Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[FrauBlucher]

And Paris Belongs to Us and A Poem is a Naked Person as well.

[Self]

Guess something held up Boyhood. Possible cause of the delay

[swo17]

Two films long thought undistributable plus the debut of Rivette. You'd think Criterion would be playing this up more!

[MongooseCmr]

Plus one of the last major canonized films to get a Blu-Ray upgrade. Quite a month

[Drucker]

Quite a year so far in my opinion. I certainly will be getting 75% of what is slated for release thus far.

[Minkin]

As for the forthcoming information roundup - ignoring the recent "phantom pages" that were added the other day:

Bicycle Thieves - Confirmed at Wexner some years ago
A Brighter Summer Day - Forthcoming Wexner talk / WCP
Manchurian Candidate - Forthcoming Wexner talk / CriterionCast insider knowledge
Paris Belongs to Us - September newsletter clue / Hulu (+Le coup du berger is on Hulu)
A Poem Is a Naked Person - Janus tour + Amazon VOD
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So no surprises this month in terms of speculative knowledge, but I suppose all but Manchurian Candidate is a surprise in terms of them finally being announced - what with the hell freezeth over Rivette, two films that were thought to be forever stuck in rights issues hell, and Bicycle Thieves upgrade which has been clamored for ever since I've been a member of this forum

[criterion10]

In terms of the films themselves, this is a very big month, and in terms of quantity, a pretty small one, though I can certainly live with that.

Unfortunately, some of the titles themselves are pretty light on the extras; between that awful cover design, little features, and simply the length of time it took Criterion to get around to it, Paris Belongs to Us will likely be one of the most disappointing releases this year. The others offer seemingly good features, though I certainly would have expected a little bit more, especially on a title as noteworthy as A Brighter Summer Day.

[andyli]

A Brighter Summer Day has a four-hour audio commentary, a two-hour documentary, a 45-minutes videotaped play, plus interview that could potentially be long. I think it is pretty comprehensive. The only thing I am wondering is why Jonathan Rosenbaum is not involved.

[feihong]

If Brighter Summer Day hadn't been mentioned as upcoming a week or two ago, it would have been a major surprise, I think.

[nolanoe]

BSD AND Rivette in one month?

If it continues like this, then the board will drown in a mix of hormonal bliss and rapturous celebration!! \:D/

Rivette in 2K (incl Le Coup...) is never a disappointment!!

[Michael Kerpan]

But will anyone EVER talk about either of these films again AFTER the discs are released?

[nolanoe]

Depends what else Criterion announces!! L'amour Fou and L'amour par terre, preferably!!

[movielocke]

But will anyone EVER talk about either of these films again AFTER the discs are released?

No. it's much easier to fetishize the unattainable.

[FrauBlucher]

Which begs to ask, what becomes the next unattainable title or group of titles in which one can fetishize about?

[mizo]

You needn't doubt this forum's capacity to obsess. We've still got The Mother and the Whore, Welles' Othello, Kiarostami's Koker Trilogy, the uncut Shanghai Express, Greed, and what have you, not to mention the countless movies that are equally deserving but have fewer boosters.

[The Narrator Returns]

Don't forget Kafka!

[danieltiger]

The Decalogue

[domino harvey]

And the Gorin boxed set!

[Zot!]

Mother and the whore must be high up there.

[movielocke]

Which begs to ask, what becomes the next unattainable title or group of titles in which one can fetishize about?

Jacques Daniel-Norman, obviously.

[Noiradelic]

Any other Rivette not already available.

Glauber Rocha

[gorgeousnothings]

It's okay, come March this will be seen as a "disappointing month."

[Saturnome]

I'm looking foward to Macunaíma, which was rumored at some point. That or any Warner silent which haven't been released since the VHS. I'd love to obsess over The Mother and the Whore, but it just seems so impossible to release.

[Tommaso]

Wasn't there also a rumour or speculation about Stroheim's "The Wedding March" a long time ago?

[movielocke]

I'm going to obsess over tampopo, because I want ramen.