Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[domino harvey]

It's a recent Miramax title that inexplicably never made it to Blu, but I'm not sure who ended up with the rights in the Miramax custody decision

[The Narrator Returns]

It's actually Weinstein Company as opposed to Miramax.

[FrauBlucher]

Yeah, it's this photo. Is this actually a possibility, though?

I could definitely see I'm Not There get a Criterion release.

[Ribs]

Well, yes, it'd absolutely be a title Criterion'd love to get, but is there any precedent at all for any Weinstein stuff making it through?

[Buttery Jeb]

I have a feeling they just used that image in one of the supplements for "Dont Look Back."

[ianungstad]

Steven Soderbergh states that the rights to Bubble and Full Frontal have reverted back to him; with the rights to The Girlfriend Experience to revert to him in 2016. He doesn't know what he's going to do with these films.

He also mentions that he's continuing to work on Kafka. It seems that it's much more than a new edit of the film; as he's recently shot new material.

Wouldn't be surprised if he parnters with Criterion on all of this.

[Billy Beta]

I was at a function a few months ago and someone close to Mike Leigh commented that Meantime would be
coming to Criterion in the next 12-18 months. One of the reasons he was in the Criterion offices apart from the Jan Troell introduction.

[Omensetter]

Bubble is absolutely something worth releasing---a low-key masterpiece which portrays a portion of America that very rarely receives such uncommented coverage. Then there is the additional intrigue of its release model and the Robert Pollard connection. This is a no-brainer of a release, really---perhaps they can tuck away Full Frontal in the extras.

[nolanoe]

Steven Soderbergh states that the rights to Bubble and Full Frontal have reverted back to him; with the rights to The Girlfriend Experience to revert to him in 2016. He doesn't know what he's going to do with these films.

He also mentions that he's continuing to work on Kafka. It seems that it's much more than a new edit of the film; as he's recently shot new material.

Wouldn't be surprised if he parnters with Criterion on all of this.

Mini Box Set, PLEASE!!

[Jeff]

I was at a function a few months ago and someone close to Mike Leigh commented that Meantime would be
coming to Criterion in the next 12-18 months. One of the reasons he was in the Criterion offices apart from the Jan Troell introduction.

Which they seemingly just confirmed on Instagram. Wonder if it is getting a stand-alone release or being used as a supplement on something else. If it weren't for your comment, I would have assumed that they were there for High Hopes.

[knives]

It would be nice to see it paired up with his first film though more likely it will come (if with anything) with other TV films of his like Four Days in July.

[britcom68]

It would be nice to see it paired up with his first film though more likely it will come (if with anything) with other TV films of his like Four Days in July.

Any idea how likely it could be for Criterion to do an Eclipse set of his TV work? Although it would be disappointing if that is the only way we get a decent stateside release for Abigail's Party.

[Jeff]

Any idea how likely it could be for Criterion to do an Eclipse set of his TV work? Although it would be disappointing if that is the only way we get a decent stateside release for Abigail's Party.

Since Leigh has been involved, I'd say Eclipse isn't likely. Meantime is either getting its own release, it's part of a mainline box of "Mike Leigh's Television Plays," or it's a supplement to something thematically similar like All or Nothing.

Despite Criterion's history of not generally releasing TV-movies on their own unless they're Bergman or Fassbinder epic miniseries, I guess the first option is still most likely. That was apparently the only title mentioned to Billy Beta, they've bothered to get the director and cinematographer to do the color grading, and the film is owned by Film4, whom Criterion have an established relationship with. I think all of Leigh's other TV stuff is owned by the BBC. It'd be a somewhat surprising standalone release, but the cast might make it more marketable -- especially if they can get Roth and Oldman to sit for new interviews. All nine of the other feature-length TV films appear to be in print in the U.S. via a series of three boxed sets from Water Bearer. They don't have any supplements, and I can't vouch for their quality, but the Amazon reviews seem fine.

[zedz]

Any idea how likely it could be for Criterion to do an Eclipse set of his TV work? Although it would be disappointing if that is the only way we get a decent stateside release for Abigail's Party.

Since Leigh has been involved, I'd say Eclipse isn't likely. Meantime is either getting its own release, it's part of a mainline box of "Mike Leigh's Television Plays," or it's a supplement to something thematically similar like All or Nothing.

Despite Criterion's history of not generally releasing TV-movies on their own unless they're Bergman or Fassbinder epic miniseries, I guess the first option is still most likely. That was apparently the only title mentioned to Billy Beta, they've bothered to get the director and cinematographer to do the color grading, and the film is owned by Film4, whom Criterion have an established relationship with. I think all of Leigh's other TV stuff is owned by the BBC. It'd be a somewhat surprising standalone release, but the cast might make it more marketable -- especially if they can get Roth and Oldman to sit for new interviews. All nine of the other feature-length TV films appear to be in print in the U.S. via a series of three boxed sets from Water Bearer. They don't have any supplements, and I can't vouch for their quality, but the Amazon reviews seem fine.

Meantime is a different kettle of fish from the earlier BBC films. It was a Channel 4 production and got released theatrically in some places, as well as debuting at the London Film Festival, not on television. It's much more akin to My Beautiful Laundrette than to Abigail's Party.

The BBC work is terrific, but Abigail's Party was shot on tape, so is always going to look mediocre. I think most of the other films were 16mm, however, and scrub up quite well.

EDIT: This six disc box set collects all his BBC stuff.

[Jeff]

Meantime is a different kettle of fish from the earlier BBC films. It was a Channel 4 production and got released theatrically in some places, as well as debuting at the London Film Festival, not on television.

Ah, that makes more sense. It looks like it played Berlinale and the Chicago Film Festival in 1984, and may have even had a stateside theatrical release in 1986. I haven't ever seen it, but I've loved every other Mike Leigh film I've seen, and it's great to see Criterion potentially generating new interest in one of his lesser-known films.

EDIT: This six disc box set collects all his BBC stuff.

Sold! I don't know how I was never aware of that set before. A much better deal than the $100+ for nine discs worth of American releases. The American release includes Leigh's early theatrical debut, Bleak Moments, but the UK set has his extant episode of Second City Firsts, "The Permissive Society" (his other episode "Knock for Knock" has apparently disappeared from the BBC archives). The UK set also apparently has commentaries by Leigh on four of the films, an 80-minute doc on him, a 60-minute doc on Abigail's Party, and several interviews.

[flyonthewall2983]

Thinking about the earlier discussion of Rock films, maybe Frank Zappa's 200 Motels?

[JayAlmighty]

This isn't exactly 100% proven, but I have a pretty good feeling that Waking Life might be announced soon. Here's my evidence.

A few months ago this was posted...

I'm attending a presentation tonight on Criterion's cover art legacy which will feature their art director Eric Skillman.

...and later on that same day, this was posted...

The best part of the night was learning that we're apparently getting another animated film soon.

And just earlier this month, Arrow Video (aka Criterion's British doppelganger) announced a Waking Life dual-format edition...as a UK-only release. That said, I think it's pretty obvious Criterion is going to handle the US-only release (plus, it's Linklater, so it was bound to happen eventually, right?)

Or maybe I'm completely wrong, and they were working on a Criterion edition of Mars Needs Moms this whole time....

[Billy Beta]

Meantime is a different kettle of fish from the earlier BBC films. It was a Channel 4 production and got released theatrically in some places, as well as debuting at the London Film Festival, not on television.

Also Meantime has very early screen appearances of some of Britains best character actors such as Alfred Molina, Tim Roth, Gary Oldman and Phil Daniels.

[kwippleton]

Saw John Waters do his Christmas show tonight and during the Q&A portion he mentioned that a re-release of Multiple Maniacs was in the works and will look great. He didn't specifically mention Criterion, but given that he was just there a few weeks ago...

[R0lf]

Saw John Waters do his Christmas show tonight and during the Q&A portion he mentioned that a re-release of Multiple Maniacs was in the works and will look great. He didn't specifically mention Criterion, but given that he was just there a few weeks ago...

And with the recent BFI season including his early short films presumably there are new DCPs of those which could be included as extras.

[Buttery Jeb]

Saw John Waters do his Christmas show tonight and during the Q&A portion he mentioned that a re-release of Multiple Maniacs was in the works and will look great. He didn't specifically mention Criterion, but given that he was just there a few weeks ago...

Hopefully this will be part of the Complete John Waters/Divine boxset I've been thinking about since Criterion confirmed their deal with Warners/New Line.

[kwippleton]

Saw John Waters do his Christmas show tonight and during the Q&A portion he mentioned that a re-release of Multiple Maniacs was in the works and will look great. He didn't specifically mention Criterion, but given that he was just there a few weeks ago...

Hopefully this will be part of the Complete John Waters/Divine boxset I've been thinking about since Criterion confirmed their deal with Warners/New Line.

I would love something like that, but he did mention that Mondo Trasho will never be re-released because of the music rights.

And with the recent BFI season including his early short films presumably there are new DCPs of those which could be included as extras.

Someone else asked about his early shorts and he said that those wouldn't be getting any sort of a home release / would only be shown at retrospectives.

[dwk]

Bicycle Thieves Blu-ray

[FrauBlucher]

The first upgrade of 2016. Nice

[FrauBlucher]

Manchurian Candidate and A Brighter Summer Day are both up.