If you had the opportunity to take home as many Criterion Collection DVDs as you wanted, what would you do? Well,MoonlightdirectorBarry Jenkinsis here to show you how to do it right. Jenkins is in the midst of an early career high, landed countless critical awards and 8 Oscar nominations forMoonlight, but raiding the Criterion closet has got to be one of the best perks yet… and I suspect it’s only a matter of time beforeMoonlightgets a Criterion release of its own.
Every once in a while, Criterion invites filmmakers to their Closet of Cinema to discuss the films therein and take home some titles of their choosing. In the past,Edgar Wright,Nicholas Winding Refn, andMike Leighhave all had their go, evenCharlotte Ramplinggave it a turn with Andrew Haig.
As for his picks, Jenkins callsJohn Cassavetes' Five Films collection “foundational” for empathy, both in the films themselves and for what the actors are going through. “There’s a film school in this box set.” Jenkins points outMathieu Kassovitz’sLa Haineas the film that wasthe filmto watch when he was in film school. He also singles outLynne Ramsay’sRatcatcheras the first Criterion he ever owned, saying he used filmmaking techniques he learned about from an interview on that DVD in Moonlight – in particular, mixing nonprofessional actors into the cast.
“I definitely should not take any more,” he said, in awe of his haul. “My grandma would be pissed right now.” You do you, Barry, because for those of us who live vicariously through these closet raids, you just delivered the goods. Watch Jenkins hoard DVDs and celebrate cinema below.
Here’s Criterion’s final tally of Jenkins' score:
Ingmar Bergman’sFanny and Alexander
Satyajit Ray’sThe Apu Trilogy
Andrew Haigh’sWeekend
John Cassavetes: Five Films
Krzysztof Kie?lowski’sDekalog
Mathieu Kassovitz’sLa Haine
Joel Coen’sBlood Simple
Catherine Breillat’sFat Girl
Mira Nair’sMonsoon Wedding
Lynne Ramsay’sRatcatcher
David Gordon Green’sGeorge Washington
Akira Kurosawa’sRashomon
The Essential Jacques Demy
The Complete Jacques Tati
If you still haven’t seenMoonlightfor some reason, do yourself a favor and just….do, ASAP. It really is as beautiful and aching and human as you’ve heard. Plus, it’s always awkward to attempt to talk about The Oscars when you haven’t actually seen the movie, and win or lose,Moonlightis going to be a topic of conversation.
Here’s the official synopsis:
A timeless story of human connection and self-discovery,Moonlightchronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami. At once a vital portrait of contemporary African American life and an intensely personal and poetic meditation on identity, family, friendship, and love,Moonlightis a groundbreaking piece of cinema that reverberates with deep compassion and universal truths. Anchored by extraordinary performances from a tremendous ensemble cast, Jenkins’s staggering, singular vision is profoundly moving in its portrayal of the moments, people, and unknowable forces that shape our lives and make us who we are.
