Blogging Through The Collection: This Week In Criterion Blogs

Over the past (almost) two years, I feel like we’ve managed to shine some more light on the Criterion Collection, through our podcast and website. Clearly we were not the first people to get the idea to take a trip through the Collection, going movie by movie until we would hypothetically be current with their new releases. Long before we ever had this idea, there have been folks diligently and methodically writing about each and every film that they watch, with whatever audience they draw cheering them on. I’m so fortunate to have befriended several of these folks, and I thought it’d be nice to try and maintain a weekly column, where I highlight, and link to other folks in the Criterion Collection blog-o-sphere. I usually will try to link to most of these sites on my Twitter and Facebook pages, but I thought something more permanent would help everyone out.

This is by no means a definitive list of the Criterion Collection blogs out there, but these are the ones that I read most frequently.

Over at David Blakeslee’s Criterion Reflections blog, he takes an in-depth look at Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress. We recently covered the Hidden Fortress on an episode with Cinematical’s David Ehrlich, you can check out the episode here. In case you’re not familiar with the Criterion Reflections, David Blakeslee has been going through the entire Criterion Collection, in chronological order (of release date). Sometimes I honestly wish we had chosen this route when choosing our episodes for the podcast, as you gain a tremendous about of context when you are steeped in the films of a given time. This recent post that David has written, is also entered as part of an online fundraising effort sponsored by JapanCinema.net and Cinema-Fanatic.com. Consider donating to their cause, in the wake of the last weeks developments in Japan. Next week David will be covering Masaki Kobayashi’s The Human Condition (part 1). Finally, make sure that you’re reading David’s weekly column here at CriterionCast.com: A Journey Through The Eclipse Series, in which he is making his way through the entirety of Criterion’s Eclipse line. Follow David Blakeslee on Twitter.

As I mentioned earlier, David Ehrlich joined us recently for our podcast discussion of The Hidden Fortress. David maintains most of the Criterion writings over at Cinematical.com’s monthly Criterion Collection column: the Criterion Corner. David is currently living it up down in Austin at SXSW, but I’d highly recommend you go check out the latest entry into his series, in which he discusses several animated films that deserve an entry in the Collection. David also maintains a Tumblr blog, for most of his Criterion-related thoughts, which don’t make it into the official posts on Cinematical. Follow David Ehrlich on Twitter.

My fellow Portlandian, and Criterion Collection fan, Jamie S Rich, also maintains a fantastic review site: Criterion Confessions. Jamie also reviews discs for DVDTalk, which is a fantastic resource if you’re looking to see what’s released every week, and whether you should drop your hard earned dollars or not. This week Jamie has already written up reviews for The Double Life Of Veronique (the new Blu-ray upgrade), and the upcoming Blu-ray release of Mike Leigh’s Topsy-Turvy. Follow Jamie on Twitter.

One of my favorite film related websites around, run by incredibly fun and friendly folks is Film School Rejects. We’ve had Kevin Carr and Cole Abaius on our show in the past from FSR, and I cannot wait to chat with some more of these guys. Film School Rejects also has it’s own weekly Criterion Collection column: the Criterion Files. Landon Palmer and Adam Charles usually switch off each week, covering various releases, in no particular order that I can see, aside from being related in some ways to current news or events. This week, Landon takes a look at John Cassavetes’ Shadows. If you’re in the mood for more Cassavetes, and happen to live in LA, the folks at Cinefamily are in the middle of an entire Cassavetes series, complete with guests. If you have the means, don’t miss it! Follow Landon Palmer and Adam Charles on Twitter.

A few more Criterion blogs you should add to your list:

Ain’t It Cool’s own Nordling has begun his own unofficial Criterion series, “The Big C“. In it’s initial post, Alan Cerny takes a look at the must-own Blu-ray release of Sweet Smell Of Success.

Criterion on the Brain takes a look at the recent release of Andrea Arnold’s Fish Tank

Criterion Affection has an absolutely beautiful illustration for Preston Sturges’ Unfaithfully Yours. (Check out our recent podcast episode on the film here.)

Matthew Dessem, over at the Criterion Contraption, reviews Bertrand Tavernier’s Coup De Torchon.

I think that’s enough reading material for this week. If you know of any other weekly (or monthly) Criterion Collection related blogs that I didn’t include in my list, feel free to leave them in the comments below, or find me on Twitter and let me know. Hopefully I’ll be back next week, with an all new list of links for all of you, from all of the sites mentioned above.