I’m glad to see that, whatever the eventual awards fate of “Bright Star,” Jane Campion is by and large back in the critics’ good books. As one of those who feels she’s never really made a bad film — simply some more completely realized than others — it’s a case of reputation rehab being both overdue and unnecessary, if that makes any sense.
The Criterion Collection, however, always had her back, adding her to their list in 2005 with her 1991 literary biopic “An Angel at My Table,” with her debut “Sweetie” joining it later. (You might be surprised to learn that her signature film “The Piano” still isn’t in the collection.)
Anyway, at the time, Criterion asked Campion to name nine films from their collection that she holds in highest esteem, and the results make for predictably interesting reading. It doesn’t take a psychic to figure out that the erotic transgressions of “The Night Porter” float her boat, but the inclusion of say, Milos Forman’s wonderful “The Firemen’s Ball,” is less self-evident and no less pleasing.