Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[Andrew_VB]

could also just be promotion via the ifc connection and it having an appeal to film lovers.

[movielocke]

I wouldn't be surprised to see a criterion spine of season one and two released together, I don't think season one got a disc release yet, and season two premiered last week.

[McNulty]

Let's hope not

[domino harvey]

Congress has as of yet not mandated compulsory purchasing of all Criterion titles, so I don't know why you'd wish against anything being released

[olmo]

On watching the extras on the Blood Simple disc today, the Coens talk about the casting of M. Emmet Walsh and go on to say that they decided on his inclusion after viewing Straight Time.

I may be clutching at straws here, but the clip they used looked like a pristine new restoration excerpt. I'm wondering if this is on the slate for next year. I hope so, think it's one of the overlooked gems of 70's Hollywood along with Schatzberg's Scarecrow.

[JabbaTheSlut]

Agreed 100%. One of the best of the 70's and one of best crime films ever.

[Never Cursed]

I was one of the probably several who speculated Blowup, but I also assumed the central road that runs through the drawing was referring to La strada, in line with the previous year's literal clues of The Bridge and The River. I'm happy to call the clue good, though, so long as we don't lose the Antonioni in the process.

Really? I thought the road was meant to go hand in hand with the kings walking it at the back of the picture, i.e, Kings Of The Road.

[Omensetter]

Yeah, that's just as valid. I just recalled a photo of La Strada on Instagram alongside several other titles, with Strada being the only non-Blu title and recalled them going obvious the previous year. They've released a Fellini every years for three years and Strada is an obvious candidate for an upgrade so, you know, sooner than later or until we get an out-of-nowhere upgrade of Ballad of a Soldier or something.

[eerik]

Roma's page already has the link for #849 His Girl Friday, which itself isn't public yet.

[domino harvey]

If we get announcements today it will be the first time in years that we've gotten them early, though it used to happen fairly frequently

[flyonthewall2983]

It'd make sense if they did it Monday, closer to the Filmstruck launch.

[Ribs]

The homepage has been updated which means they're done now. A light month, but His Girl Friday is clearly one of the most stacked Criterion releases in forever.

As always wish for an upgrade given there's tons of extant masters but they must not be selling very well anymore.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

A light month

Four films aren't enough for you? Their normal quota seems to be five, so one less isn't exactly a "light month", especially considering His Girl Friday is a double feature. I remember when December was when they would put out only a couple of movies. That's a light month. Four films being introduced on Blu in the US doesn't seem particularly light.

[dda1996a]

How many new titles are usually released per month? Because Tree of Wooden Clogs has once again taken a spot (if going by five per month) and still has no spine number

[domino harvey]

This is a light month for January, nothing controversial about that

[dda1996a]

I was asking in general how many releases does criterion usually releases in any month including upgrades etc. Because it appears Tree of Wooden Clogs has once again taken a spot in a month's five releases and still has no spine

[domino harvey]

Criterion didn't mention it in their email, at this point I'll believe it when I see it

[dda1996a]

Actually it has a February release date... I wonder what issues they encountered for such a long delay. I guess I hadn't noticed. BTW does anyone know why Roma is listed in the Cannes Big Winners page? It wasn't even shown in competition at Cannes

[Ribs]

No, it's still coming in February. The bigger problem with a delay like this is that it does probably cause one extra "slot" to be taken up; so next month's releases will only be three or four more titles again because we already have one accounted for.

I'd say five + upgrade is pretty standard, but just five is expected as well. Of these four releases, Black Girl and Fox and his Friends have already received good* releases in the UK. So I don't find it especially exciting, I'm sorry.

*Was Fox and his Friends afflicted with grading issues, or was it just Chinese Roulette? I don't expect Criterion has done anything to fix this if its there, anyway.

[swo17]

Actually it has a February release date... I wonder what issues they encountered for such a long delay.

See the thread for the release.

[dda1996a]

Well it makes us lose two releases, since the film took a spot in the month it was originally announced for, and most likely again in February

[Ribs]

Well it makes us lose two releases, since the film took a spot in the month it was originally announced for, and most likely again in February

No, that's only one release; they wouldn't have magically had another title ready for this month when it was supposed to come out, or else they would have been able to replace it. It's semantics but you're double counting here.

[dda1996a]

I get what you're saying. Still making us lose one new release is still something

[swo17]

No one loses anything. You get one thing a little later is all.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

I heard Criterion will have to confiscate three movies off your shelf because of the delay.