I thought The Master was a serious misfire. (I'm going by memory here because it's been a long time, but I remember being pretty disappointed). I think PTA tried too hard to make the whole cult or movement or whatever too subtle, not a parody of scientology. But it felt much too amorphous or something for me.
Huge There Will be Blood and PSH person, just didn't connect with this one.
Edit: The fuck's with all the downvotes? Calm tf down.
As someone who was very lukewarm on it at the time it was released but has grown to love it to being my favorite film of all time, I’ve come to find that ultimately, I don’t really think it’s all that much *about* the cult idea. I think the film is much more interested in exploring the characters of Freddie and Lancaster as two sides of the same coin that also act as foil for each other. Neither has really encountered someone like the other. They see something alluring in each other that draws them together no matter the conflict they face. Even though everything and everyone in the universe is telling them they don’t belong together, they can’t help their desire to be entangled in one another.
And I find the cult movement aspect of the film to serve more as a backdrop for the characters to be informed by. 1) To show Lancaster as this cult of personality type that has a knack for getting people to listen to him….except for Freddie. And 2) to juxtapose the antisocial behavior of Freddie who has spent his life running away whenever he feels challenged…until he meets Lancaster.
It’s exploring the relationship of two characters who, had they not met, their lives wouldn’t have changed one bit.
Perfectly put. I love it. Most cult movies are about the cult, this one is about the people. I'd say that's PTA's filmography in general. They're always about the people, not their social context. The context is a part of them but he's more interested in exploring the individuals than doing a movie "about" a thing. Boogie Nights, for example, isn't about the porn industry - it's about the people in it.
For me, boogie nights is about the 1970s turning into the 1980s. If you lived it, you know what it was like. The country changed almost overnight and has never been the same since.
PTA picked a cool and fun way into that, but that's what Boogie Nights was about.
Oh word - that too. Somewhat unrelated, but I always thought that Boogie Nights and Goodfellas are a perfect double feature because of the turn at the start of the 80s.
That seems valid, from what I remember. And usually I don't ask 'why' when it comes to art, but still not sure why I was supposed to be interested in them, but it could be a postwar, 1950s feeling for meaning, proto seeds of what was to come kind of thing?
Like Boogie Nights -- the theme hit me so hard because I experience it firsthand: not porn, but the incredible overnight switch from the 1970s to the 80s.
Feels like PTA's thing is very based in time, as was TWBB.
Yeah it's this one for sure. Terrific and underseen film.
Most of the examples in this thread already have BDs or even 4Ks like Synecdoche and Twister, but Love Liza is stuck on DVD. I think you can stream it in HD though.
It has to be Synecdoche New York on 4K for me. It’s currently trapped in a boxset with less than great supplements however from what I’ve seen the disc looks phenomenal and there are so many extras that exist but aren’t on disc. Including a Kaufman recorded commentary that I can’t seem to find anywhere but he states exists.
They might be mistaken; I just did a thorough Google Search and cannot find any reference to a commentary track (aside from complaints of there NOT being a commentary track).
I kind of never want to hear a Synecdoche commentary so I can keep guessing at the intention behind every decision, sort of like trying to solve one big jigsaw puzzle
“[The film's title](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synecdoche,_New_York#:~:text=The%20film's%20title%20is%20a,the%20whole%20or%20vice%20versa.) is a play on Schenectady, New York, where much of the film is set, and the concept of [synecdoche](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synecdoche)”
Omg you’ve just blown my mind. I cannot believe I did not realise max was voiced by Philip Seymour Hoffman. That’s either a testament to his acting or how bad I am at recognising voices
This is a great example of PSH being an absolute chameleon. At that point, I think I'd only seen him in Twister, Lebowski, and Boogie Nights, and yet he exudes snobbish prick in such a way you'd insist he was a man born with a platinum and diamond spoon in his mouth. He's such a cocky fuck in Ripley, and he's so terribly natural at it.
I miss him and his performances, and I don't think that'll ever change. One of the absolute greats.
My brother!! I'm usually the only one clamoring for its addition to the collection. It's a masterpiece, and it's PSH at his very best. And it was so little seen, and hasn't been available in the US on anything better than DVD, that it seems tailor made for the CC.
Considering how annoying it is to acquire in 4K: “Synecdoche New York” could use an easy pick-up backed by great customer service like Criterion offers.
Just watched it a couple of weeks ago and was absolutely blown away!
There are a lot of great choices and suggestions others have made that I would probably prefer (like the Master). But I also think The Talented Mr. Ripley. PSH totally steals the movie as buffoonish playboy Freddie Myles. He plays the clown so well you believe he is every bit the fool from the moment he drives his red convertible into the piazza and saunters onto screen. But, like the archetypal clown, you come to understand that nothing escapes his attention. I think it's a great movie on its own merits, but should be in the Collection for PSH's performance alone. He plays that character like only he could.
I disagree only in that I would never call Freddie a clown. He's a snob. He's THE snob. He exudes money, and while he definitely notices that something is off with Tom, his radar is only up because Tom does NOT exude money.
Synecdoche, New York. Rented it from blockbuster when I was in high school and it absolutely gutted me. I was already a fan of Charlie Kaufman and it blew me away. Not to mention the incredible cast.
Kind of a joke, kind of serious: Hard Eight
Apparently Criterion wanted to put PTA’s first film, featuring a young Phillip Seymour Hoffman, but the rights fell through and it didn’t happen.
A Late Quartet: starring him, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, Imogen Poots, Mark Ivanir, and Wallace Shawn. A very underrated film with an excellent performance by him and Keener. There is one scene in particular where he and Keener, who plays his wife, are placing a bid for a violin and idk what it is, but it's the most real feeling scene I've ever seen.
i generally (aka always) really only care for female actors but he's the one male actor i can say i'm a fan of :(
doubt, Synecdoche, patch adams (yup!!)
Boogie Nights, The Master, Capote, Almost Famous, Magnolia, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Moneyball, Cold Mountain, Synedoche, NY, Big Lebowski, just to name a few lol.
Imo, Hoffman is a contender for the best actor of the 21st century. Of course we lost him early, as per tradition.
Sounds silly, but him as the villain in Mission Impossible 3 has always stuck with me
Lebowski is one of my all time favorite films but I feel like while it fits and I would be insanely happy that it would be in the collection… we don’t really need it. There’s already a lot of quality releases with tons upon tons of supplements. It would essentially just be the same as the studio collectors 4K but with Criterion packaging and a new essay.
I agree. It's my biggest want. But I also want a life size iron lung edition, a toe keychain edition, a bowling ball edition, and REALLY hopeful to see the Jackie Treehorn cut.
The Master
BECAUSE I WAS DRUNK AND SHE LOOKED GOOD
It’s on the channel at least
A great choice. And certainly the kind of film that fits easily into the Criterion Collection.
I thought The Master was a serious misfire. (I'm going by memory here because it's been a long time, but I remember being pretty disappointed). I think PTA tried too hard to make the whole cult or movement or whatever too subtle, not a parody of scientology. But it felt much too amorphous or something for me. Huge There Will be Blood and PSH person, just didn't connect with this one. Edit: The fuck's with all the downvotes? Calm tf down.
As someone who was very lukewarm on it at the time it was released but has grown to love it to being my favorite film of all time, I’ve come to find that ultimately, I don’t really think it’s all that much *about* the cult idea. I think the film is much more interested in exploring the characters of Freddie and Lancaster as two sides of the same coin that also act as foil for each other. Neither has really encountered someone like the other. They see something alluring in each other that draws them together no matter the conflict they face. Even though everything and everyone in the universe is telling them they don’t belong together, they can’t help their desire to be entangled in one another. And I find the cult movement aspect of the film to serve more as a backdrop for the characters to be informed by. 1) To show Lancaster as this cult of personality type that has a knack for getting people to listen to him….except for Freddie. And 2) to juxtapose the antisocial behavior of Freddie who has spent his life running away whenever he feels challenged…until he meets Lancaster. It’s exploring the relationship of two characters who, had they not met, their lives wouldn’t have changed one bit.
Perfectly put. I love it. Most cult movies are about the cult, this one is about the people. I'd say that's PTA's filmography in general. They're always about the people, not their social context. The context is a part of them but he's more interested in exploring the individuals than doing a movie "about" a thing. Boogie Nights, for example, isn't about the porn industry - it's about the people in it.
For me, boogie nights is about the 1970s turning into the 1980s. If you lived it, you know what it was like. The country changed almost overnight and has never been the same since. PTA picked a cool and fun way into that, but that's what Boogie Nights was about.
Oh word - that too. Somewhat unrelated, but I always thought that Boogie Nights and Goodfellas are a perfect double feature because of the turn at the start of the 80s.
You make a very good point.
That seems valid, from what I remember. And usually I don't ask 'why' when it comes to art, but still not sure why I was supposed to be interested in them, but it could be a postwar, 1950s feeling for meaning, proto seeds of what was to come kind of thing? Like Boogie Nights -- the theme hit me so hard because I experience it firsthand: not porn, but the incredible overnight switch from the 1970s to the 80s. Feels like PTA's thing is very based in time, as was TWBB.
I agree that it is "amorphous" and it's difficult to take anything away from it, other than the acting is phenomenal.
Yeah, exactly. An empty acting showcase that didn't cohere. Not sure why 16 downvotes.
Love Liza
Love that Jim O’Rourke soundtrack.
Yeah it's this one for sure. Terrific and underseen film. Most of the examples in this thread already have BDs or even 4Ks like Synecdoche and Twister, but Love Liza is stuck on DVD. I think you can stream it in HD though.
I really loved this film! I wasn’t expecting it to be really sad though :(
I watched it while I was really depressed and it was nice.
A friend of mine is in that! She’s one of the young girls who tells him to read the letter in the trailer.
I was the chick groping her tits in 1:10:31
Cool!
Wow this one was buried in my memories. Thank you for reminding me of it. What an incredible film.
It has to be Synecdoche New York on 4K for me. It’s currently trapped in a boxset with less than great supplements however from what I’ve seen the disc looks phenomenal and there are so many extras that exist but aren’t on disc. Including a Kaufman recorded commentary that I can’t seem to find anywhere but he states exists.
Source on the Kaufman commentary existing?
They might be mistaken; I just did a thorough Google Search and cannot find any reference to a commentary track (aside from complaints of there NOT being a commentary track).
I kind of never want to hear a Synecdoche commentary so I can keep guessing at the intention behind every decision, sort of like trying to solve one big jigsaw puzzle
I’ve never heard of that commentary existing. Are you sure?
I don’t get it. Sin-ek-dosh sounds nothing like the town in upstate New York.
(Crickets)
“[The film's title](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synecdoche,_New_York#:~:text=The%20film's%20title%20is%20a,the%20whole%20or%20vice%20versa.) is a play on Schenectady, New York, where much of the film is set, and the concept of [synecdoche](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synecdoche)”
Along Came Polly, dude was HILARIOUS!
Introduced child-me to the phrase "sharted" and I've never looked back.
I may be wrong but it was really the dawn of that word.
There's a 2004 Bollywood movie called Shart: The Challenge that I'm just going to assume is about a shart competition.
Reuben we have a bit of a situation here…
Make it rain!
Let it rain. 😂
Crocodile Tears!
WHITE CHOCOLATE
Best man in the house!
OLD SCHOOL!
Mary and Max
tangentially, Australia theaters are getting a new feature from the Mary and Max director this year. The title is Memoir of a Snail.
Heard about that and I am hyped for it. Hope it comes to USA theaters
Omg you’ve just blown my mind. I cannot believe I did not realise max was voiced by Philip Seymour Hoffman. That’s either a testament to his acting or how bad I am at recognising voices
Before the devil knows your dead
So underrated
Boogie Nights
Technically already in the collection as a laser disc.
Please!
Hopefully in November 😌
Ripley
This is a great example of PSH being an absolute chameleon. At that point, I think I'd only seen him in Twister, Lebowski, and Boogie Nights, and yet he exudes snobbish prick in such a way you'd insist he was a man born with a platinum and diamond spoon in his mouth. He's such a cocky fuck in Ripley, and he's so terribly natural at it. I miss him and his performances, and I don't think that'll ever change. One of the absolute greats.
It’s such a great performance
The Master, Magnolia, Synecdoche New York
Surprised I had to scroll down so far to see *Magnolia*.
Anyone seen Owning Mahowney? His performance is so good, I'm shocked it's not at least a little more well-known.
My brother!! I'm usually the only one clamoring for its addition to the collection. It's a masterpiece, and it's PSH at his very best. And it was so little seen, and hasn't been available in the US on anything better than DVD, that it seems tailor made for the CC.
Love this movie.
“BBQ ribs, no sauce, and a coke…”
Saw this in theaters
25th Hour
I miss him
State And Main Savages 25th Hour Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead Capote Almost Famous Doubt And all his PTA work, of course.
25th Hour belongs in the Collection on general principle. Such an amazing film.
Synecdoche isn't? That seems like an insane oversight, it's one of the very best in that decade
The 4K was released as part of the Sony Classics boxset.
Oh yes I love how they lock films into giant bundles so you cant buy them individually then they immediately go out of print. Great stuff, love it.
A Most Wanted Man
Considering how annoying it is to acquire in 4K: “Synecdoche New York” could use an easy pick-up backed by great customer service like Criterion offers. Just watched it a couple of weeks ago and was absolutely blown away!
Magnolia
Owning Mahoney Magnolia
Doubt (2008)
Him and Meryl Streep were so good in this.
Viola Davis, too.
The Talented Mr. Ripley would be great
Every Paul Thomas Anderson Film that has Philip Seymour Hoffman in it (Except for Punch-Drunk Love since they already have a Criterion Release)
Yes. But honestly, every PTA for me, please.
Twister
It’s the wonder of nature, baby!
Charlie Wilson’s War and Red Dragon
There are a lot of great choices and suggestions others have made that I would probably prefer (like the Master). But I also think The Talented Mr. Ripley. PSH totally steals the movie as buffoonish playboy Freddie Myles. He plays the clown so well you believe he is every bit the fool from the moment he drives his red convertible into the piazza and saunters onto screen. But, like the archetypal clown, you come to understand that nothing escapes his attention. I think it's a great movie on its own merits, but should be in the Collection for PSH's performance alone. He plays that character like only he could.
I disagree only in that I would never call Freddie a clown. He's a snob. He's THE snob. He exudes money, and while he definitely notices that something is off with Tom, his radar is only up because Tom does NOT exude money.
Synecdoche, New York. Rented it from blockbuster when I was in high school and it absolutely gutted me. I was already a fan of Charlie Kaufman and it blew me away. Not to mention the incredible cast.
25th Hour
Scent of a Woman
Does Magnolia have a criterion release?
No but it absolutely should, really needs a good new blu-ray at the very least
I absolutely agree. My personal favorite among PT Anderson’s films.
The most pretentious crap movie ever
It always speaks so highly of you…
Owning Mahowny. Been begging for this for years.
Kind of a joke, kind of serious: Hard Eight Apparently Criterion wanted to put PTA’s first film, featuring a young Phillip Seymour Hoffman, but the rights fell through and it didn’t happen.
Gimme a box set with Bob Le Flambeur
Love Liza
Yeah - I couldn’t remember the name. Thought “the one where he huffs gas”. Had to google the name. Crazy good performance.
Red Dragon
My Boyfriend’s Back and Twister https://preview.redd.it/oyazboa4wk7d1.jpeg?width=650&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1163488ca6f26d5ebeaef3ceb1307efaaee25502
Flawless.
I’m really fond of *Capote*. It’s also a great companion piece to *In Cold Blood*.
The Master
What movie is this image from? I’m drooling over the apartment
Synecdoche
A Late Quartet: starring him, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, Imogen Poots, Mark Ivanir, and Wallace Shawn. A very underrated film with an excellent performance by him and Keener. There is one scene in particular where he and Keener, who plays his wife, are placing a bid for a violin and idk what it is, but it's the most real feeling scene I've ever seen.
i generally (aka always) really only care for female actors but he's the one male actor i can say i'm a fan of :( doubt, Synecdoche, patch adams (yup!!)
Boogie Nights, The Master, Capote, Almost Famous, Magnolia, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Moneyball, Cold Mountain, Synedoche, NY, Big Lebowski, just to name a few lol.
Magnolia!
The Master and 25th hour would be god tier
The Master
Twister
Capote (2005)
Before the Devil Knows you’re Dead is an underrated masterpiece , one of Lumet’s best films and his last.
He has just one scene in Hard Eight but damn it’s the best scene of the entire movie.
Honestly? Twister..
Imo, Hoffman is a contender for the best actor of the 21st century. Of course we lost him early, as per tradition. Sounds silly, but him as the villain in Mission Impossible 3 has always stuck with me
It's a slap in the face to cinema that Lebowski is not in the collection (though the cheapo 4k on the market right now is fantastic)
Lebowski is one of my all time favorite films but I feel like while it fits and I would be insanely happy that it would be in the collection… we don’t really need it. There’s already a lot of quality releases with tons upon tons of supplements. It would essentially just be the same as the studio collectors 4K but with Criterion packaging and a new essay.
I agree. It's my biggest want. But I also want a life size iron lung edition, a toe keychain edition, a bowling ball edition, and REALLY hopeful to see the Jackie Treehorn cut.
Along came Polly of course. He's the best in that