictures from the likes of Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Yasujiro Ozu and yes, even more Keisuke Kinoshita pictures.

However, when sifting through this monstrosity of a lineup, one has to ask, “where in the ever living hell do I start?” Well, when you’re dealing with films from people like Satyajit Ray and even Steven Soderbergh, it’s hard to go wrong, honestly.

But where is the fun in that? So now that this writer has been able to sift a handful of films from this list, here are a few of the must-see pictures that are now members of the ever illustrious group of films that are now able to be streamed via The Criterion Collection.

5. All The Boys Are Called Patrick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpALhHjojvo

One of the shortest films added in this collection, this film runs at just shy of 20 minutes, but when you talk about its director, Jean-Luc Godard, one has to bring it up, no matter the length. A fun and entertaining short following two friends as they discover the man they recently flirted with and set up a date with is actually the same man, the short (penned by Eric Rohmer, who himself has a short added here as well) is slight and fluffy, particularly when looking at the rest of Godard’s filmography, but it’s no less entertaining. Featuring some fun performances and a score that is as whimsical as the narrative, it’s thrilling to see Godard be as playful tonally as he usually is aesthetically. It’s not much to think about, but it’s as enjoyable and “fun” a film as Godard has ever really made, even if its runtime is under a third of an hour.

4. Chronicle Of A Summer

There is nothing quite like being able to try before you buy. With a proper DVD/Blu-ray release on the way from The Criterion Collection, the company has decided to add Jean Rouch and Edgar Morin’s brilliant documentary, Chronicle Of A Summer. One of the earliest examples of what Morin would call “cinema-verite,” the film is a breathtaking look at the sociological and political climate of France during the 1960s. Seemingly being an inspiration for documentaries to this very day (one can’t help but see this film inspiring the works of everyone from the crew at Kartemquin to a series like the Up documentary series), the film takes a moment to get used to, but with gorgeous black and white photography, and enough intellectual meat to chew on for a long time, Chronicle Of A Summer will be as thrilling a discovery as anyone new to this film will find. I hadn’t even heard of the film prior to Criterion’s announcement that it would be joining the ranks of their home video lineup, and thankfully it will, because this is as good a documentary experiment as I’ve ever seen.

3. Chinese Roulette

One of the iciest and most bleak films this writer has seen from the great filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder, the film follows the story of a husband and wife, who happen to take their lovers to a vacation spot during the same weekend. What ensues, involving their ill child, is one of the most bleak and unflinching looks at love and human nature that you’ll see. Featuring photography from legendary cinematography Michael Ballhaus (who has worked with everyone from Scorsese to Schlondorff), the film’s use of reflective surfaces and focus is utterly thrilling, and completely perfect given the film’s inherent tone and mood. As cold as a winter night, Roulette is an unsung masterpiece from a master filmmaker.

2. Fear

From director Robert Rossellini, the film would mark the last collaboration between he and his then wife Ingrid Bergman before their divorce in 1957, and it’s one of their many great pictures together. Influenced by film noir and German Expressionism, the film’s main star here is the contrast heavy black and white, and the stunning use of light and shadow here. The picture follows an angst ridden wife as she deals with a continuing affair, and Bergman’s performance is tonally perfect, giving the film a perfect noir-esque sense of mortality. Not as thrilling a film as something like Stromboli, the film may lack the thematic punch that that picture had, but finding the director return to Germany a decade after his masterpiece Germany Year Zero, only to take on seemingly similar themes, the film is yet another gem from Rossellini.

1. Diary Of A Shinjuku Thief

From director Nagisa Oshima, this is just one of the late auteur’s countless masterpieces. Possibly one of the director’s best known works, the film follows the story of a thief who has a run in with a woman, only to spark a relationship with her. A beautiful meditation on a brewing revolution within Japan politically, culturally and most pertinent, sexually, Shinjuku Thief may not be as powerful as a film like In The Realm Of The Senses or as stunningly crafted as a film like Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence, the film features top notch performances and some of Oshima’s strongest stylistic flourishes. It’s really a wonderful film, and one that, with Criterion’s new deal of free streaming for everyone (even non-Hulu subscribers) until February 18, must be seen by any and every cinephile around.