Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[Red Screamer]

For what it’s worth I asked them on Twitter about including English subtitles on these Breillat’s and they replied no as the films will also be getting US releases. I wonder by who?

In an interview in the latest Cahiers du cinéma Breillat says all of her films are coming from Criterion. Sweet.

[Peacock]

Hairspray would be great but hopefully Desperate Living comes first!

And wow, amazing news regarding Breillat. I can’t imagine Criterion releasing a Varda-esq set for her however, I hope that I’m wrong and we don’t get these in drips and drabs for a bit and them miss out on the remainder as has happened with Chaplin, Lloyd etc.

[beamish14]

For what it’s worth I asked them on Twitter about including English subtitles on these Breillat’s and they replied no as the films will also be getting US releases. I wonder by who?

In an interview in the latest Cahiers du cinéma Breillat says all of her films are coming from Criterion. Sweet.

That is absolutely incredible news. I really hope 36 Fillette gets its own spine

[willoneill]

Am I the only one who takes these director statements with a large grain of salt? I distinctly remember an Atom Egoyan interview around 2020 where he made a similar statement about his first 7 films, only one of which (Exotica) Criterion has released three years on (and another one, Speaking Parts, that they're definitely not releasing since CIP put it out instead).

[therewillbeblus]

It seems to happen all the time - including specific instances like Guy Maddin reporting Brand Upon the Brain! would be getting a blu-ray upgrade announced within the year like three years ago. I don't assume the filmmakers are lying so much as Criterion is likely giving the filmmakers information that they are later shelving in favor of other demands and interests

[yoloswegmaster]

This Variety article states that Criterion is currently working on a release of Harold Lloyd's Girl Shy:

And now, besides having some of her grandfather’s films on HBO Max, Suzanne Lloyd has a deal with the prestige-conferring Criterion Collection and Criterion Channel. That company has four Lloyd films as part of its very select library — including “Safety Last,” naturally, with another, “Girl Shy,” currently in the works for a Criterion edition.

[FrauBlucher]

Has there been some confirmation of the sale tomorrow or do we just have to wait till the clock strikes twelve?

[Drucker]

I think this counts as confirmation.

[criterionsnob]

Yes, I received another $10 coupon today confirming it does indeed start at noon ET tomorrow. I'm going into this sale with $80 worth of saved coupons!

[FrauBlucher]

Not sure if this has been posted being that it's 4 years old... Lee Kline about Teal and Cyan...Here

[Drucker]

Not sure if this has been posted being that it's 4 years old... Lee Kline about Teal and Cyan...Here

Thank you for sharing. I've definitely noticed that sort of hue in 35mm prints I've seen, so for example with the upcoming release of Mean Streets I'm still reserving judgement, personally.

Of course, Criterion doing restoration work correctly doesn't necessarily account for restorations they don't handle.

[HinkyDinkyTruesmith]

Big “God was wrong” vibes from the teal/cyan controversy.

[dwk]

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky opens with the Criterion and Janus Films logos.

[dwk]

Recent channel additions Jean de Florette and Manon of the Speong open with the Criterion and Janus logos.

[jwd5275]

Recent channel additions Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring open with the Criterion and Janus logos.

As do Basquiat and all five Mark Lewis films (Cane Toads, Cane Toads: The Conquest, Rat, Animalicious, and The Natural History of the Chicken)

[ryannichols7]

The Munekata Sisters not only opens with the CC and Janus logos, but it's also the new 4K restoration that Toho performed

[jazzo]

I don't have access to the channel to check the opening logos right now, but I see Meet John Doe is also up there. I think CalssicFlix announced they were working on a restoration. Think it's going to be picked up by Criterion?

[domino harvey]

It's in the public domain, so anyone can release it

[Roscoe]

And so is Abel Gance's LA ROUE, all nearly 8 hours of it. Encouraging.

[Matt]

I don't have access to the channel to check the opening logos right now, but I see Meet John Doe is also up there.

It has no opening logos at all but does have a Sony Pictures Television logo at the end.

[onedimension]

The Doe restoration is dramatic, the earlier versions I’d tried to watch were unbearable. Now it’s only unbearable if you don’t like Capra-corn syrup.

[sabbath]

Janus has Pandora's Box on its website and "Blu-ray" is one of the formats they have.

The six 1426x1080 size jpg stills are certainly not behind-the-scene still photos but screenshots from the actual film and they look nothing like the sepia-tinted one Eureka used recently. In fact, they look similar to the previous master Criterion used for their 2006 DVD, but with better resolution. Perhaps Criterion decided to reuse that because of the "missing coin" issue of the other restoration? In any case, those "stills" look good enough and I don't mind them doing "Le Samourai" for this one.

[GiggityGoo]

I went to see John Waters this past weekend. I asked him if we would see "Desperate Living" from Criterion in 2024. He said that Criterion is pushing him to do "Hairspray" (!), but he keeps telling them that the fans want DL instead.

So he did an informal poll. He asked, "Who wants 'Hairspray'?" I swear to you, NO ONE made a sound. Not a clap, not a "whoo!", not even a throat clearing. So then he asked, "Who wants 'Desperate Living'?" And the roar from the crowd blew the roof off the place. He made this funny "I know, right?" expression in response. He ended with, "I guess we'll see".

[therewillbeblus]

I went to see John Waters this past weekend. I asked him if we would see "Desperate Living" from Criterion in 2024. He said that Criterion is pushing him to do "Hairspray" (!), but he keeps telling them that the fans want DL instead.

So he did an informal poll. He asked, "Who wants 'Hairspray'?" I swear to you, NO ONE made a sound. Not a clap, not a "whoo!", not even a throat clearing. So then he asked, "Who wants 'Desperate Living'?" And the roar from the crowd blew the roof off the place. He made this funny "I know, right?" expression in response. He ended with, "I guess we'll see".

Love it. I literally watched this twice in a row on my last revisit, and I think it's surpassed Multiple Maniacs as my favorite Waters

[yoloswegmaster]

I'm curious to see what films that were released this year are going to get a Criterion release. I can easily see May December getting a release since Todd Haynes already has multiple releases in the collection and it's probably the biggest film Netflix has this year in terms of critical and awards success. I can also see a release for Anatomy of a Fall since we know they love releasing Palme D'Or winners and no listings have been found for a future release from NEON (unlike Michael Mann's Ferrari, which is getting a 4K release in March).

I should also point out that it's going to be Criterion's 40th anniversary next year. I wonder if they are going to mark the occasion with a big box-set or something like that.