Criterion Channel Diary: February
By Austin Johnson
February was bonkers in Texas, because we simply don’t have shit in place to handle a real winter. Things got rough from February 14th to February 19th with people losing their homes or significant possessions due to pipes bursting and flooding. Businesses and most folks are still getting back on their feet, but I have to count myself as lucky because I was able to be safe and not lose anything during the winter storm.
When it comes to watching films, the winter storm caused me to adapt. I wasn’t able to just sit in front of my TV and chill on Criterion. I stayed at my dad's house for three nights while he had power and then my girlfriend’s mom's apartment for two nights while she had power, because we lost power and water for pretty much the whole week at my apartment. We used Netflix mostly and then watched the news to keep up with the shit that was going on. I got to six films on Criterion and all of them were good watches, but that winter storm and February already being a shorter month caused this to be the shortest watch list of this whole diary. Since it is just six films this time around, I’m gonna go ahead and give them a 1 to 6 personal ranking.
6. Shadows (1958) - 8
The great thing about this list is that it was pretty tough to choose one to be in last place. John Cassavetes's directorial debut Shadows was something I wanted to watch as soon as I found out how much I like his directing style through films like Gloria and A Woman Under the Influence. Cassavetes shows off his super distinct style right away with Shadows, pulling in his audience and warning those who aren’t on board for an intense filmography. I’m personally excited to keep watching more and more Cassavetes's stuff whether it be him acting, writing, or directing. He’s one of the pioneers of independent filmmaking in America and every piece of his filmography has something to contribute to the folks who aspire to be a creator of some sort one day.
5. Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954) - 8
Geez, what a wild experience this was. Already one of the better prison films I’ve ever seen. Riot in Cell Block 11 has the storytelling power of a documentary, but it manages to entertain you with ease. Don Siegel had this insanely long 40 year career as a director and I knew of him before because of his shit with Eastwood. I’m just now piecing together that he actually directed The Killers from 1964 which John Cassavetes stars in. Those are some of the best moments as a film fan, when you can put puzzle pieces together and gain an understanding for the behind the scenes action. I guess you can call Riot in Cell Block 11 a door-opening kind of film that will not disappoint.
4. The Learning Tree (1969) - 8
I didn’t know Gordon Parks had other films aside from the 70’s Shaft stuff until I stumbled upon his name on the Criterion Channel. The Learning Tree was a random watch that paid off for sure. Parks adapted his own novel which is a dope skill to have and I have a whole new respect for him as a filmmaker. I’m a sucker for late 60’s and early 70’s shit, but this was a whole different kind of pace. The more I look into The Learning Tree, the more interesting it gets. For example, it’s the first film directed by an African American for a major film studio in the US. The locations that are used are mostly live and not staged. The circus scene jumps out because Parks and company just posted up and filmed while a real life circus was going on. I highly recommend The Learning Tree to any fan of solid storytelling and for myself, I’ll be researching Gordon Parks more often.
3. Old Joy (2006) - 9
Kelly Reichardt has directed seven feature length films over the past 25 years, all with tremendous style. Old Joy is her second film and a definite contender for being my personal favorite of her filmography. Reichardt’s craft reaches pretty amazing places within the short 1 hour and 16 minute run time of Old Joy. She has total control and I frequently feel like I’m in the very best of hands while engaging with her films. The soundtrack for Old Joy is all Yo La Tengo tracks and you can find them on a compilation album called They Shoot, We Score. I recommend the album just as much as the film as they are both incredible pieces of American art.
2. Faces (1968) - 9
Episode 39 of Oscar Sunday was based around the John Cassavetes drama Faces from 1968. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience that is Faces, a film that I will be the first to admit is not for everyone. I mentioned earlier that I’m kind of a sucker for the Cassavetes style and what he contributed to the film culture. It was kind of a no brainer for me to watch Faces at some point, so I knew I could throw it into the Oscar Sunday rotation because Cassavetes was nominated for Best Screenplay, Seymour Cassel was up for Best Supporting Actor, and Lynn Carlin was up for Best Supporting Actress at the 41st Academy Awards. I think Faces is important to watch if you dig learning about the New Hollywood era's impact on cinema as it clearly influenced creators then and now.
1. Frances Ha (2012) - 10
My favorite Criterion Channel watch of February was without a doubt Frances Ha. It’s a film I’ve seen a handful of times now, but I saw it got added to the service so I said fuck it. Each time I watch Frances Ha, my appreciation deepens in really fun ways. I enjoy pretty much every performance and I see it as Noah Baumbach’s most interesting film and his best work along with Marriage Story from 2019. It’s also really cool knowing what Greta Gerwig has done since Frances Ha while rewatching it. I consider it to be one of my favorite films of 2012 and one of my favorites of the decade, simply a must see.
When it comes to watching films, the winter storm caused me to adapt. I wasn’t able to just sit in front of my TV and chill on Criterion. I stayed at my dad's house for three nights while he had power and then my girlfriend’s mom's apartment for two nights while she had power, because we lost power and water for pretty much the whole week at my apartment. We used Netflix mostly and then watched the news to keep up with the shit that was going on. I got to six films on Criterion and all of them were good watches, but that winter storm and February already being a shorter month caused this to be the shortest watch list of this whole diary. Since it is just six films this time around, I’m gonna go ahead and give them a 1 to 6 personal ranking.
6. Shadows (1958) - 8
The great thing about this list is that it was pretty tough to choose one to be in last place. John Cassavetes's directorial debut Shadows was something I wanted to watch as soon as I found out how much I like his directing style through films like Gloria and A Woman Under the Influence. Cassavetes shows off his super distinct style right away with Shadows, pulling in his audience and warning those who aren’t on board for an intense filmography. I’m personally excited to keep watching more and more Cassavetes's stuff whether it be him acting, writing, or directing. He’s one of the pioneers of independent filmmaking in America and every piece of his filmography has something to contribute to the folks who aspire to be a creator of some sort one day.
5. Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954) - 8
Geez, what a wild experience this was. Already one of the better prison films I’ve ever seen. Riot in Cell Block 11 has the storytelling power of a documentary, but it manages to entertain you with ease. Don Siegel had this insanely long 40 year career as a director and I knew of him before because of his shit with Eastwood. I’m just now piecing together that he actually directed The Killers from 1964 which John Cassavetes stars in. Those are some of the best moments as a film fan, when you can put puzzle pieces together and gain an understanding for the behind the scenes action. I guess you can call Riot in Cell Block 11 a door-opening kind of film that will not disappoint.
4. The Learning Tree (1969) - 8
I didn’t know Gordon Parks had other films aside from the 70’s Shaft stuff until I stumbled upon his name on the Criterion Channel. The Learning Tree was a random watch that paid off for sure. Parks adapted his own novel which is a dope skill to have and I have a whole new respect for him as a filmmaker. I’m a sucker for late 60’s and early 70’s shit, but this was a whole different kind of pace. The more I look into The Learning Tree, the more interesting it gets. For example, it’s the first film directed by an African American for a major film studio in the US. The locations that are used are mostly live and not staged. The circus scene jumps out because Parks and company just posted up and filmed while a real life circus was going on. I highly recommend The Learning Tree to any fan of solid storytelling and for myself, I’ll be researching Gordon Parks more often.
3. Old Joy (2006) - 9
Kelly Reichardt has directed seven feature length films over the past 25 years, all with tremendous style. Old Joy is her second film and a definite contender for being my personal favorite of her filmography. Reichardt’s craft reaches pretty amazing places within the short 1 hour and 16 minute run time of Old Joy. She has total control and I frequently feel like I’m in the very best of hands while engaging with her films. The soundtrack for Old Joy is all Yo La Tengo tracks and you can find them on a compilation album called They Shoot, We Score. I recommend the album just as much as the film as they are both incredible pieces of American art.
2. Faces (1968) - 9
Episode 39 of Oscar Sunday was based around the John Cassavetes drama Faces from 1968. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience that is Faces, a film that I will be the first to admit is not for everyone. I mentioned earlier that I’m kind of a sucker for the Cassavetes style and what he contributed to the film culture. It was kind of a no brainer for me to watch Faces at some point, so I knew I could throw it into the Oscar Sunday rotation because Cassavetes was nominated for Best Screenplay, Seymour Cassel was up for Best Supporting Actor, and Lynn Carlin was up for Best Supporting Actress at the 41st Academy Awards. I think Faces is important to watch if you dig learning about the New Hollywood era's impact on cinema as it clearly influenced creators then and now.
1. Frances Ha (2012) - 10
My favorite Criterion Channel watch of February was without a doubt Frances Ha. It’s a film I’ve seen a handful of times now, but I saw it got added to the service so I said fuck it. Each time I watch Frances Ha, my appreciation deepens in really fun ways. I enjoy pretty much every performance and I see it as Noah Baumbach’s most interesting film and his best work along with Marriage Story from 2019. It’s also really cool knowing what Greta Gerwig has done since Frances Ha while rewatching it. I consider it to be one of my favorite films of 2012 and one of my favorites of the decade, simply a must see.