Criterion Newsletter (Part 2)

[Askew]

Just because it is in this months newsletter doesn't mean it will be released anytime soon. I mean, how long ago was the Grey Gardens bluray clue or even the recent Lord of the Flies one?

[captveg]

The Grey Gardens clue was January 2012.

[AquaNarc]

Well "giggle" is kinda similar to "Gigi", and giggle is close to France on the map so I think that's far more likely than Frances Ha!

Give me a break.

[jwd5275]

How long was there between the Cronos hint and it's eventual release? Besides, they may be wagering that knowing Frances Ha will be a Criterion film could get the Facebook crowd out to see it

[Brian C]

I like how no matter how obvious the answer is there's always the people who insist, seemingly unironically, that it must be something else.

[Ashirg]

If it's Frances Ha, there should be more titles in this clue. Otherwise they would not given each country a different laugh. Too bad there was no movie called Europe Laughs so this clue can be easy...

[JeffWang]

Don't know if it means anything, but there's a "Hey" in Austria. This might be a double clue.

[Matt]

These clues have been an incredibly effective strategy for revenge on this forum. Well done, Criterion. Well done.

[ianungstad]

This is surprising because Criterion typically has a gap of 12+ months between theatrical and dvd/blu on the IFC stuff. I've always been surprised that IFC let Criterion get away with such lengthy gaps. Maybe IFC is putting pressure on Criterion for something approaching a typical release window on the more commercial stuff. If they have a similar arrangement with A24 (which I wouldn't say is out of the question) maybe we'll get Spring Breakers as a summer release.

I thought it might be worth pointing out that on the opening weekend of Spring Breakers Criterion posted "Spring Break Forever" on their Facebook and Twitter page and linked to James Franco's Top 10 from a previous newsletter. I also asked Mulvaney about Spring Breakers and got this boilerplate response:

We announce all our upcoming titles on our website as soon as we can
make them public. The best way to stay up-to-date on our future
release plans is to check our "Coming Soon" section and e-newsletter.
I've included links below for your convenience.

Criterion is also listed in the likes section of A24's Facebook profile. If you browse the other entries it's mostly a list of their business partners and various talent associated with their films. A24 also tweet about Criterion a fair bit.

It's not very strong evidence but eh... thought I'd toss that out there. Could be nothing.

[Cinephrenic]

Looks like a map of the current economic status in the E.U.

[Jeff]

they may be wagering that knowing Frances Ha will be a Criterion film could get the Facebook crowd out to see it

I don't think that there's much of a chance that it's not Frances Ha, and I think you've just nailed the reason why they're hinting at it so early. I'd expect the disc release will come around Christmas, but they're helping out their pal Sehring by sending the Criterion faithful to theaters.

If they have a similar arrangement with A24...

I suspect the social media chumminess between A24 and Criterion is nothing more than palship among the NY indie film circuit. Lionsgate handled Charles Swan, but I guess Criterion could have a similar "first look" deal with A24, wherein Lionsgate gets the the stuff Criterion doesn't want. Charles Swan is terrible, and Ginger and Rosa merely mediocre, but I liked Spring Breakers well enough, I have high hopes for The Bling Ring, and The Spectacular Now received mostly positive festival notices.

[Lowry_Sam]

Could it be To Be or Not to Be? [-o<

Well it's definitely not Shoah.

[PfR73]

It's not a clue. It's Criterion's new method for responding to requests for Rivette.

[Tommaso]

I can't believe that every laughter indicates a release of a film from each of these countries. Would they really release something from Iceland or Austria? I mean, of course I'm dreaming of Gunnlaugsson and Forst entering the collection, but c'mon... Haneke might have a vague chance, though.

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

I can't believe that every laughter indicates a release of a film from each of these countries. Would they really release something from Iceland or Austria? I mean, of course I'm dreaming of Gunnlaugsson and Forst entering the collection, but c'mon... Haneke might have a vague chance, though.

More than this I think they are all going to be comedy based. So we'll get -'Hey! The crazy world of Michael Haneke' from Austria. 'Snort- Cocaine coma-comedy from Aki Kaurismaki.' from Finland.
'Chortle-is undoubtedly a Norman Wisdom box set with optional Albanian subs' from the UK and 'Hoo-Hoo' is of course 'More Macedonian Malarkey' from Angelopoulos.
An absolute marketing coup from Criterion. Count me in for all of them.

[ola t]

I can't think of a single Swedish film where someone chuckles. We're not really a chuckling country.

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

I can't think of a single Swedish film where someone chuckles. We're not really a chuckling country.

I suppose 'Smiles of a Summer Night' is about as much mirth as you can muster.

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

Would they really release something from Iceland or Austria?.

Revanche was austrian...made me laugh

[PfR73]

I think Austria might actually be "Heyo" instead of just "Hey"

[ByMarkClark.com]

It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Continent

[rwiggum]

I think Austria might actually be "Heyo" instead of just "Hey"

Eh? Eeeeh?

[Kauno]

Some of them say "Heil".

[mfunk9786]

[PfR73]

I Married A Witch. This may be the first time I've been able to guess one of these.

[Harmonov]

I Married A Witch. This may be the first time I've been able to guess one of these.

They've gotten so easy, even I can guess them. At the risk of sounding like a whiner, I do prefer them giving us clues that aren't already known. It is good to know that I Married a Witch is finally coming to the physical medium, though.