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I've seen every film by this French master who died way too young. (It will have been 30 years next year since his passing. That is more time than he had to direct his films.) Actually, there is only one of his works I have yet to watch - "Such a Gorgeous Kid Like Me," which seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth.
I like all of his films, but my favorites are -
DAY FOR NIGHT
THE 400 BLOWS -
(and the others in the Antoine Doinel series)
THE MAN WHO LOVED WOMEN
SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER
THE BRIDE WORE BLACK
POCKET CHANGE
JULES AND JIM
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I should also mention "The Green Room." Not very well-known, but a somber and moody gem starring Truffaut himself as a man obsessed with the dead.
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Speaking of music in Truffaut films, I just got back from seeing Noah Baumbach's FRANCES HA (cowritten by him and star Greta Gerwig) and most of the score is taken from Truffaut films - lots of Delerue, and also some Constantin and Duhamel. The two cues from Truffaut's SUCH A GORGEOUS LIKE ME have me really wanting to see that now. Too bad it's not easily available.
FRANCES HA is really delightful, by the way. Filmed in beautiful b&w, it is, as one critic said, a mix of a New York indie film and a throwback to the French nouvelle vague. Gerwig is great as an "adorkable" young woman in her late 20s trying to get her act together. The previous sentence makes it sound tiresome and cute. It's not. It's very wise and funny.
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Posted: |
Jun 11, 2014 - 6:41 PM
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By: |
johnjohnson
(Member)
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British distributors Artificial Eye have officially announced and detailed their upcoming Blu-ray release of François Truffaut's Shoot the Piano Player (1960) and Jules and Jim (1962). The two releases will be available for purchase on July 28th.
Shoot the Piano Player
Francois Truffaut portrays a film noir world of gangsters and intrigue, with Charles Aznavour as a famous concert pianist who leaves his former life behind to play in a sleazy Parisian bar. He gradually becomes involved the the criminal activities of the big-city underworld. Charlie is the piano player in a rundown jazz bar, he used to be Edouard Saroan a gifted classical pianist, but after suffering his wife's suicide gave up his rising fame. He's miserable, lonely and so self-absorbed that he can't see that Lena, the bars' waitress is in love with him. Whe Chico, Charlie's crooked brother, uses the bar as a refuge from two gangsters he's double-crossed. Charlie becomes embroiled in the mayham. Will the resulting events awaken Charlie's emotions again?
Special Features:
Presentation of the film by Serge Toubiana
Audio Commentary with Marie Dubois
Audio Commentary with Raoul Coutard
Marie Dubois's screen tests
Jules et Jim
Francois Truffaut's classic tale of a love triangle which takes place over 20 years, both before and after World War I. Jeanne Moreau stars as Catherine, the beautiful and unpredictable woman who maintains a delicate relationship with two friends, the quiet German Jules (Oskar Werner) and the romantic Parisian Jim (Henri Serre). The War intervenes and drives the men to the opposing fronts; afterwards, the two quickly resume their friendship, but the balance of their relationship with Catherine is now upset by more adult concerns.
Special Features:
Presentation of the film by Serge Toubiana
Audio Commentary with Jean Gruault
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=14215
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While I enjoyed some of his movies in the 1960s and 1970s, particularly his Antoine Doinel series as well as "Day For Night," I was never a huge fan of his and haven't cared to re-watch any of his movies in years. In comparison, I find Claude Lelouch more interesting. I never tire of "A Man And A Woman" or, for that matter, Jacques Demy's "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg."
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I find Claude Lelouch more interesting.
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Well excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me! I realize that there are a lot of Francois Truffaut fans out there who will strongly disagree with me, but I was merely posting how, decades later, I now feel about his movies. But for those who still love them, they'll remain a special joy, and in no way did I mean to denigrate anyone's affection nor admiration for them. Truffaut was a great filmmaker and his movies will still be with us after ALL of us are gone.
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I haven't had access to much Lelouch, although I want to see more of his films especially Robert et Robert.
I most certainly am an admirer of Demy however and am looking forward to the new THE ESSENTIAL JACQUES DEMY package from Criterion this summer.
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Mark: Re: I most certainly am an admirer of Demy however and am looking forward to the new THE ESSENTIAL JACQUES DEMY package from Criterion this summer.
I've been torn about that one. I'm mad to have "Cherbourg" on Blu-ray and wouldn't mind having "The Young Girls of Rochefort," even though I'd probably never watch it again. But don't have much interest in the many other titles in that fairly large set. Wish some Demy aficionados would tell us about the rest of his output. Any thoughts on that? I keep buying these very large and elaborate Blu-ray boxed sets, such as the ones for Alfred Hitchcock and James Bond (and others) and then end up only watching a couple of the movies, if that! Wouldn't want to do that with the Demy set if I can just buy 1 or 2 of them separately.
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