The Passion of Joan of Arc

21 More Criterion Films Now on Netflix “Watch Instantly” including THE RULES OF THE GAME, THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC, and THE WAGES OF FEAR

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: January 22nd, 2010 at 12:26 pm

Criterion makes the best DVDs/Blu-rays on the market for art house films.  This quality comes with a premium that most are willing to pay, but some cannot afford.  Last month, Netflix added 35 Criterion movies to their “Watch Instantly” selection.  It’s a smart move by Criterion since their movies can reach a wider audience and drive up demand for physical copies of Criterion films because they still contain fantastic special features.  Netflix benefits because it will bring on more film-lovers who can’t afford to check out ever Criterion Collection movie, but still want to see these rare and essential films.

Today, 21 more Criterion Collection films debuted on Netflix’s Watch Instantly and there are some great ones.  I’ll list all 21 after the jump, but here are some of my personal favorites that are now available to Netflix subscribers who have at least an $8.99/mo plan: M, The Passion of Joan of Arc, Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Rules of the Game; and those I’m ashamed I haven’t seen yet: Richard III, Smiles of a Summer Night, Tokyo Drifter, Umberto D., and The Wages of Fear.  I have a busy weekend ahead of me.

Hit the jump for the full list of films.

James Napoli’s Rental of the Week – This Week: THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC (1928)

by James Napoli    Posted: July 2nd, 2009 at 8:31 am

Here is the first silent film to be included in my roundup of movies to see before you die, and if this one doesn’t leave you wrung out like a sponge that’s been soaked in emotional overload, then you may have already bought the farm anyway.  You have no doubt encountered some of the other, more sweeping versions of Joan of Arc’s battlefield exploits, and may well be disappointed to discover that this post will not be going over Luc Besson’s epic The Messenger starring the delightful Milla Jovovich.  Granted, seeing the star of the Resident Evil franchise in full body armor has its appeal, but the territory we shall be visiting here goes a little deeper.  Simply put, Carl Theodore Dreyer’s The Passion of Joan of Arc puts the human soul, naked, frightened and indestructible, onto 82 minutes of panchromatic film. More after the jump:

Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design