Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[dwk]

More Gabbo is Coming, Jim Cironella posted on the facebook group

Unearthing the Undead is not a documentary, and is entirely separate from any Criterion news. There is a lot happening with Night of the Living Dead including news that hasn't been made public yet.

So I guess it really is something to do with Night of the Living Dead, can't imagine what.

[Mario G.]

More Gabbo is Coming, Jim Cironella posted on the facebook group

Unearthing the Undead is not a documentary, and is entirely separate from any Criterion news. There is a lot happening with Night of the Living Dead including news that hasn't been made public yet.

So I guess it really is something to do with Night of the Living Dead, can't imagine what.

Is it possible that NoTLD being included in this 40th anniversary monstrosity was what this was about? I can't imagine there would be two pieces of Criterion news relating to this film so close together.

[yoloswegmaster]

More Gabbo is Coming, Jim Cironella posted on the facebook group

Unearthing the Undead is not a documentary, and is entirely separate from any Criterion news. There is a lot happening with Night of the Living Dead including news that hasn't been made public yet.

So I guess it really is something to do with Night of the Living Dead, can't imagine what.

Is it possible that NoTLD being included in this 40th anniversary monstrosity was what this was about? I can't imagine there would be two pieces of Criterion news relating to this film so close together.

Cironella confirmed that is what he was referring to with his posts, which seems like a waste of an announcement.

[dwk]

What a bummer.

[yoloswegmaster]

Press note for the restoration of The Sweet Hereafter confirms that Criteiron was involved in the restoration:

4K Digital restoration produced by Sphinx Productions and The Criterion Collection with financial assistance from Telefilm Canada's digitization initiative Canadian Cinema - Reignited.Print source courtesy of Films We Like.

[nicolas]

William Wyler‘s Funny Girl is likely upcoming by Criterion. Maybe as early as November.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=376837

[domino harvey]

Nice, the original Blu has been in my Amazon cart forever waiting for a price drop

[Matt]

Put the TV specials on it! (They won’t.)

[knives]

That would be awesome. The sequel might also be a good way to fill space.

[crimlaw]

If true, Funny Girl would be an unusual choice for Criterion. I think Streisand’s What’s Up Doc? would be more up its alley because of Bogdonavich.

[domino harvey]

Why? They’ve done both Wyler and Streisand movies, and it’s a good example of both of those things

[The Narrator Returns]

Christina Newland says John Sayles dropped hints to her about a forthcoming rerelease of Baby It's You. Maybe this isn't Criterion but any label putting the spotlight on that movie would be incredible, it's one of my very favorites and it's never gotten to find its audience after Paramount buried it out of spite.

[therewillbeblus]

Is there something wrong with the Olive blu?

[willoneill]

Is there something wrong with the Olive blu?

1. It's barebones (not that Criterion would do much anyway)
2. Isn't, technically speaking, out of print, in light of Olive being essentially shut down?

[The Narrator Returns]

It looks fine but it's a little washed-out and certainly could look better with a proper restoration, and yes, it doesn't seem long for this world with Olive dead. As much as I want a better copy of it, my main interest is making it a lot more visible than it has been, which a plain, soon-to-be-OOP Olive Blu hasn't done much for.

[therewillbeblus]

Okay, that makes sense - since it's been easy to find (like most Olive releases), that gave me pause. I love the movie too, and wouldn't mind it getting prioritized as a rescue job amongst Olive's output. Though, with so many great Sayles films still unavailable in HD at all, I do hope that Criterion jumps on Roan Inish et al first

[beamish14]

Christina Newland says John Sayles dropped hints to her about a forthcoming rerelease of Baby It's You. Maybe this isn't Criterion but any label putting the spotlight on that movie would be incredible, it's one of my very favorites and it's never gotten to find its audience after Paramount buried it out of spite.

That would be the third film in less than two years from producers Griffin Dunne and Amy Robinson. I’d love to hear a commentary from Sayles, as the finished film was the result of a real battle between him and Paramount, with neither side being completely thrilled with the finished product

[Finch]

In for 4Ks of Godzilla, Scarface and Paper Moon. Pretty good month!

[ryannichols7]

important to note: first month so far that every release is 4K?

Godzilla is a pretty neat surprise I gotta say. Toho licensing out their two biggest holdings in the same month is pretty promising!

I know it's been rumored materials are the hold up, but since Scarface is coming, I hope another early Universal, All Quiet on the Western Front could come from CC in the future. as always is the rule of thumb, if Kino could've done it already, they would've. so you can probably safely assume where it'll come from. Paper Moon is obviously thrilling and overdue, should be a real stunner!

honestly it's a good month all around for licenses. with word that Sony is going to be doing less, it's good to see Criterion do a new title from them, and I'm generally in for all Wyler. and yes, while it's one I really do not like, a Fox title! they almost made up for that joke of a boxset. almost

[domino harvey]

When was the last month when every “new” title was already out on Blu-ray?

[dwk]

Paper Moon never got a US Blu-ray.

[domino harvey]

That’s not what I asked, though

[Finch]

Maybe Sony could let Criterion have The Devil's Backbone next year.

[nicolas]

honestly it's a good month all around for licenses. with word that Sony is going to be doing less, it's good to see Criterion do a new title from them, and I'm generally in for all Wyler. and yes, while it's one I really do not like, a Fox title! they almost made up for that joke of a boxset. almost

Where did you hear that from? Their current output probably isn’t reflective of what’s to come but they’re really pushing the format into uncharted territory and deliver quite the amount of unexpected upgrades.

[dwk]

They aren't really licensing in the UK now, so that big batch of titles that Indicator licensed is likely going to be it for awhile.