Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[Matt]

Only release news is that Mati Diop's Atlantics is still in the works.

I’m dying to find out what the wait will have been for when it’s finally announced.

[ryannichols7]

Why are they so tight lipped about upcoming releases now? Seems the only hints we get anymore are from filmmakers going rogue or unsubstantiated rumors from unreliable people *cough* Amadeus *cough*. Even the closet visits mean less for rumor mongering when every halfway notable celebrity swings by on a press tour.

I guess it makes some out of nowhere releases like Happiness more exciting, but it also has the side effect of making Criterion feel a little directionless. For example, it'd be great to know if they're purposefully moving away from the Chaplin/Lloyd releases or it's just a momentary pause while they wait for restorations or something. Are the filmmaker boxes done for or are they trying to finalize some rights? etc.

it's bizarre. there has to be somewhere on the spectrum between Kino (who potentially over-reveal) and most British labels, which are all pretty hint-heavy but don't show too many cards. I have to admit, I lost the drive to keep up with the monthly speculation roundup (nobody commented on it, so I hope we don't miss it too much) because basically the only way we find out something is coming from Criterion nowadays usually is either from it being acquired by Janus, or a filmmaker or someone involved mentioning it. absolutely nothing comes from Criterion themselves now - I'll be excited that they will post a "good morning" social media tweet of a movie I hope they release (an example I remember being Withnail and I eons ago) but then it'll end up being promotion for the channel. and the channel is nothing in terms of hints either, just like the closet now. so we really are totally in the dark with this label - maybe it's partially to mittigate us complaining about the long waits for titles (Rohmer was a good example, and they've kept that up with Eustache and Tanaka), but I just don't see why they don't want to drum up hype. all this recent focus on the Criterion Closet seems baffling when you consider that...involves the physical media side of the label, which I often worry they're sidetracking.

honestly, we get more Criterion hints from the other labels at this point than we do from Criterion themselves. if a major Universal, MGM, or Paramount title didn't come from Kino or Arrow already, it's almost definitely going to come from Criterion - how else do we know where Winchester '73 is going to show up? Kino would've put that out years ago if they'd had access to it. there are ways to drum up hype besides Jason Polan's cartoons. throw us a still, a piece of cover art, something - Arrow, Indicator, Eureka, Radiance all have pretty fun hints, and Criterion prior to Polan did too!

[Matt]

I think they’ve just been burned too many times by things that fell through or got delayed at the last minute. Just like Atlantics. But yeah, having a real person repping the company on social media would be a big plus for them. The mysterious Jon Mulvaney horseshit is so played out.

[JSC]

January announcements up.

Winchester '73
The Grifters
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Coming
The Mother and the Whore
Yojimbo / Sanjuro (4K upgrade)

[TechnicolorAcid]

Honestly this might be Criterion’s most interesting lineup in a little while and a hell of a way to start up the year. Personally I am pumped.

[Harmonov]

Undoubtedly the best month in quite some time. I can't remember the last time I bought an entire month's releases right out of the gate, but I will this one. The Mother and the Whore finally lands. Never thought I'd see the day.

[soundchaser]

I continue to be disappointed at the number of SDR-only 4K discs Criterion is putting out. I know the resolution bump is an improvement, but it still feels like not taking full advantage of the medium.

[ryannichols7]

it's a cool/interesting lineup that still demonstrates some of their worst tendencies (lack of new extras, likely a slow drip on the Eustache titles)

I'll agree on the SDR only, but it is cool to see everything coming in 4K at this point

[domino harvey]

What is the most recent Criterion release that had a newly commissioned commentary track?

[dwk]

December's Eastern Condors has a new Tony Rayns track.

[domino harvey]

Ah, more recent than I realized. Thanks!

[ryannichols7]

they're averaging about 1 new track per year. off the top of my head I can think of Arsenic and Old Lace and The Trial

needless to say, this is behind quite literally all other labels

[dwk]

Nowhere, Pat Garret and Billy the Kid and The Underground Railroad are some of this year's new commentary tracks.

[ryannichols7]

someone on the other forum kinda nailed it perfectly. as I mentioned just a few posts ago, if Kino had the rights to Winchester '73, it would've been out ages ago. granted, Criterion's quality is way more consistent, but if they're going to basically have the same amount of extras, I'd rather pay Kino's prices..

[cdnchris]

I continue to be disappointed at the number of SDR-only 4K discs Criterion is putting out. I know the resolution bump is an improvement, but it still feels like not taking full advantage of the medium.

Jo Jo Dancer getting Dolby Vision but not Winchester 73 is kinda wild to me.

[DRW.mov]

someone on the other forum kinda nailed it perfectly. as I mentioned just a few posts ago, if Kino had the rights to Winchester '73, it would've been out ages ago. granted, Criterion's quality is way more consistent, but if they're going to basically have the same amount of extras, I'd rather pay Kino's prices..

I would say that not only is the new scholarly interview something KL wouldn't include, but at 20-25 during a sale its basically the same you'd pay for a KL disc

[domino harvey]

You clearly don’t buy KLSC discs if you think a sale price on them is comparable to Criterion

[ryannichols7]

someone on the other forum kinda nailed it perfectly. as I mentioned just a few posts ago, if Kino had the rights to Winchester '73, it would've been out ages ago. granted, Criterion's quality is way more consistent, but if they're going to basically have the same amount of extras, I'd rather pay Kino's prices..

I would say that not only is the new scholarly interview something KL wouldn't include, but at 20-25 during a sale its basically the same you'd pay for a KL disc

the scholarly interview is cool but isn't gonna be worth $8 more. KLSC UHDs routinely go for $17.99 during their sales, which is what I'd consider a "reasonable" price for Criterion's barebones 2020s discs. unfortunately they're hitting us with $24.99 for an archival extra, a new interview, and a little leaflet

[DimitriL]

Nowhere, Pat Garret and Billy the Kid and The Underground Railroad are some of this year's new commentary tracks.

The Underground Railroad doesn't get stressed enough. There's a commentary on every track, and the order you're supposed to listen to them serves both a film education and thematic purpose. It was an absolute achievement in commentary, from someone who really cared about the form.

[ryannichols7]

Nowhere, Pat Garret and Billy the Kid and The Underground Railroad are some of this year's new commentary tracks.

The Underground Railroad doesn't get stressed enough. There's a commentary on every track, and the order you're supposed to listen to them serves both a film education and thematic purpose. It was an absolute achievement in commentary, from someone who really cared about the form.

I'll admit my interest in it (I don't do series all that much - I just finished Dekalog at last and it took me 2 years!) isn't strong but that is commendable for sure, especially since director/filmmaker tracks can wildly vary. I did really like Mira Nair's track on Mississippi Masala, was one of the better filmmaker tracks I've heard in some time, and I'm sure Jenkins put on a clinic with his

[hearthesilence]

I noticed Criterion posted just one image on Facebook combining all covers rather than dividing them up into individual photos. In the past, I always wondered if it looked awkward when some titles clearly got far more reactions from users (or in some instances very little compared to others).

[MichaelMiles]

January announcements up.

Winchester '73
The Grifters
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Coming
The Mother and the Whore
Yojimbo / Sanjuro (4K upgrade)

It is always great to get more Kurosawa upgrades but Christ on a bicycle, why can't we get titles that aren't even on standard blu ray yet? Red Beard? Madadayo?
Stray Dog? Rhapsody in August? Quiet Duel?
So annoying. What is the reason for this? Is it simply economics? Are people really going to buy the 4K when they likely already have the standard blu ray?

[ryannichols7]

It is always great to get more Kurosawa upgrades but Christ on a bicycle, why can't we get titles that aren't even on standard blu ray yet? Red Beard? Madadayo?
Stray Dog? Rhapsody in August? Quiet Duel?
So annoying. What is the reason for this? Is it simply economics? Are people really going to buy the 4K when they likely already have the standard blu ray?

I completely agree with you on the first part, but I'm also thrilled to be upgrading 14+ year old Blurays of movies that really could use it. the standard BDs of the three Kurosawa samurai films so far use old, old masters (that date back to 2008? 2009?) and really are in need of a redo. that said, I'll skip out on these too in hopes BFI release them. Criterion don't add new extras and I already have their BDs. BFI would have better encoding, possibly HDR, and of course their own unique extras (though Stephen Prince's tracks remain really incredible)

[Mr.DarjeelingLimited]

Since Criterion has now worked with Chiu Fu-sheng on the new restoration of Raise The Red Lantern, does this open the door for A City of Sadness?

[yoloswegmaster]

Someone I know was personally told by Sean Baker that Prince of Broadway would be coming out in April.

Since Criterion has now worked with Chiu Fu-sheng on the new restoration of Raise The Red Lantern, does this open the door for A City of Sadness?

It's owned by the same guy who owns Raise the Red Lantern and he is trying to sell it as a package deal, so it is likely they have A City of Sadness (if the news about them working on the restoration for Raise the Red Lantern is indeed true).