God take me to the Criterion Closet 🙏🏻

on my favorite movies

I probably deserve to be hit with a rolled up magazine by movie fans everywhere, as I only recently discovered the wonders of the Criterion Closet. The tightly-packed shelves of exemplary and rare DVDs from 1937 to present, spanning continents, languages and genres are enough to make an avid moviegoer cry.

The closet is an essential venue for directors, artists and actors to select their favorites from the collection and share their reasoning behind each pick on camera. Some of my favorite interviews include:

• Amy Heckerling, Director of Clueless & Fast Times at Ridgemont High

• Cauleen Smith, Director of Drylongso

• Mary Harron, Director of American Psycho

• Park Chan-Wook, Director of Oldboy

• St. Vincent, Singer and Artist

Their selections are captivating and unique (I’ve added almost all of them to my watchlist), but I’m most inspired by their passionate commentary as they thumb through the DVDs. Harron calls out the brilliant soundtrack of Midnight Highway and the comedic influence of early 1900s film. Smith tenderly gazes at the covers of Black Girl and To Sleep With Anger- movies that speak to her identity and upbringing. St. Vincent raves over the importance of queer stories and psychotic, women-led performances like To Die For. Personality, taste and a deep appreciation for filmmaking are all prevalent in these short videos, and it’s hard to watch one without gaining a little bit of appreciation for the interviewee.

In the spirit of loving this segment (and oversharing!), I thought it would be fun to do my own Criterion Closet; a list of personal favorites and explanations for their place in my heart. I’ve started with selections from the actual collection, followed by my nominations for films deserving of a spot in the closet.

I hope you enjoy, and I welcome your recommendations for what I should watch next!

THE Criterion Closet

My Selections from the Criterion Collection

Memories of Murder (2003) - Criterion Profile | Trailer

I’m not a huge fan of the crime genre or any movie that follows the average portrayal of law enforcement, but Memories of Murder by Bong Joon Ho is the exception. The shots in this film are fantastic, with stunning images that play in the empty space and arid color scheme. Competing with the big city crime/thriller flics of the early 2000s, Memories of Murder frightens you in a dramatically different way. The openness and ambiguity of the small-town crimes and their evidence leave you feeling sympathetic for the protagonists. Their flawed and frantic efforts to understand what it all means are powerful, occasionally amusing and downright uncomfortable to watch.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) - Criterion Profile | Trailer

Following the thread of small-town crime dramas, the popular 90s television show Twin Peaks is an incredible watch. Its film adaptation flew under the radar as an average spinoff but has become a must-watch for fans of the series. This film is heartbreaking, dream-like and distorted with supernatural twists and turns of the Twin Peaks universe (iykyk). Portraits of the teenage girl experience hold a special place in my heart, making Fire Walk With Me my favorite piece of media from the franchise. The film highlights the devastating realities of girlhood and the horrors of innocence lost. Watch this if you don’t mind major spoilers (or power through the first two seasons of the show and revisit!)

My Own Private Idaho (1991) - Criterion Profile | Trailer

I watched this yesterday on recommendation from a friend (thanks Julia!) and I don’t regret it one bit! My Own Private Idaho by Gus Van Sant is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, which becomes clear as soon as the reference is pointed out. Unlike Baz Lurhmann’s 1992 Romeo + Juliet, with line-for-line dialogue from the original play, this film wades in and out of Shakespearean influence with characters seemingly “assigned” to carry its tone throughout. I loved the playfulness and spontaneity of this reference and the heavy themes carted in right under your nose. The story follows Mike and Scott, two traveling prostitutes with polar opposite pasts, as they attempt to settle into the lives and identities they desire. This is queer cinema in all of its deeply moving glory, and I will be rewatching this as soon as I stop crying from my first viewing!

My Nominations for the Criterion Collection

Memoria (2021) - Letterboxd Profile | Trailer

The words I use to describe my favorite movie-watching experience are meditative, poetic and human. Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Memoria ticks all three boxes and is an experience I remember as vividly as the day I saw it in theaters. The film follows Tilda Swinton as Jessica, a farmer visiting her sister in Bogotá. Jessica spends the entirety of the movie on a journey of sound; after hearing a distinct and familiar noise in the middle of the night, she is determined to locate its source. While this movie is visually beautiful, the sonic experience is its gift to viewers, bathing you in ambient noise, crisp jazz and a consistent thump…thump…thump of peculiar origin. I left this one with a renewed appreciation for noises, literally feeling as if I could hear better for hours after.

Eternity and a Day (1998) - Letterboxd Profile | Trailer

As I mentioned above, it’s easy to lure me into the “meditative human study” trap with film. I love a slow stroll through seemingly insignificant daily moments, representing the beauty of life in their summation. Eternity and a Day (or Μια αιωνιότητα και μια μέρ in the original Greek) by Theo Angelopoulos is perhaps my favorite of the genre. The film teeters through the final day of an old man’s life as he submits to his battle with cancer. He attempts to settle his affairs, say goodbyes and finish a poem, all while helping a young boy find his way home. My heart was so full while watching the story unfold. The movie’s themes of loss, unlikely connection, memory, art and everlasting love spill into your lap from the very beginning and stick with you long after its end.

This movie was incredibly hard to find, but you can watch it for free here!

Inu-Oh (2021) - Letterboxd Profile | Trailer

The Criterion Collection is lacking in the animation category, with a measly eight animated films in their entire roster! While there are hundreds of movies I could list that are deserving of a spot in the collection, Inu-Oh by Masaaki Yuasa came to mind immediately. Set in 14th century Japan, Inu-Oh tells the legend of a musical duo on a mission to fight against oppression through song and dance. The rock opera, hair-metal soundtrack defies expectations and creates a truly unique, historical fiction plot. What I really liked about Inu-Oh is the dedication to the musical performances of the characters, allowing space for 10 to 20-minute musical numbers with visuals akin to those of a Grateful Dead concert. This movie takes the importance of verbal storytelling as a cultural and familial driver and adds a fresh coat of neon paint and glitter. So incredibly fun, entertaining and brilliant all around!

Honorable Mentions:

• Redline (2009) by Takeshi Koike

• Oldboy (2003) by Park Chan-wook

• I Saw the TV Glow (2024) by Jane Schoenbrun

• Pig (2021) by Michael Sarnoski

• Pusher I & II (1996, 2004) by Nicolas Winding Refn

• Another Round (2020) by Thomas Vinterberg

• Paprika (2006) by Satoshi Kon

• Cruising (1980) by William Friedkin

• Memories (1995) by Katsuhiro Otomo, Koji Morimoto, Tensai Okamura