Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[movielocke]

All the non stop fassbinder releases! why don't they release more of directors they neglect like ozu?


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[Minkin]

Well, I wasn't expecting announcements already (thought we'd be lucky if it were next Tuesday). When was the last 14th announcement anyway?

His Girl Friday - June 2016 newsletter clue. Front Page wasn't speculated.

Something Wild - Not speculated at all! A surprise! (phantom page additions the day of don't count). MGM Mod rescue

Fox and His Friends - Hulu title

Black Girl + Borom Sarret - Janus tour + World Cinema Project title + confirmed by Becker (alongside 5 other Sembene films)
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Again the newsletter clues haven't been cleared out, as one might expect. It sorta seems like Before Trilogy was planned for this month but delayed at the last minute. We get a total surprise this month (and let the MGM MOD rescues keep coming), and a unspeculated Hulu rescue. Will be interesting to see their plans for the other 5 Sembene films. Actually, even more interesting to see what happens with the rest of the WCP films - as so far they've released that initial numbered boxset, then Brighter Summer Day on its own, and now Black Girl + Borom Sarret (both WCP).

[Buttery Jeb]

According to MoMA's website, Janus Films is presenting restorations of G.W. Pabst's Kameradschaft and Westfront 1918 as part of the 2016 To Save and Project festival.

[knives]

Nice, hopefully releases follow. I like both a fair bit more then the Pabst films Crit has already released.

[Minkin]

After the recent announcement of Black Girl, it appears that the next WCP film to be released by Criterion + Janus (in 2017) will be:

Manila in the Claws of Light (1975) - Lino Brocka

I wonder if the other WCP restored Brocka film, Insiang, will be announced at the same time?

[Cinephrenic]

Probably will be next WCP box. I would think Insiang will be released separate.

[reesepd]

What is the reality of these constant rumors around Reddit/BluRay about the Lana Del Rey videography? There's been three anonymous posts in the past, like, what.. six months? But none of them are necessarily equipped with sources, nor any concrete validity, but I find it weird that it would be something "troll" in behavior - especially considering it's a random thing and there doesn't seem to be anything to gain from it; even on the basis of humor.

Has anybody heard anything from legitimate sources about this? Any answers that debunk it from the Criterion team? This is a dream release for someone like me, so it's rough to think that it would be just random bullfuckery.

[Minkin]

And for our speculation roundup:

Before Trilogy - This has been one of the most revealed titles in recent memory. It seems just about everyone said this was coming. There was of course August's newsletter clue, but then there's been talk for years from Linklater and multiple confirmations from various sources.

Mildred Pierce - A surprise! There was the Curtiz phantom page, but thats not definitive. People have been speculating about this title since WB didn't release it themselves & it was an obvious WB pickup.

Cameraperson - Janus tour

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown - Not specifically hinted at, but an employee indicated that Criterion will be releasing (all?) Almodovar films, so its only natural to get one every now and then. Was also a Laserdisc title.
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Funny enough, I finally watched the Almodovar two days ago (and thought it was great /hoped it would be announced soon). Glad the Before Trilogy was finally announced before it could be confirmed another few times. Looks like Cameraperson should include the Filmstruck special feature (seems weird to say that) with Michael Moore.

As to the Lana Del Rey rumors - I could certainly imagine them doing that. I'm sure it would probably be a case where she approached Criterion about the idea; and they'd be stupid to turn it down. There is the precedent with Beastie Boys.

[Ribs]

I refuse to believe the Lana Del Rey thing as they all trace back to a Reddit post that "confirmed" a ton of other things that were inevitable anyway.

Is this the first time we've had two Warner releases in a month?

[domino harvey]

*Four

[The Narrator Returns]

*Three, actually, since Midnight is Sony-owned.

[FrauBlucher]

Now that we got Mildred Pierce, I'm going to beat the drum for High Sierra. Although, They Drive by Night also has a decent shot.

[Noiradelic]

I second the request for High Sierra, but I'm not convinced they'll go after it since it's not as iconic as Mildred Pierce and not a flat-out noir like The Asphalt Jungle.

[What A Disgrace]

I'm carrying a torch for Strawberry Blonde. They've been on a sort of Rita Hayworth kick, and they're in desperate need of James Cagney and Olivia de Havilland.

[motefuzz]

What is the reality of these constant rumors around Reddit/BluRay about the Lana Del Rey videography?

As far as I'm concerned the REALITY of this happening is slim to none. All of these videos are available to the general public, in high definition, for free on YouTube/Vevo and they mainly appeal to a demographic that has no practical use for discs. I can't even remember the last officially sanctioned music video release on disc. By anyone, much less Criterion. Concerts maybe, but as far as pre-existing music videos being packaged and put out on a disc? Not happening. The Director's Label series ran out of steam nearly a decade ago and those were from the best video directors of the form.

Maybe this is going too far here, but the comparisons between the right to exist of the Beastie Boys set vs. Lana Del Rey are way off IMO.
The Beastie Boys set wasn't fine art by any means, whatever you want that to mean, but it lives by its own merits. The content spanned 10-15-ish years up until 2000, around the time MTV left public consciousness, so era-wise it's a nice document. It was a labor of love produced by a NYC friend-of-cinema (Yauch co-founded Oscilloscope Labs), it contains a few Spike Jonze vids, and Shadrach itself is a wonderful work which was theatrically released in 35mm. Era-wise for the company the release makes total sense. I'd compare it to Fishing With John if we're going to play "How did that get released?"

This is again just my opinion but I don't feel like there's anything going on with those Lana Del Rey videos. They're pretty. Like a well curated Tumblr. But that's about it. They seem to appeal to the same sort of tangential Criterion-fan that for a time would ask when Criterion would be releasing Memento or Drive or Irreversible. Not because it would be necessary in any way. The logic here is usually "This is a thing that is in the popular imagination that people are speaking of as ART... Criterion releases ART... Criterion should release ____". Based purely on my RANDOM SPECULATION this is why the Lana Del Rey Criterion rumor exists.

[dwk]

Based on this chatter on twitter, it appears that Criterion is going to release Desert Hearts

[domino harvey]

I wonder if they'll include the director's doc of poor Gwen Welles slowly dying on camera after refusing cancer treatment

[FrauBlucher]

Wexner has a couple of the Criterion programs scheduled for Feb of 2017.

First, sound restoration with Ryan Hullings, Audio Superivisor on the 24th.

The following day Lee Kline presents Mildred Pierce.

[jazzo]

A friend of mine is hosting a screening of With Nail and I here in Toronto for January 12, 2017 (https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/designing-t ... 8629726282" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). Could be an indication of a Criterion release.

Also, Tampopo screens at TIFF's Lightbox theatre all week, which all but confirms its Criterion announcement.

[The Narrator Returns]

Based on this chatter on twitter, it appears that Criterion is going to release Desert Hearts

And a Criterion-backed restoration of the film will premiere at Sundance.

[eerik]

Mildred Pierce page now links to spine #861 - 45 Years.

[Minkin]

Speculation roundup:

45 Years - September newsletter clue

Canoa - Mexican magazine article about Criterion releasing it

Multiple Maniacs - Janus tour

Blow-Up - One of the discontinued WB DVDs. Perhaps was part of 2016 New Years clue - as you had to enlarge the images, thus was probably a clue for this, thus we can now say for certain all of the 2016 New Years clues have been released.

Being There - Someone mentioned some hints, but I've never heard anything, so this is a total surprise.
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Seems like we've been getting a surprise a month lately. Usually that surprise is a really left-field Janus rescue, but lately its been WB titles. Perhaps because they haven't been dropping hints quite as much lately (like they used to always post a restoration shot from the booth). Well, we'll be getting alot soon -as the next newsletter clue will instead be the New Years clue and all the days of guessing and figuring out whether its a pile of snow or not.

As a side note, the only films left from Ian's WB discontinued DVD list are:

The Breaking Point (Michael Curtiz)
Magnificent Ambersons (Orson Welles)
A Face in the Crowd (Elia Kazan)
Klute (Alan Pakula)

[dwk]

According to this twitter exchange between Aaron Stewart-Ahn and C. Mason Wells, Criterion/Janus "basically have all of" Wong Kar-wai's films. Since In the Mood for Love was added to Janus Films' site, I've suspected that they had everything from Chungking Express to In the Mood for Love or, if Sony's rights have expired, 2046 (Although Criterion would have no problem licensing it from Sony if they still have it.) For what they don't have, the two post-2046 films are still with the Weinsteins, and I've not seen any clues about the status of As Tears Go By and Days of Being Wild

[Bressonaire]

Wes Anderson has just announced his next project, another animated film, here:

http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/21/1403 ... ard-norton" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mfunk9786]

Wes Anderson has just announced his next project, another animated film, here:

http://www.theverge.com/2016/12/21/1403 ... ard-norton" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This is being discussed over in the thread for the film