Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[HardNight'sDay]

Look at how they haven't touched any Polanski in a while or upgraded KNIFE IN THE WATER to BD.

I have a theory that Criterion might upgrade Knife in the Water or any other Polanski film when he dies. Which sounds harsh but let's be honest, what is the better option?

[MovieBuff647]

Look at how they haven't touched any Polanski in a while or upgraded KNIFE IN THE WATER to BD.

I have a theory that Criterion might upgrade Knife in the Water or any other Polanski film when he dies. Which sounds harsh but let's be honest, what is the better option?

They shouldn't have to wait though because two things can be true at once: he should've been properly held accountable for that incident and his work, especially his work prior to that incident, is still worth recognizing. If VinSyn can go ahead and release a 4K of THE TENANT and license LAST TANGO IN PARIS 4K from MGM, then why do Criterion feel the need to be so cowardly, especially given they already released KNIFE IN THE WATER on DVD anyway? And Criterion still released their UHD upgrade of MISHIMA even two months after those allegations against Schrader came to light as opposed to canceling it, so not sure why they care so much about optics.

Also, STARS AT NOON would be great given no English-subtitled release for that one exists

I have been hoping for this! It's a top 3 film of the 2020s for me, and I doubt A24, Lionsgate or almost any boutique label would expect it to sell well enough to justify release, but a Criterion release seems like something that really could sell.

As it is now, because it came and went with so little fanfare (it was one of two Denis films that year, wasn't heavily promoted or widely championed by critics, I think it went to streaming at the same time or very soon after its limited theatrical release, etc) I think being an A24 release by Claire Denis starring Margaret Qualley is weirdly working against it.. if people are aware of it they might assume there's a reason they hadn't heard of it / haven't seen it. But if Criterion released it, I think that would be the 'and it's actually good!' endorsement currently missing from its identity which would flip all those other things back into selling points.

It's really not a film that I'd expect to connect with a huge audience (I only just realized that having it star the then-current partners of Taylor Swift AND Jack Antonoff could have been a selling point to a huge audience who REALLY wouldn't connect with it) but I do expect its reputation to slowly and steadily improve, and a Criterion release could certainly speed that up.

I do think Criterion would be interested but the question is if A24 would play ball. My gut says no but TBD.

[HardNight'sDay]

I definitely agree with you regarding Polanski, Movie buff. He is a great filmmaker but a terrible human being who should faced justice for what he did. My guess is that Criterion doesn't want to financially support someone like him in a post MeToo world, though to be fair I don't know how much royalties every filmmaker get with any Criterion release.

[Calvin]

I don't think it's purely about financial support. Criterion have clearly courted themselves an audience through social media that would be outraged if they released anything by the likes of Polanski today. Meetin' WA was also conspicuously absent from their release of King Lear. I think if that release comes out 10-15 years ago it would unquestionably have been included.

[MovieBuff647]

I definitely agree with you regarding Polanski, Movie buff. He is a great filmmaker but a terrible human being who should faced justice for what he did. My guess is that Criterion doesn't want to financially support someone like him in a post MeToo world, though to be fair I don't know how much royalties every filmmaker get with any Criterion release.

I don't think it's purely about financial support. Criterion have clearly courted themselves an audience through social media that would be outraged if they released anything by the likes of Polanski today. Meetin' WA was also conspicuously absent from their release of King Lear. I think if that release comes out 10-15 years ago it would unquestionably have been included.

Precisely what Calvin said. It's not about financial support, but instead about optics. If it were about financial support, Criterion would not have quietly picked up REPULSION for the UK in 2023. But of course, most people do not pay attention to their UK releases and there's no UK site where it'll be on top of the "COMING SOON" section.

Criterion have previously released LAST TANGO IN PARIS on LaserDisc. If they didn't expect outrage, they 100% would've swooped up the license for that 4K remaster before VinSyn could even consider approaching MGM.

I genuinely like Criterion a lot, and they've really won me over within the past 12 months when I had been previously mixed on them. I'm even willing to buy their recent and upcoming discs now when they're not 50% off (though Atomic Movie Store's prices are pretty damn close anyway). But their self-imposed image of "respectability" has done more harm than good, IMO. It's why so many people are irrationally angry about them releasing KPOP DEMON HUNTERS (which I have not watched and likely never will) despite it being an objectively genius financial decision.

[Finch]

Given that Polanski has apologized to Geimer and she is sick and tired of people hounding him about it (not to mention that the judge reneged on a guilty plea deal at the last minute), Criterion should upgrade his work, at least his pre-1975 output, and stand by it.

[dwk]

Isn't the Knife in the Water 4k restoration supposed to be crap?

[MovieBuff647]

Given that Polanski has apologized to Geimer and she is sick and tired of people hounding him about it (not to mention that the judge reneged on a guilty plea deal at the last minute), Criterion should upgrade his work, at least his pre-1975 output, and stand by it.

I'd love if they could not only get ROSEMARY'S BABY back but access the raw scan and do their own remaster. Feels like a long shot, however.

[dwk]

In light of the Paramount returners and Paramount letting Kino have Once Upon a Time in the West, I honestly could see Paramount letting Criterion have Rosemary's Baby back. If they feared any blowback, they could not mention it in the monthly announcements and just quietly make it available again. It would be a good test case for releasing (or re-releasing, in this case) titles from a controversial figure.

[MovieBuff647]

In light of the Paramount returners and Paramount letting Kino have Once Upon a Time in the West, I honestly could see Paramount letting Criterion have Rosemary's Baby back. If they feared any blowback, they could not mention it in the monthly announcements and just quietly make it available again. It would be a good test case for releasing (or re-releasing, in this case) titles from a controversial figure.

Here's the question: would Paramount ever let Criterion access the raw scan and do their own restoration work? I guess we'd have to wait and see if Arrow can get OUATITW for the UK and then do their own work from the raw scan.

Even if not though, the Paramount UHD encode is so whiffed that even Criterion just using that same master will almost certainly result in a markedly superior disc. And of course, Criterion would offer better/corrected audio.

[Lowry_Sam]

It’s too bad Criterion didn’t have the wherewithal to release the complete Tenement trilogy before the UHDs started getting rolled out. Maybe one day…a girl can dream.

[crimlaw]

With the exception of Chinatown and The Pianist, I believe Criterion has already released Polanski’s best work. Merely upgrading works already in the collection should not be deemed controversial. If a small but vocal minority wants to boycott Criterion simply for upgrades, let them.

I have not heard any major backlash against Imprint nor Arrow for releasing Polanski or Woody Allen sets.

Still hoping Criterion manages to release Bertolucci’s masterpiece, The Conformist, as well as WB’s The Sheltering Sky.

[Lowry_Sam]

If only someone would release J’Accuse

[Finch]

I'd really prefer for Macbeth and Rosemary's Baby not to go to Vinegar Syndrome because of their colorist's bias for magenta leaning grades that are not necessarily accurate. Those are the two existing CC Polanskis that I wish they'd upgrade. But they should cover Knife in the Water, Repulsion and Cul de Sac too. Didn't they do Tess as well, competing with the BFI?

[FlickeringWindow]

With the exception of Chinatown and The Pianist, I believe Criterion has already released Polanski’s best work. Merely upgrading works already in the collection should not be deemed controversial. If a small but vocal minority wants to boycott Criterion simply for upgrades, let them.

I have not heard any major backlash against Imprint nor Arrow for releasing Polanski or Woody Allen sets.

Still hoping Criterion manages to release Bertolucci’s masterpiece, The Conformist, as well as WB’s The Sheltering Sky.

If I had to guess, it's probably more the Criterion crew not wanting to work with him again rather than fear of backlash.

[Mr.DarjeelingLimited]

Somebody on a predictions thread on Reddit mentioned
Trees Lounge playing with Janus/Criterion credited.

[James Stock]

Somebody on a predictions thread on Reddit mentioned
Trees Lounge playing with Janus/Criterion credited.

I was thinking this one would eventually come from Cinematographe but I'm glad it's with Criterion if this is true.

[agnamaracs]

They've released some Kiarostami after that whole thing with Ten.

[MovieBuff647]

With the exception of Chinatown and The Pianist, I believe Criterion has already released Polanski’s best work. Merely upgrading works already in the collection should not be deemed controversial. If a small but vocal minority wants to boycott Criterion simply for upgrades, let them.

I have not heard any major backlash against Imprint nor Arrow for releasing Polanski or Woody Allen sets.

Still hoping Criterion manages to release Bertolucci’s masterpiece, The Conformist, as well as WB’s The Sheltering Sky.

Funny you think most of the uber-woke pearl clutchers pay attention to labels that do not have that "C" logo. If they found out about Vinegar Syndrome and what they release, I think they'd set the entire internet on fire.

With the exception of Chinatown and The Pianist, I believe Criterion has already released Polanski’s best work. Merely upgrading works already in the collection should not be deemed controversial. If a small but vocal minority wants to boycott Criterion simply for upgrades, let them.

I have not heard any major backlash against Imprint nor Arrow for releasing Polanski or Woody Allen sets.

Still hoping Criterion manages to release Bertolucci’s masterpiece, The Conformist, as well as WB’s The Sheltering Sky.

If I had to guess, it's probably more the Criterion crew not wanting to work with him again rather than fear of backlash.

If that were the case, then why did they pick up REPULSION for the UK this decade?