Why Won't They Release Only What I Want?

[James]

Criterion covers have gotten terrible, too.

[Michael Kerpan]

Also not complaining at all, glad to have the Bunuel and Imamura releases -- and only lack of funds prevented acquisition of the Godard stuff.

[zedz]

Have any other labels seemed to folks to have undergone this substantial a change in their lineup? I ask because when I first started mentioning this detected change around a year ago, the reply was "the economy" and that what they were doing (which to some really wasn't a noticeable change in the first place), was a smart move to keep them afloat so they could release more of the goodies that used to constitute 95% of their output once upon a time.

So my wondering out loud, to folks perhaps in the UK & Europe in general where there are similar labels that they may have watched more closely than I (I only hear about the good releases that I'm interested in), is the following-- have other labels, traditionally dedicated to arthouse, begun shifting their output to more mainstream titles.. and if so to what degree? The only labels to compare CC to here in the states are say Kino, Flicker Alley, and Milestone, (and Facets I guess, but they *cough* don't count.. the same way alpha, who also puts out some fantastic titles in rotten quality, doesn't count) and they've not really changed much if at all. (Aside from NY'er, of course, which tragically went under)

I don't have a problem with Criterion focussing more on recent cinema, because it was traditionally badly underrepresented in their collection, but I must admit I'm not particularly excited by their choices for representation in this area. I mean, if you're trying to boost your contemporary profile, how about Denis, Sokhurov, Kitano, Jia, Hou, Sembene, Assayas, Kiarostami, Erice, Tsai, Makhmalbaf, Straub / Huillet, Costa, Tarr and so on? Surely some of those must have enough critical traction to justify a release?

On your second point, BFI seems to be the perfect counterexample, with a 2009 schedule that's been ballsier than ever, putting every other label to shame in the area of experimental cinema releases, and in the area of BluRay releases (AND in the area of experimental cinema releases on BluRay - who'd have thought we'd see the day this soon?) Plus their ongoing archival releases (e.g. the GPO sets), plus their venture into wild exploitation (on Blu, no less). And if you're looking for a truly major contemporary cinema rediscovery done right, look no further than Comrades.

[ianungstad]

I think this is maybe being over exaggerated a bit. I think part of the problem is that Criterion has inked a deal to distribute a certain amount of films from the Focus library, which are all fairly recent films (most having had a DVD at one time) and not established classics in a lot of people's eyes. Titles like Last Days of Disco, Monsoon Wedding, Cronos, Ride with the Devil are all part of this deal. It seems less of a company wide initiative than a licensing agreement with a particular studio.

I don't think Benjamin Button counts either...from the information that we have, that was a pretty last minute deal and not part of Criterion's current business plans.

I don't mind the Focus deal...though from research there seems to be a lot of titles I'd rather see than what has been leaked so far. I still have my fingers crossed for Breaking the Waves and Secrets and Lies.

[kaujot]

A good, stocked Lost in Translation would be wonderful.

[Matt]

If we're wishlisting Focus titles, why not Rosetta--distributed by USA Films and never been released on DVD in the US--and the magnificent, long-out-of-print Topsy Turvy?

[domino harvey]

If we're wishlisting Focus titles, why not Rosetta--distributed by USA Films and never been released on DVD in the US--and the magnificent, long-out-of-print Topsy Turvy?

lol @ Criterion having access to those two films and going "Hey guys, I have three words for you: 'Monsoon Wedding, dudes!'"

[ianungstad]

I personally think that part of Criterion's interest in Monsoon Wedding is that Mira Nair is adapting the film as a broadway musical. Certainly the criterion Grey Gardens has done very well since the success of the Grey Gardens musical. Maybe they are hoping history repeats itself.

[Fiery Angel]

I personally think that part of Criterion's interest in Monsoon Wedding is that Mira Nair is adapting the film as a broadway musical. Certainly the criterion Grey Gardens has done very well since the success of the Grey Gardens musical. Maybe they are hoping history repeats itself.

That's quite a stretch, methinks.

[justeleblanc]

Who do I talk to about optioning an Out 1 musical...

[GringoTex]

I mean, if you're trying to boost your contemporary profile, how about Denis, Sokhurov, Kitano, Jia, Hou, Sembene, Assayas, Kiarostami, Erice, Tsai, Makhmalbaf, Straub / Huillet, Costa, Tarr and so on?

But none of those directors speak English.

Another distressing thought: most of the recent cinema Criterion has released lately is English-language.

[FilmFanSea]

I bought my first Criterion DVD in December 2003, and I would consider myself a pretty faithful customer. I still get excited on the 15th of each month when new announcements are made; I read this forum faithfully (though I don't post here much anymore--more from time constraints than disinterest); my heart rises and falls with the unveiling of new artwork, supplements, etc. I feel, in a way, like a target customer for the label.

I was looking through my Excel DVD database today and decided to quantify my purchase patterns for CC titles. Looking purely at spine numbers in the main line (excluding Eclipse and Essential Arthouse), including all those announced through October 2009, I currently own (or will own) 267 of the 491 spine numbers, or 54%. I'm not a completist by any means. My tastes in film are pretty broad, but I'm selective in what I buy. If I calculate what percentage of releases from a given year I've purchased, an interesting pattern emerges:

Releases from 2004: 43/48 = 90%
Releases from 2005: 34/52 = 65%
Releases from 2006: 32/43 = 74%
Releases from 2007: 26/53 = 49%
Releases from 2008: 17/41 = 41%
Releases from 2009: 3/35 = 9%

Granted, there are only so many releases of the caliber of Rules of the Game, 8-1/2, The Silence, Tokyo Story, Faces, Viridiana, Yi Yi, Woman in the Dunes, Spirit of the Beehive, 3 Women, I Fidanzati, Le Cercle rouge, Mon oncle, and Rushmore (to name just a few of my favorites). The current was bound to slow eventually after the flood gates opened.

But I'm left with a few nagging questions: Have I changed? Am I [older and] less adventurous than I once was? Has the economy made me more selective? Was this just an odd year that appealed to most CC enthusiasts yet, by chance, skirted my particular interests and passions? Or has Criterion's selection process somehow changed? Just curious about how others have reacted to this year's releases.

[oldsheperd]

Just a theory I'm throwing out here but I imagine as the collection wears on either more obscure titles or titles like Curious Case or Monsoon Wedding may start to show up more.
Criterion is in a distinct disadvantage to the major studios who already own the rights to some classic and important films that I'm sure all of us would like to see in the collection. Plus Warners, Fox etc., have, in the most part, been releasing classics with strong extras.
Criterion has already released a pretty good sum of films already regarded across the board as bonfide "must see" films like Rules of the Game, Seven Samurai, Nights of Cabiria, etc; films that have status. So they may have to dig down in the crates a bit more or accept some not-so-hot studio fare.

[zedz]

But I'm left with a few nagging questions: Have I changed? Am I [older and] less adventurous than I once was? Has the economy made me more selective? Was this just an odd year that appealed to most CC enthusiasts yet, by chance, skirted my particular interests and passions? Or has Criterion's selection process somehow changed? Just curious about how others have reacted to this year's releases.

If you've only bought three Criterion releases this year and it's not the Imamura set, that's one of your problems right there. 2009 may have been somewhat different in character, but there have been a good dozen or so releases that absolutely conform to the label's core values: Imamura, Louis XIV, the Bunuels, Marienbad, My Dinner with Andre, 2 or 3 Things, Repulsion, the Painleve set and, though I'm not a fan of it, Magnificent Obsession. Plus there's Jeanne Dielman and The Human Condition around the corner.

Of course, if you already own these titles in other editions, that's another story.

My reaction to this year is, as usual, mixed: lots of releases I'm not particularly interested in, several significant upgrades and a handful of long overdue essential titles. But Criterion aren't the only game in town and even with the recession there are more fantastic releases around the world than I have time to watch or money to buy, so it all works out.

[oldsheperd]

I used to buy every release that came out but now I'm a bit more conservative about it so I don't think you're in the same boat. I mean especially since you've got some other small. independant houses like Blue Underground and AnimEigo releasing good stuff plus Warners and other studios finally putting forth good Special Editions you find yourself wanting to spread your coffers a little more across the spectrum of labels.

[domino harvey]

I think one of the problems is that the year started off so well: the Rossellinis, MO, &c and we all got excited. And then, well, we'll always have January I guess

[cdnchris]

Other than The Taking of Power..., Magnificent Obsession, The Exterminating Angel, Simon of the Desert, Dodes-ka-den, In the Realm of the Senses, Empire of Passion, Science is Fiction, the Imamura set, Friends of Eddie Coyle, Last Year at Marienbad, My Dinner with Andre, Repulsion, Jeanne Dielman, the upcoming Human Condition and Z, and all of their Eclipse sets (save for the Korda one) this year has been pretty shitty.

[Tom Amolad]

Z

You misspelled 2 or 3 Things I Know about Her. [-X

[Perkins Cobb]

Other than The Taking of Power..., The Exterminating Angel, Simon of the Desert, Dodes-ka-den, Science is Fiction, the Imamura set, Jeanne Dielman, the upcoming Human Condition , and all of their Eclipse sets (save for the Korda one) this year has been pretty shitty.

Fixed.

[cdnchris]

Apparently I'm the only one that loves The Friends of Eddie Coyle. First you dis The Rock and then this!? You guys have no taste. [-(

[MoonlitKnight]

Well, I haven't been TOO disappointed with this year so far. I've gotten:

"El Norte"
"Hobson's Choice"
"The Exterminating Angel"
"Simon of the Desert"
"The Last Metro"
"The Hit"
"The Friends of Eddie Coyle"
"Wise Blood"
"Repulsion"
"Made in U.S.A."
"Two or Three Things I Know About Her"

I have, however, been VERY disappointed with the announced releases for this and the next 2 months.

[Napier]

Apparently I'm the only one that loves The Friends of Eddie Coyle. First you dis The Rock and then this!? You guys have no taste. [-(

Coyle was one of my personal favorites this year. So I'm with you on that one Chris.

[Perkins Cobb]

Actually in a sense I'm fine with The Friends of Eddie Coyle, which I've never seen but am anticipating highly. My opposition stems from the general view that Criterion shouldn't be picking up studio films that the studios can darn well release themselves ... although Coyle, an obscure-ish catalog title, is obviously less objectionable than, say, the unnecessary CC of Days of Heaven.

Plus, the joke worked better the more titles I deleted from Chris's list.

[Napier]

I'm actually fine with Days of Heaven, the transfer was delicious. It's releases like Button that make me wince. You should seriously snap Coyle up though! It's a great film.

[eerik]

I did this in about five minutes by cutting and pasting from Criterion's website into Excel.

Average age of Criterion films:

2005- 1965
2006- 1967
2007- 1965
2008- 1968
2009- 1975

2009 is a very substantial statistical leap. Criterion is definitely going with more newer films.

I guess the 2009 leap is even bigger after todays announcements...