Criterion Collection

[Daniel]

Guess that earlier email was a crock. What might have been...

[EricJ]

Andrew Stanton Reached Out to Criterion About ‘WALL-E’ Because He ‘Wanted to Be in the Club’

That's also true of Michael Bay and David Fincher, for why we got personal director-approved Criterion editions of "The Rock" and "Curious Case of Benjamin Button"--
And feeding the old myth of Criterion being the wandering paladin-knight of upgrading any movie they want.

[Randall]

Too bad. More Dis on Criterion could be cool.

So, it's sale time! How much is everyone planning to grab? I'm thinking 7 Blu-ray titles (I'm more caught up on titles now than I've ever been, thanks to Criterion focusing more on foreign and art house films while other boutiques take over Hollywood licensing), and maybe the Lubitsch Musicals DVD set - I'm on a big musicals kick since reading the Ted Sennett Hollywood Musicals book.

[Ben]

Well that’s slightly disappointing, both from an egotistical reason (at least he’s honest and slightly self-depreciated about it) and to explain why this is basically just a reissue of what Disney already put out with minimal bells and whistles (what, Disney wasn’t good enough for ya, Mr S? ). However, the door *is* open, and there’s still the supposedly ongoing deal with 20th Century. We may yet see more, albeit way down the line.

[Daniel]

February titles:

Dazed and Confused 4K Blu-ray:
NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE DIRECTOR'S CUT, supervised and approved by director Richard Linklater and cinematographer Lee Daniel, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
Audio commentary by Linklater
Making "Dazed," a documentary by Kahane Cooperman
Rare on-set interviews and behind-the-scenes footage
Footage from the ten-year-anniversary celebration
Audition footage and deleted scenes
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: Essays by critics Kent Jones, Jim DeRogatis, and Chuck Klosterman; reprinted recollections of the filming from cast and crew; and character profiles from the Dazed and Confused companion book; as well as the original film poster by Frank Kozik

Three Colors Trilogy:
NEW 4K RESTORATIONS, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks
DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF EACH FILM, plus one Blu-ray of each film with special features
Three cinema lessons with director Krzysztof Kieślowski
Interviews with cowriter Krzysztof Piesiewicz, composer Zbigniew Preisner, and actors Julie Delpy, Irène Jacob, and Zbigniew Zamachowski
Selected-scene commentary featuring actor Juliette Binoche
Video essays by film critics Annette Insdorf, Tony Rayns, and Dennis Lim
Documentary from 1995 featuring Kieślowski
Three short films by Kieślowski—The Tram (1966), Seven Women of Different Ages (1978), and Talking Heads (1980)—plus the short film The Face (1966), starring Kieślowski
Interview programs on Kieślowski's life and work, featuring Binoche, Insdorf, Jacob, film critic Geoff Andrew, filmmaker Agnieszka Holland, cinematographer Sławomir Idziak, producer Marin Karmitz, and editor Jacques Witta
Behind-the-scenes programs for White and Red, and a short documentary on Red's world premiere
Trailers
PLUS: Essays by film critics Colin MacCabe, Nick James, Stuart Klawans, and Georgina Evans; an excerpt from Kieślowski on Kieślowski; and reprinted interviews with cinematographers Idziak, Edward Kłosiński, and Piotr Sobociński

Romeo and Juliet (1968):
NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
Excerpt from the 2018 documentary Franco Zeffirelli: Directing from Life
Interviews with actors Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting from 1967 and 2016
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by scholar Ramona Wray

Two Films by Marguerite Duras:
NEW 2K RESTORATIONS OF EACH FILM, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks
Marguerite as She Was, a 2003 portrait of director Marguerite Duras
Interview from 1977 with Duras
Excerpt from a 1977 documentary on actor Delphine Seyrig
New English subtitle translation
PLUS: An essay by film scholar Ivone Margulies

Hollywood Shuffle:
NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM, approved by writer-director-actor Robert Townsend, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
New audio commentary featuring Townsend
New interviews with actors Rusty Cundieff, Anne-Marie Johnson, and Bobby McGee
Radio program featuring Townsend in conversation with film critic Elvis Mitchell
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by critic Aisha Harris

Winky dinky dog.

[Randall]

All good titles, but nothing I need.

[EricJ]

Romeo & Juliet '68 seems to be a current "streaming orphan" as a 60's-80's Paramount movie.
It's nice to see Criterion continuing its fine adoption work, that they began with public-domain titles.

Hollywood Shuffle:
Winky dinky dog.

I'm still convinced that Townsend had to have been sitting on that script since the 70s, as I was one of the few people in the 80s who was geezer enough to still GET 1975 jokes about "Mandingo" and "JD's Revenge".

I think I even know what real 70s TV show Townsend was parodying with his "Black Bat in the House" sitcom, but it's not on IMDb or YouTube, so I can't prove it...

[Ben]

Shuffle was kind of funnyish back in the day — and mostly the pastiche bits, natch — but the rest felt pretty aimless to me, and I think I remember it running out of steam long before the end. That one shot of the ways the pimp zombies walked was the one laugh out loud moment in the whole thing, and it didn’t seem quite as biting as I think I thought it was or wanted to be.

Am kind of tempted on R&J, though saw the end of it not that long ago and am pretty much good for now. Dazed kind of bypassed me in the day so I was late to it and never really plugged in, and I haven’t seen Three Colo(u)rs since they were on VHS! I’m not 100% sure I ever saw all three! So largely good that month, with plenty more other stuff to collect and catch up on!

[Daniel]

March titles:

Inland Empire:
NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM supervised by director David Lynch, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio and uncompressed stereo soundtracks, newly remastered by Lynch and original rerecording mixers Dean Hurley and Ron Eng
TWO FILMS FROM 2007:
LYNCH (one)
LYNCH2 by blackANDwhite, the makers of David Lynch: The Art Life
New conversation between actors Laura Dern and Kyle MacLachlan
More Things That Happened, seventy-five minutes of extra scenes
Ballerina, a 2007 short film by Lynch
Reading by Lynch of excerpts from Room to Dream, his 2018 book with critic Kristine McKenna
Trailer
New English subtitle translation and English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: Excerpts from Richard A. Barney's book David Lynch: Interviews

Last Hurrah for Chivalry:
NEW 2K RESTORATION with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio and uncompressed monaural soundtracks
Alternate English-dubbed tracks
Audio interview with director John Woo
New interview with Grady Hendrix, author of These Fists Break Bricks
Trailer
New English subtitle translation
PLUS: An essay by scholar Aaron Han Joon Magnan-Park

Mildred Pierce:
PREVIOUSLY RESTORED IN 4K
HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
Conversation with critics Molly Haskell and Robert Polito
Excerpt from a 1970 episode of The David Frost Show featuring actor Joan Crawford
Joan Craw­ford: The Ultimate Movie Star, a 2002 feature-length documentary
Q&A with actor Ann Blyth from 2006, presented by filmmaker Marc Huestis and conducted by film historian Eddie Muller
Segment from a 1969 episode of the Today show featuring Mildred Pierce novelist James M. Cain
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by critic Imogen Sara Smith

Chilly Scenes of Winter:
NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
New program featuring producers Griffin Dunne, Mark Metcalf, and Amy Robinson
Documentary from 1983 by Katja Raganelli about director Joan Micklin Silver
Excerpts of a 2005 interview with Micklin Silver
Original ending of the film, cut by Micklin Silver for its rerelease in 1982
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by scholar Shonni Enelow

[Ben]

I never got Mildred Pierce, and it’s been on my "supplemental" wish list for a while, so might spring for it now it’s a true 4K. I’m a little wary picking up Criterion's 4K-restored BDs if I already have their DVD, since Kino often then follows up with a true UHD. With this one being a Criterion 4K from the off it seems a safer bet, though might try and check the film out before. Haven’t seen it in an age and don’t remember if it felt totally successful as a Noir, though that extras package looks solid and has the feature documentary in there…

[Randall]

I thought I had Mildred already, but I don't. Hm, funny that I never put it on my wish list. Might have to get it now. But none of these are really musts for me, though it's not a bad lineup.

[Daniel]

April titles:

The Seventh Seal:
PREVIOUSLY RESTORED IN 4K
Introduction from 2003 by director Ingmar Bergman
Audio commentary and video afterword by Bergman expert Peter Cowie
Bergman Island (2006), a feature-length documentary on Bergman by Marie Nyreröd
Audio interview from 1998 with actor Max von Sydow
Tribute to Bergman from 1989 by filmmaker Woody Allen
Bergman 101, a selected video filmography tracing Bergman's career, narrated by Cowie
Trailer
Optional English-dubbed soundtrack
PLUS: An essay by critic Gary Giddins

The Fisher King:
NEW 4K RESTORATION APPROVE BY TERRY GILLIAM with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
Audio commentary featuring Gilliam
Interviews with Gilliam, producer Lynda Obst, screenwriter Richard LaGravenese, and actors Jeff Bridges, Amanda Plummer, and Mercedes Ruehl
Interviews with artists Keith Greco and Vincent Jefferds on the creation of the film's Red Knight
Interview from 2006 with actor Robin Williams
Video essay featuring Bridges's on-set photographs
Footage from 1991 of Bridges training as a radio personality with acting coach Stephen W. Bridgewater
Deleted scenes, with audio commentary by Gilliam
Costume tests
Trailers
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by critic Bilge Ebiri

Triangle of Sadness:
NEW 4K DIGITAL MASTER, approved by director Ruben Östlund, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
New interview with Östlund and filmmaker and actor Johan Jonason
Two new programs: one about the film's special effects and one about a challenging day on set
Trailer
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

Small Axe:
NEW MASTERS OF ALL FIVE FILMS, approved by director Steve McQueen, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks
New conversation between McQueen and writer and professor Paul Gilroy
Behind-the-scenes featurettes including interviews with McQueen, executive producer Tracey Scoffield, writing consultant Alex Wheatle, and members of the Small Axe cast
Uprising (2021), a three-part documentary codirected by McQueen and James Rogan about the tragic 1981 New Cross house fire
Audio conversation among McQueen, music producer Dennis Bovell, and Beastie Boys member Mike D
Trailers
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by film programmer and critic Ashley Clark

[EricJ]

The Seventh Seal:
PREVIOUSLY RESTORED IN 4K

If it doesn't include "De Duva", no sale.

[Randall]

An easy pass for me this month. No need to upgrade the first two, no need to get the second two.

I'm kinda planning on this being the year I give disc buying a (relative) break (except maybe for Warner Archive), and catch up on book purchases instead.

[Daniel]

May titles:

Targets:
NEW 2K RESTORATION, supervised by director Peter Bogdanovich
Audio commentary from 2003 featuring Bogdanovich
New interview with filmmaker Richard Linklater
Introduction to the film from 2003 by Bogdanovich
Excerpts from a 1983 interview with production designer Polly Platt
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: An essay by critic Adam Nayman and excerpts from an interview with Bogdanovich from Eric Sherman and Martin Rubin's 1969 book The Director's Event: Interviews with Five American Film-Maker

Branded to Kill 4K Blu-ray:
NEW 4K RESTORATION, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
4K BLU-RAY/BLU-RAY COMBO PACK
Interviews with director Seijun Suzuki and assistant director Masami Kuzuu
Interview with Suzuki from 1997
Interview with actor Joe Shishido
Trailer
PLUS: An essay by critic and historian Tony Rayns

Wings of Desire 4K Blu-ray:
NEW 4K RESTORATION, supervised and approved by director Wim Wenders, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio
4K BLU-RAY/BLU-RAY COMBO PACK
Audio commentary featuring Wenders and actor Peter Falk
The Angels Among Us (2003), a documentary featuring interviews with Wenders, Falk, actors Bruno Ganz and Otto Sander, writer Peter Handke, and composer Jürgen Knieper
Episode of Cinéma cinémas from 1987, featuring on-set footage
Interview with director of photography Henri Alekan
Deleted scenes and outtakes
Excerpts from the film Alekan la lumière (1985) and from Ganz and Sander's 1982 film about actor Curt Bois
Notes and photos by art directors Heidi and Toni Lüdi
Trailers
PLUS: An essay by critic Michael Atkinson and writings by Handke and Wenders

Petite Maman:
4K DIGITAL MASTER, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
New conversation between director Céline Sciamma and filmmaker Joachim Trier
Trailers
PLUS: An essay by author So Mayer

Thelma & Louise 4K Blu-ray:
NEW 4K RESTORATION, supervised by director Ridley Scott, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
4K BLU-RAY/BLU-RAY COMBO PACK
Two audio commentaries, featuring Scott, screenwriter Callie Khouri, and actors Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon
New interviews with Scott and Khouri
Documentary featuring Davis, Khouri, Sarandon, Scott, actors Michael Madsen, Christopher McDonald, and Stephen Tobolowsky, and other members of the cast and crew
Boy and Bicycle (1965), Scott's first short film
Original theatrical featurette
Storyboards and deleted and extended scenes, including an extended ending with director's commentary
Music video for Glenn Frey's "Part of Me, Part of You," from the film's soundtrack
Trailers
English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
PLUS: Essays by critics Jessica Kiang and Rachel Syme and journalist Rebecca Traister