Revanche: Criterion Collection

The opening credits for Revanche (2008) play out over an eerie shot of a tree-line reflected in a lake. This serene image is disrupted when something plunges into the water sending out ripples. This image acts as a metaphor for the film as it explores... 

Surrogates

For every Die Hard (1986) or 12 Monkeys (1995), there are all kinds of 16 Blocks (2006) and Hostage (2005) – forgettable genre films that populate Bruce Willis’ extensive filmography. Surrogates (2009) is the latest paycheck film for the veteran actor.... 

Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics: Volume 1

Film noir is a tricky genre to get a handle on. Film critics and historians argue endlessly about how to define it but they certainly know one when they see it. Classic film noir typically is set in an urban environment – rainy nights, shadowy alleyways... 

Z: Criterion Collection

Cited by many critics as one of the best political thrillers to come out of the 1960s, Z (1969) has also been cited as an influence on filmmakers like Oliver Stone (JFK) and Steven Soderbergh (Traffic). This political assassination thriller struck a nerve... 

Repulsion: Criterion Collection

Repulsion (1965) was Roman Polanski’s second feature after the auspicious debut of Knife in the Water (1962) and established him as a filmmaker with a knack for conveying psychological horror. The film is also a startling study of loneliness and one... 

Made in U.S.A.: Criterion Collection

Made in U.S.A. (1966) was made during Jean-Luc Godard’s most celebrated and highly-regarded period of filmmaking – 1960-67 – that spanned Breathless (1960) to Weekend (1967). As Godard progressed through this time period, his films became more self-reflexive... 

The Betrayed

The Betrayed (2008) is one of those little seen thrillers that is released with little to no fanfare on home video and ends up becoming a regular staple late at night on a movie television channel. It’s a shame because obviously a lot of hard work went... 

Night Train

There is something about a mystery or a thriller set on a train in transit to somewhere that is inherently cinematic. Alfred Hitchcock made one of the greatest films of this kind with Strangers on a Train (1951) and Lars von Trier definitely made one... 

Taken: Two-Disc Extended Edition

When Taken (2008) was finally released in North America, after already playing in Europe for a year, it became a surprise hit. Not bad for what is essentially a B-movie revenge story starring an A-list actor. The film was produced by French filmmaker... 

The Hit: Criterion Collection

The Hit (1984) is a significant film for several reasons: it served as a comeback, of sorts, for actor Terence Stamp, it provided a young, up-and-coming Tim Roth with his first major film role, and it was the beginning of a great run of films for director... 

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