Criterion News and Discussion

The Perineum Falcon · May 18, 2012, 04:43:52 PM

On the Waterfront

The Perineum Falcon · June 14, 2012, 04:46:01 PM

!!!

72teeth · June 14, 2012, 04:50:42 PM

no way...

tell me my fandom is blinding me from seeing any other titles this image may reference

or...

Holy Fucking Nuts!

chere mill · June 14, 2012, 05:05:46 PM

sunday bloody sunday?

Fernando · June 14, 2012, 09:14:15 PM

^^ has to be, the image name is wackysunday, but I got to admit that I thought the same...

MacGuffin · June 18, 2012, 05:53:41 PM

David Fincher's 'The Game' Gets The Criterion Treatment In September Along With 'Eating Raoul' & More
Source: Playlist

Long rumored and wished for, "The Game" is finally getting the special edition treatment the rest of David Fincher's films have, joining the director's "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" in The Criterion Collection. That's right, this September your wallet is going to get a little bit lighter when the refreshed film becomes available from the boutique label.

So, what are you gonna get for the dollars you drop on this? Besides a newly restored transfer, the meaty part of the extras is an audio commentary, previously only available on the Region 2 edition of the DVD, featuring Fincher, Harry Savides, Michael Douglas, screenwriters John Brancato and Michael Ferris, digital animation supervisor Richard "Dr." Baily, production designer Jeffrey Beecroft, visual effects supervisor Kevin Haug, and visual effects producer Robyn D'Arcy. Damn. There's also an hour's worth of fresh behind-the-scenes footage and film-to-storyboard comparisons for four of the film's major set pieces, with commentary; an alternate ending, and more. If you haven't seen the film since it was released, there's no better way to reacquaint yourself than with this Criterion edition.

Also coming in September? Well, how about two films by legendary French filmmaker Marcel Carné? First up, Criterion is giving the dazzling "Children Of Paradise" an upgrade to Blu-ray and are bringing, for the first time, the fantasy "Les visiteurs du soir" to both formats. The film follows two emissaries of the devil, disguised as minstrels, who plan to spread heartbreak and suffering, but fall in love instead. Sounds fantastic. Not much in the way of extras for this one -- there's a documentary on the making of the film -- but having this movie even available is good enough.

Cult film fans will be pleased to see Paul Bartel's bonkers, hard-to-describe, but totally hilarious and unforgettable "Eating Raoul" getting the wacky C. The satirical, slapstick comedy about cannibalism (among other things) will be coming with two short films from Bartel -- "The Secret Cinema" and "Naughty Nurse" -- a commentary, a gag reel (awesome), archival interviews, a brand new documentary about the making of the film, and more. But that's not the only bit of obscurity coming from Criterion in September as the Eclipse will unveil a box set containing three of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Norman Mailer's oddball movies: "Maidstone," "Wild 90" and "Beyond The Law." No extras, but the movies themselves should be more than enough.

Finally, for all you neo-realist fans out there, Vittorio De Sica's stone cold classic and heartbreaking "Umberto D." is getting the Blu-ray treatment at long last. All the same extras, but now with the film delivered in dazzling 1080p.

socketlevel · June 23, 2012, 12:13:03 AM

been waiting for this for a while, it was one of the last criterion laser discs, right before dvd. i really like the cover art as well.

MacGuffin · July 16, 2012, 06:22:15 PM

'Rosemary's Baby,' 'Forgiveness Of Blood,' 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' Go Criterion In October
Source: Playlist

It looks like The Criterion Collection has something extra special for your trick or treat bag this Halloween, as the company unveiled their October slate, and it's a great one.

Kicking things off, Roman Polanski's stone cold horror classic "Rosemary's Baby" gets the wacky C with a fresh edition on DVD and Blu-Ray. In addition to boasting a brand new restoration, the disc will feature new interviews with Polanski, Mia Farrow, and producer Robert Evans. Even more, there will be "Komeda, Komeda," a feature-length documentary on the life and work of jazz musician and composer Krzysztof Komeda, who scored the film. If you haven't seen this tale of paranoia and the occult, do yourself a favor, and buy it blind. You will not be disappointed.

From the late '60s into the early '70s, underrated director John Schlesinger's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" will hit shelves on DVD and Blu. The followup to the director's groundbreaking "Midnight Cowboy," the film is a chronicle of a middle aged doctor and a divorcée who are both sleeping with the same artist. Oh, the '70s. The meat of the extras here are new and archival interviews with Schlesinger, actor Murray Head, DoP Billy Williams, production designer Luciana Arrighi, writer William J. Mann, and photographer Michael Childers, Schlesinger's longtime partner.

Next up, one of The Playlist's Best Films Of 2012...So Far gets "the treatment" with Joshua Marston's "The Forgiveness Of Blood" entering the collection and both formats. The film takes place in Albania where traditional methods for dealing with disputes between neighbors clash with an evolving, slowly progressing society, in a powerful look at familial responsibility. It's an excellent film and we're glad to see Marston get the recognition the film truly deserved on its theatrical release, and hopefully a brand new audience will find it on home video. The disc will include an audio commentary, rehearsal and audition footage as well as, "Acting Close to Home," a discussion between Marston and actors Refet Abazi, Tristan Halilaj, and Sindi Laçej, and "Truth on the Ground," featuring new and on-set interviews with Mezey, Abazi, Halilaj, and Laçej.

The Eclipse line adds a new collection with "Three Wicked Melodramas from Gainsborough Pictures," highlighting three popular, over the top, 1940s costume dramas from the British production company during an era when realism was king. The set will include "The Man In Grey," "Madonna Of The Seven Moons" and "The Wicked Lady." DVD only folks.

Finally, Wong Kar-Wai's gorgeous and shatteringly romantic "In The Mood For Love" gets an upgrade to BluRay.

MacGuffin · August 15, 2012, 05:00:30 PM

Director's Cut Of 'Heaven's Gate' Leads Criterion's November Lineup; Jean Luc Godard's 'Weekend' Also Coming
Source: Playlist

Every December, Criterion usually ends of the new year quietly, with not much of in the way of new releases. But they are making sure you'll be able to buy the cinephile in your life the best Christmas presents(s) ever, as their November lineup is, to put it politely, fucking epic.

As was teased just a couple of weeks ago, the company is bringing the newly restored, 216 minute director's cut of Michael Cimino's (in)famous "Heaven's Gate" to DVD and BluRay. The massive 1980 flop, which unofficially marked the end of the '60s and '70s golden era of auteur-driven American filmmaking, is often cited as a prime example of directorial hubris and excess. But the film's critical standing has slowly been raised over the past few decades, and with a Venice screening on the horizon, followed by this Criterion release, folks will be able to assess the film all over again. So what will it contain?

Well besides the film itself, it will have brand new interviews with Cimino, Kris Kristofferson, soundtrack arranger/performer David Mansfield and 2nd AD on the film Michael Stephenson, and they'll likely have fascinating insight into the troubled production on the movie. There will also be "The Johnson County War" about the real life incident that inspired the film, along with trailers, TV spots and more. Yeah, just put this one under the tree for us already.

If that isn't epic enough for you, how about three films from Pier Paolo Pasolini? Criterion is bringing his Trilogy Of Life -- "The Decameron," "The Canterbury Tales" and "Arabian Nights" -- in one box that will be stuffed with extras including essays, interviews, and multiple documentaries. Damn.

And the epic trend continues, of a sort, with Jean Luc Godard's "Weekend" finally making a long awaited return to home video in North America. One of the legendary filmmaker's must see films, it won't be packing much in the way of bonus material besides archival bits and bobs, but this is one you can't miss.

And damn, there's even more. Criterion has all you Japanese horror buffs covered, as through their Eclipse line, they'll be dropping "When Horror Came Shochiku." This was the production production company for more serious pictures from guys like Kenji Mizoguchi and Yasujiro Ozu, but when they dipped their toes in genre fare, the results were off the wall. "The X From Outer Space," "Goke, Body Snatcher From Hell," "The Living Skeleton" and "Genocide" will be bundled together for your pleasure.