criterionforum.org

Its out there. Anchor Bay.

Response to my question of more releases from Francesco Rosi and Elio Petri.

Jon Mulvaney wrote:I believe we plan to release "Moment of Truth," though it is not currently on the schedule. To the best of my knowledge, though we would like to do some of Petri's films we have no plans for any of those at this time. I hope this helps, and thanks for your email.

Best,

Jon Mulvaney

Why hasn't anyone released Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion ...???

Didn't Blue Underground release that?

sidehacker wrote:Didn't Blue Underground release that?

That would be The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion.

Lol...yeah, not the giallo one.

In The Realm of The Senses confirmed for next year by Mulvaney to me:

I believe we do plan to release "In the Realm of the Senses" at some point next year; please keep checking our website for updates. Hope this helps!

Best,

JM

Let's hope more Oshima follows it.

Regarding the upcoming Rossellini, MOC's Craig Keller writes here that "Rossellini's 'Louis' + six or so of the 'history' films will be coming out via Criterion some time next year, it seems -- across standalone-Criterion and Eclipse box-set releases (non-overlapping)."

The Rise of Louis XIV would pretty much have to be the standalone, no?

ianungstad wrote:In The Realm of The Senses confirmed for next year by Mulvaney to me:

I believe we do plan to release "In the Realm of the Senses" at some point next year; please keep checking our website for updates. Hope this helps!

Best,

JM

He believes as in, "I have no clue" I just work here. lol. Lay off the liquor Jon. I'm actually surprised that they would release this, just going by all the controversy surrounding the film. However, it is greatly poetic and needs a decent uncut release. I'm sure they will release some extras regarding this issue and the whole legal crap Oshima faced.

FSimeoni wrote:Let's hope more Oshima follows it.

Wow. In The Realm of the Senses and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. So everyone who is already familiar with these unrepresentative films and has made their minds up about Oshima will be validated in their opinion of him as a middling director concerned entirely with sexual politics. Color me genuinely surprised and completely unimpressed.

Picking these two films and ignoring the masterpieces Oshima is responsible for is a slap in our faces. I know this is just "more of the same" in the bitchfest that is this forum (and believe me, I'm more than familiar with all the arguments), but I feel very very strongly about this director's output. His legacy should not rest on the shoulders of this pair of relatively weak flicks. It would be similar to Criterion deciding to only release Zabriskie Point and ignore every other Antonioni film ever made.

[/whining]

Cinephrenic wrote:I'm actually surprised that they would release this, just going by all the controversy surrounding the film.

Gotta bulk up their shelves.

Err... it's possible that In the Realm of the Senses is just part of an eclipse box. The response sounds pretty nebulous and I doubt Criterion themselves are sure exactly how they will handle any Oshima films they have.

Cinephrenic wrote:I'm actually surprised that they would release this, just going by all the controversy surrounding the film. However, it is greatly poetic and needs a decent uncut release. I'm sure they will release some extras regarding this issue and the whole legal crap Oshima faced.

Exactly what I assume. "Realm of the Senses" is hardly among Oshima's best films, but its notoriety will no doubt generate sales (a similar case to "Salo"), and of course the film cries out for a huge amount of extras giving the background not only on the reception of the film, but also on the actual event that inspired it. Putting it into Eclipse wouldn't make much sense: it's hardly an overlooked film (unlike Oshima's works from the 60s), and its striking visuals really deserve and need the full treatment. Wouldn't be surprised about a BluRay release of it, too.

Perkins Cobb wrote:Regarding the upcoming Rossellini, MOC's Craig Keller writes here that "Rossellini's 'Louis' + six or so of the 'history' films will be coming out via Criterion some time next year, it seems -- across standalone-Criterion and Eclipse box-set releases (non-overlapping)."

The Rise of Louis XIV would pretty much have to be the standalone, no?

That's really great news - a broader brief for the Eclipse HISTORY FILMS and LOUIS XIV as a superb singleton (hopefully)...

Steven H wrote:

FSimeoni wrote:Let's hope more Oshima follows it.

Wow. In The Realm of the Senses and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. [...]
Picking these two films and ignoring the masterpieces Oshima is responsible for is a slap in our faces.

Did you ever consider the possibility that Criterion is releasing two of his most well known (to US audiences) films first because those are the most commercially viable and others will follow? I understand your frustration, but your complaint seems highly premature.

This monstrous Oshima restrospective -- with many new prints -- is touring North America over the next twelve months. A forthcoming Eclipse box of Oshima's 60s work seems likely.

It's Criterion's job to worry about their business model, not mine (and of course I considered it). I'm just another impatient consumer voice in the internet wilderness. Plenty of retrospectives, both monstrous and otherwise, cross the US every year, it doesn't guarantee any sort of DVD release.

Like I said in my post, I'm aware of all the conventional arguments about releases being more "commercially viable" and "that's how the world works", etc etc, that's fine. Great. The bigger picture for me is that these films *continually* overshadow Oshima's 60s work, and Criterion hooting and hollering from the rooftops that they can't wait to put them out while not even err... hinting at his masterpieces, bothers me.

I wonder how upset some people around here would be if Criterion had just put out, lets say Bunuel's Diary of a Chambermaid, and never even hinted at any of his other work? Mightn't feathers be understandably ruffled? Eh, well, it all boils down to "wah wah, Criterion won't put out what I want" which has been repeated online ad nauseum since the dawn of time. I apologize.

Um, who's hooting and hollering? They haven't even officially announced it yet. All they did was discreetly* respond to a member email. For all we know, there could be any number of Oshima films in the works. If you're going to blame anybody, blame the dude who didn't ask Mulvaney about more obscure Oshima.



*Yes, me writing this means Criterion is going to release more Buñuel now. You're welcome.

Steven H wrote:

FSimeoni wrote:Let's hope more Oshima follows it.

Wow. In The Realm of the Senses and Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence. So everyone who is already familiar with these unrepresentative films and has made their minds up about Oshima will be validated in their opinion of him as a middling director concerned entirely with sexual politics. Color me genuinely surprised and completely unimpressed.

Picking these two films and ignoring the masterpieces Oshima is responsible for is a slap in our faces. I know this is just "more of the same" in the bitchfest that is this forum (and believe me, I'm more than familiar with all the arguments), but I feel very very strongly about this director's output. His legacy should not rest on the shoulders of this pair of relatively weak flicks. It would be similar to Criterion deciding to only release Zabriskie Point and ignore every other Antonioni film ever made.

[/whining]

What he said, but I'd substitute that Eros debacle for Zabriskie Point. Can Max mon amour be far behind?

With almost all of the key Oshima films of the late 60s / early 70s unavailable (and the earlier ones seemingly unable to get both a decent transfer and English subs onto the same disc), we get these readily available minor works yet again. I'd even be happier to see Empire of Passion, since the existing R1 disc of this is truly atrocious.

Thank God for the bootleggers!

Re: Rossellini. This is more like it! Louis + 6 suggests more than one fully developed Criterion release, or more than one Eclipse box, as they've never gone for a six-disc Eclipse release yet. Whatever way it goes, this is the kind of ballsy release we've seen all too little of in 2008.

I do agree that it is yet premature to complain about Oshima. Same goes with many others directors. Where is the Shohei 60's masterpieces? Naruse? I mean, no other company has released these so far. I'm guessing Criterion might be sitting on most of these works that will eventually get a release in the future.

Cinephrenic wrote:I do agree that it is yet premature to complain about Oshima. Same goes with many others directors. Where is the Shohei 60's masterpieces? Naruse? I mean, no other company has released these so far. I'm guessing Criterion might be sitting on most of these works that will eventually get a release in the future.

Interesting that you bring up Imamura and Naruse because a number of their acknowledged best works are indeed available in DVD form, with subtitles, somewhere in the world. Imamura's Cannes winners? Available. Naruse has half a dozen of his 50s and 60s film out in one country or another. Oshima? A big shrug, pat on the back, and a "lotsa luck!"

Premature? Maybe. Maybe ten years ago this would have been premature. Again, the point I'm getting at is if one is familiar with Oshima's films, its a continual disappointment to see "the one with David Bowie in it" and "the one with penetration shots in it" (not that they aren't interesting films with some merit) overshadowing his better stuff. We have ten million movies in the "Forthcoming" thread, for what its worth, and I don't see the mythical "Oshima's Greatest Hits Eclipse Set" anywhere on the thing (maybe you guys have a secret Forthcoming thread that I can't read?)

Joking aside, and please take my posts with a grain of salt, its a *very* reasonable complaint to want these films out and consider the two openly discussed titles to be relatively uninteresting (and, as zedz said, already available).

I asked Mulvaney specifically about In the Realm of The Senses so his answer pertained only to that film. I suggest you send your own email asking about the other Oshima films and see what kind of response you get. If he says no...then maybe your justified in feeling the way you do.

Who knows? He might just very well say that they'll be out in an Eclipse set. Really, it can't hurt to ask.

ianungstad wrote:Who knows? He might just very well say that they'll be out in an Eclipse set. Really, it can't hurt to ask.

About twice a year I get the gumption to email Mulvaney and I don't remember the last time I got a response. Maybe someone with more charisma should do it? Or a woman?

You're just lucky you haven't seen the Fall 2008 Cinematheque Ontario programme cover, Steven...It's a big picture of Bowie alongside the retro's title: "In the Realm of Oshima". Not only that, but Lawrence and Senses are the only two films with multiple play dates/times...

Cronenfly wrote:You're just lucky you haven't seen the Fall 2008 Cinematheque Ontario programme cover, Steven...It's a big picture of Bowie alongside the retro's title: "In the Realm of Oshima". Not only that, but Lawrence and Senses are the only two films with multiple play dates/times...

Okay, I give up. Jeez.