The Jacques Rivette Collection

The fact that you have clicked on this item suggests that you are into world cinema, French in particular. You watched Celine and Julie go boating when it was shown on film 4,you enjoyed it so much that you took the time to seek out other works by Jacques Rivette. You purchased all his then available works, you prayed that others may be released and got a little exited when you saw this box set advertised. I can just see you all nodding and smiling at the screen as you read this because you know this is you.Well, I am delighted to say that this product will live up to your expectations. As most of you reading this are obvious fans of Rivette, you know how he works and what type of direction he uses. To use a phrase from the booklet contained in the DVD of Le pont de nord, watching a rivette film is like going out to a city and never quite sure where you have been. This is reflected in the films contained int his box set, so don't expect any painting by numbers or anything that settles into stereo type common place Hollywood type movies,none of that happens in these or come to think of it in any world cinema. Rivette made films that in my opinion you may not wholly get but nonetheless very enjoyble. You will be immensed in the dialogue even if your're not entirely sure where it's going. If you have clicked on this on a whim and prefer movies with zombies, car chases, romance etc, than this os not for you.This product comes in an exellent presentation with regards to the design and DVD casing. THis is probably the best presentation of a box set ever.If you like Rivette, you have to have this.

The picture quality of these movies is simply amazing. Rivette's cinema [more specifically OUT 1] is one of the greatest and powerful cinematic experiences in cinema and art in general. Once you see this movie you'll be in another level cinematically speaking.Thanks again Arrow for bringing us great cinema/kino/cine/...who's next, Fassbinder?

Not a review of OUT 1 which is what it is but a statement of the obvious - this is a large and expensive item and unless you watch it immediately you won't identify defects, such as Out Spectre sticking at 1 min 22. It's too much of a bother to return such a large item, with proof of postage, just to possibly get a replacement which might be defective in some other way. The DVD is not scratched but defective. Thankfully so far Out 1 proper is not defective. Having watched the first 3 I can confirm that Spectre is a phantom of the real thing. Wonderful cinema!

Even now, after several decades, Rivette's films are really on another level. After watching a few of them other films might seem dull in comparison, and you'd have to re-calibrate your mindset to appreciate and enjoy them again.If you already know you like Rivette, I doubt you'll be dissappointed with this box set. A treasure. You can tell that the people who put this together are genuine cinephiles and fans of Rivette. The picture quality is top notch. I have a decent projector and on a 100 inch screen the image looks very film-like as opposed to digital.

This is a review of the first Blu-ray on this collection which was a hard to watch docu-drama of a a small group of actors. The opening scenes shows them lying down with their legs bent back toward themselves. Then we see them rehearse and chat without a plot or story. Awful beyond belief. I rented this from Love film, hysterics beware!

I think it is necessary to throw more light on this release than other reviewers here have. Almost no one has mentioned all the films in the box, so I will start here.Duelle is a most enjoyable film - for me it is the most coherent movie in the box - it reminded me of some of Fassbinders work.Noirot is a real puzzle - Rivette takes a really bizarre route through this story of revenge - there are many alienating elements to this film which made it a really difficult film to watch - you may find the style of acting, directing and photography more to your taste. I know it is being wise after the event but it appears that this film may be like it is because of Rivettes impending nervous collapse - in fact the film has a lot of the irrationality of a nightmare: perhaps this was the directors intention.Merry Go Round is partially successful I feel. I think that the film starts well but it seems to me that the presence of the female lead seriously detracts from the films vitality - Schneider meanders through the movie as if she can't be bothered ( Rivette shows an apparent liking for these sort of performances! but this one really appears to be beyond reproach).The real jewel in this crown is Out 1 - at nearly 13 hours long, and involving long takes of actors rehearsing and scenes of protracted shots of actors improvising solo, in pairs and in groups it requires much energy to enter into its world. I watched it over four days and found it to be a rewarding experience. I suggest you do not give up after the first three hours.I tried to watch Spectre after watching Out 1 but I found this to be impossible - Rivette has completely changed the style of the film through the pace and nature of his cutting. I do not see it as entirely inappropriate to describe Out 1 as a meditation: Spectre is something else entirely. Of course I cannot be a trusty critic if I have just watched half an hour of a four hour movie ( I will watch the full movie in a few months time ), but Rivette has done something perverse in his refashioning of the material of Out 1. Of course Rivette is a man who is not afraid to turn things on their heads, and this is why he is such a challenging and enjoyable film maker, but judging by the first 30 minutes of the film it appears to me that Rivette has destroyed much of what is essential in Out 1. I hope to re watch Spectre when my memories of Out 1 are less fresh and then, hopefully, I will better appreciate Rivettes intentions.The extras are well worth viewing, especially the filmed interviews of Rivette..I have not given less than 5 stars as I do not wish to deter viewers from watching one of cinemas most remarkable achievements - you may not like some of what Rivette produces on screen, but his ambition and bravery are rare and if you can go some way to try to see his work without too much prejudice you may be greatly rewarded.