Being There: Criterion Collection

Released at the end of the 1970s, Hal Ashby’s Being There (1979), an adaptation of Jerzy Kosinski’s novel of the same name, was a last gasp from the idealistic 1960s, a humanistic voice amidst a decade marked by paranoia, fashionable nihilism, and... 

12 Angry Men: Criterion Collection

Adapted from the 1954 teleplay of the same name, 12 Angry Men (1957) marked the auspicious feature film debut of director Sidney Lumet who had cut his teeth on live television in New York City. He brought a gritty, edgy realism to this film, an approach... 

The Verdict: Collector’s Edition

The Verdict (1982) came along at just the right time in Paul Newman’s career. He hadn’t had a hit movie in some time or a role that really challenged him (Absence of Malice excepted, natch). This would all change when he signed onto this troubled... 

Controversial Classics Volume 2: The Power of the Media

The 1970s was a fertile time for challenging, politically charged movies. Thanks to Easy Rider (1969) a lot of riskier material was getting green-lit by the major Hollywood studios and, in some cases; they were commenting on the current political climate...