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justeleblanc wrote:I'm glad you all enjoyed it! I made that video almost two years ago, and it sat on my blog without much notice, so I posted it again, this time uploading it to youtube.

If only you'd done that the first time, it would've been Eclipse 1: Out 1.

Just had some thoughts after watching Pierrot le Fou last night. Many people believe that the "auteur" or great directors in the collection tend to have their work spread out and with Made in USA and 2 or 3 Things coming in July it is unlikely that we will not get Vivre sa Vie or any other Godard film for awhile. However just last year they released Pierrot le Fou really early in the year, I think it was February, may have been March, and just a couple months before that they had put out Breathless, so hopefully Vivre sa Vie is released in time for X-Mas.

The difference is that after Pierrot le Fou, Criterion was still sitting on 4 Godard films: Breathless, Vivre sa Vie, 2 or 3, Made in USA. Now, Vivre sa Vie is probably the last Godard they have readily available (though I imagine they may be moving to acquire more). While it's possible it'll be released this year, odds are they will sit on it for a bit rather than close up the Godard floodgate so soon.

Well, only 3, Breathless was released late 2007, cant quite remember the month, then Pierrot came in early 08, and now we have 2 more this summer, and possibly only 1 more guaranteed from the director.

If I could watch Vivre sa Vie on BR—well, that would just be fantastic. While I think Godard's output is generally stronger than Truffaut's, to me Vivre sa Vie is the only one that really comes close to Le 400 coups in terms of how much of a mark it's left on me since I first watched it. Well, maybe that and Bande à part, but the DVD of that is fine (the DVD of Vivre sa Vie is not).

What's wrong with the DVD of Vivre sa Vie?

Shrew wrote:The difference is that after Pierrot le Fou, Criterion was still sitting on 4 Godard films: Breathless, Vivre sa Vie, 2 or 3, Made in USA. Now, Vivre sa Vie is probably the last Godard they have readily available (though I imagine they may be moving to acquire more). While it's possible it'll be released this year, odds are they will sit on it for a bit rather than close up the Godard floodgate so soon.

They could probably try to get Le Petit Soldat if the current version goes OOP. Criterion-level extras would be very welcome with that film.

tojoed wrote:What's wrong with the DVD of Vivre sa Vie?

It's not bad, considering that it's Fox Lorber, but it's transferred at a pretty low bitrate, is a touch soft, and could use a good dose of dust and scratch removal. And the "special features" include interactive menus, scene access, and language: French.

Matt wrote:

tojoed wrote:What's wrong with the DVD of Vivre sa Vie?

It's not bad, considering that it's Fox Lorber, but it's transferred at a pretty low bitrate, is a touch soft, and could use a good dose of dust and scratch removal. And the "special features" include interactive menus, scene access, and language: French.

I believe there are also reel change burns, and the translation is pretty poor.

This might also be a decent opportunity for Criterion to get that Sasha Gray commentary track. :^o

Judging from her narration in The Girlfriend Experience, I would really, really like it if that didn't happen.

Since New Yorker folded, what about their Godard titles (Hail, Mary and Weekend)? If Criterion wants to keep milking their auteurs--esp. Godard--they can probably do so. I can't remember who had Notre Musique (Wellspring?), but I'm sure they could get the blu rights to that. My point is that Vivre sa vie is hardly the last drop in the well.

jbeall wrote:Since New Yorker folded, what about their Godard titles (Hail, Mary and Weekend)? If Criterion wants to keep milking their auteurs--esp. Godard--they can probably do so. I can't remember who had Notre Musique (Wellspring?), but I'm sure they could get the blu rights to that. My point is that Vivre sa vie is hardly the last drop in the well.

You're right. Just to clarify, My Life to Live is the last title that we know that Criterion currently has the rights to release (through Janus). There is always the possibility that Rialto would pick up another Godard title (Numero Deux, he says longingly) and there is always a chance that Criterion could acquire the rights to the NYer titles, including Weekend, but none of these titles are currently in Criterion's hands.

So, it's the last drop in the well until another storm.

Not to stir this pot again, but that's the frustrating part about Criterion just doing "classic" Godard. I'm well aware that this era of his work is the best-known and most frequently seen, but they could milk Godard for another decade. He's got so many films! Just the '70s and '80s (not my favorite period admittedly) would be a goldmine. I know that it comes down to rights issues, too, but if Criterion wanted steady cash then they'd get as much Godard as they could. What's the point of just stopping at Weekend or Tout va bien? Unless Criterion would like to mine another prolific auteur instead: Jacques Rivette.

While Criterion acquiring the rights to Godard's New Yorker catalog would be great if for no other reason than to give us a copy of Weekend that doesn't look like shit, I'd rather them go after the oft mentioned Jacques Rivette New Yorker titles (Celine and Julie and La Belle Noiseuse, although there two non-New Yorker titles, L'Amour Fou and Out 1, that are also in dire need of release) or Jean Eustache's still unreleased in region 1 The Mother and the Whore.

justeleblanc wrote:There is always the possibility that Rialto would pick up another Godard title (Numero Deux, he says longingly)

This is pretty out there and its loaded with porn, I doubt Criterion would ever try to release it. Although I have been surprised before (Sweet Movie, In the Realm of the Senses). That being said, if it ever was to be released, I would buy it the first day.

I might be alone but I think Godard's later films are far better than his 60s stuff. I would love for more DVD companies to release some of the unreleased later stuff (I don't' care if it is criterion, just anyone who is competent, Lionsgate's Godard release is a thing of beauty, I wouldn't mind them to do a few more boxsets).

I want a Criterion 'Sympathy for the Devil'

I want a Criterion 'Beat the Devil'.

I want a Criterion 'The Devil in Miss Jones'

As long as they spare us an Eclipse "The Devil's Eye"....

Thanks for the info on Vivre sa Vie, Matt. I'll have to upgrade when/if Criterion releases it.

Perhaps there should be an Eclipse set that everyone seems to be waiting for, imaginatively titled, Films with the word Devil in the Title.

Cold Bishop wrote:I want a Criterion 'The Devil in Miss Jones'

I want 'The Devil's Cleavage' or maybe just 'The Devils'.

I want to be the Devil.

I want all you unfunny jokesters to go to the Devil.

The Devil has spoken...

ouatitw wrote:

justeleblanc wrote:There is always the possibility that Rialto would pick up another Godard title (Numero Deux, he says longingly)

This is pretty out there and its loaded with porn, I doubt Criterion would ever try to release it. Although I have been surprised before (Sweet Movie, In the Realm of the Senses). That being said, if it ever was to be released, I would buy it the first day.

I think Criterion's shown their willingness to deal with difficult and controversial films, and I doubt that a film is pornographic would stop them from releasing it. I think the key criteria are really whether they have access to the film, whether someone at the company is willing to champion it, and probably to a lesser extent whether the film would be marketable at all.