Criterion Newsletter (Part 2)

[med]

But at 4.5 hours you'd have to switch discs anyway. Do people just want the end credits removed from the first part so it feels more like they're watching one movie?

[Jeff]

Che was supposedly going to be a 60-day Blockbuster exclusive (like most IFC titles) at one time.

[domino harvey]

If this does turn out to be Soderbergh's Che, Holy Shit

[Flike]

Eh?

[domino harvey]

Is Criterion trying to get back in the game with one last-minute good release this year? BECAUSE I THINK IT'LL WORK =D>

[denti alligator]

Is Criterion trying to get back in the game with one last-minute good release this year? BECAUSE I THINK IT'LL WORK

is the film really that good?

[ianungstad]

Che was supposedly going to be a 60-day Blockbuster exclusive (like most IFC titles) at one time.

Still is. The films came out June 2 at Blockbuster as barebones editions. (I assume this is the MPI distributed version?) It will be more than 60 days if this is being released in the fall. I think the MPI deal is similar to what they were already doing with Genius. I just hope that the change in distributor means more IFC stuff will come out of Criterion. MPI probably doesn't have the means to do elaboratly produced discs for select titles, being more tailored to mass distributing barebone discs exclusively through Blockbuster Video stores, which is where most of the $$ is anyways.

I noticed through a quick look at IMDB that Joe Swanberg had his last half dozen projects (which is most of his output) released through IFC. Doesn't seem like a coincidence. Wouldn't be surprised if one of his films was acquired as part of the IFC deal. I know nothing about Swanberg, never heard of the guy before today.

[knives]

Is Criterion trying to get back in the game with one last-minute good release this year? BECAUSE I THINK IT'LL WORK

is the film really that good?

Depends on who you are. Some people (me) love it others don't.

[dx23]

Eh?

I'm amazed and surprised that this Puertorican newspaper has confirmed the news that Che is going to be part of the Criterion Collection.

[fiddlesticks]

Although that may look like Che on the parrot's t-shirt, I think it's really Margaret Thatcher, making this clearly a moot for For Your Eyes Only. "Give us a kiss!"

[bearcuborg]

I wish I had seen Che on the big screen, but it didn't appeal to me at the time. Anyway, for me the biggest treat of the newsletter was Joe Swanberg's top ten.

1. He actually gave his list write-ups which is gives us insights into his thought process.
2. The guy is a huge talent, I think most of the dismissive comments (trust fund brat, hack, etc) are coming from people who don't really know his work. I had the same opinion of his work just like everyone else, but he's a risk taking, courageous and modern thinking writer/director. Watch Hannah Takes the Stairs, LOL and his shorts on http://www.nerve.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and you'll see he's really on to something.

[justeleblanc]

I actually had fonder opinions of him BEFORE I saw his work. Back when Benten Films were hyping him non-stop, I was all excited about LOL, which fizzled in comparison to the filmmakers used to describe him (Rohmer, Linklater, Bujalski). So I then watched Young American Bodies online and I rented Hannah Takes the Stairs, and like a porno, I cared little about the amateur acting and superficial character development, and instead kept my eyes focused on the next shot of pubic hair. Recently, I caught Alexander the Last, after much has been discussed online about his work, and his films are still failures.

Personal attacks that call him a trust fund kid are unwarranted, but because Swanberg's attempts at depth resemble the same attempts from rich kids on reality shows having their own 'moment of introspection' -- Heidi Pratt sharing her feelings to a friend on THE HILLS -- I certainly don't blame people for their visceral and hot-tempered reaction to his films. But he is an honest filmmaker since I don't think he's mis-representing himself. He's actually that sad, at least he is right now. Swanberg should break from videotaping first drafts to take a few years to grow and mature as a human being, then start film-making again, let his intelligence catch up to his ambition.

He should also take the time to find a better top ten list.

[evillights]

I wish I had seen Che on the big screen, but it didn't appeal to me at the time. Anyway, for me the biggest treat of the newsletter was Joe Swanberg's top ten.

1. He actually gave his list write-ups which is gives us insights into his thought process.
2. The guy is a huge talent, I think most of the dismissive comments (trust fund brat, hack, etc) are coming from people who don't really know his work. I had the same opinion of his work just like everyone else, but he's a risk taking, courageous and modern thinking writer/director. Watch Hannah Takes the Stairs, LOL and his shorts on http://www.nerve.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and you'll see he's really on to something.

I'm a big supporter of Swanberg — he's one of the most talented young American filmmakers, all the Web-snark aside. (Although to be fair, snark is only ever loudest, but not representative of any larger opinion.) His films will be around for a long time.

I've been writing about all his films at my blog, over time.

KISSING ON THE MOUTH

HISSY FITS

YOUNG AMERICAN BODIES: SEASON 1

LOL

More to come, as I find the time.

Dan Sallitt has written very perceptively and enthusiastically about Swanberg on his blog and elsewhere, too.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

I wish I had seen Che on the big screen, but it didn't appeal to me at the time. Anyway, for me the biggest treat of the newsletter was Joe Swanberg's top ten.

1. He actually gave his list write-ups which is gives us insights into his thought process.
2. The guy is a huge talent, I think most of the dismissive comments (trust fund brat, hack, etc) are coming from people who don't really know his work. I had the same opinion of his work just like everyone else, but he's a risk taking, courageous and modern thinking writer/director. Watch Hannah Takes the Stairs, LOL and his shorts on http://www.nerve.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and you'll see he's really on to something.

I've actually seen his films. May I still have the right not to like him?

[Zumpano]

Motorcycle Diaries?

Soderbergh's Che

Why not both (aside from the damn good reasons supplied by Kaujot re: sales of MD)? Soderbergh has said that he thought Motorcycle Diaries as a spiritual prequel to his films...

[ianungstad]

I asked about the Motorcycle Diaries and 21 Grams after the Focus deal was revealed. Mulvaney said "no" to both. Soderbergh already confirmed Che in the link from the Dominican newspaper.

[dx23]

I asked about the Motorcycle Diaries and 21 Grams after the Focus deal was revealed. Mulvaney said "no" to both. Soderbergh already confirmed Che in the link from the Dominican newspaper.

Puertorican newspaper.

[so lightly here]

Saw both on its "road show" tour and am rather surprised at its welcome reception here. Part I, the Cuban section, seemed to trudge along a nominal pace (it is no "Soya Cuba"). Part II was even more so. Since people here said it is already at Blockbuster I guess that means it never made it into the regular theatrical circuit which is not a big surprise to me. It seems to me that having another Soderbergh movie in the collection along with "Traffic" would cause some here to get as excitable as they did when David Fincher's Ben Button snuck in the CC.

[bearcuborg]

Justleblanc, Elegant Dandy...

Justle...: That was a thoughtful post, and I would like to know what it was you disliked about Swanberg's movies in his mumblecore thread. Elegant...: You may dislike him of course and I would love to hear why as well.

Evil Light: Thanks for the post, I'll read and respond to your reviews soon!

[JHunter]

Che was supposedly going to be a 60-day Blockbuster exclusive (like most IFC titles) at one time.

Still is. The films came out June 2 at Blockbuster as barebones editions. (I assume this is the MPI distributed version?) It will be more than 60 days if this is being released in the fall. I think the MPI deal is similar to what they were already doing with Genius. I just hope that the change in distributor means more IFC stuff will come out of Criterion. MPI probably doesn't have the means to do elaboratly produced discs for select titles, being more tailored to mass distributing barebone discs exclusively through Blockbuster Video stores, which is where most of the $$ is anyways.

I believe the MPI deal doesn't kick in until after August.

[foofighters7]

Saw both on its "road show" tour and am rather surprised at its welcome reception here. Part I, the Cuban section, seemed to trudge along a nominal pace (it is no "Soya Cuba"). Part II was even more so. Since people here said it is already at Blockbuster I guess that means it never made it into the regular theatrical circuit which is not a big surprise to me. It seems to me that having another Soderbergh movie in the collection along with "Traffic" would cause some here to get as excitable as they did when David Fincher's Ben Button snuck in the CC.

You mean, along with Traffic and Schizopolis. He already has 2 in the collection.

I for one do not think hes a fantastic director but still 'worthy' of being in the collection.

I dont really see anyone throwing a fit about Che being included, at least not up the TCCOBB standards.

Remember Grays Anatomy could pop up any time too! haha

[knives]

Remember Grays Anatomy could pop up any time too! haha

Hopefully when Che does. They've had more then enough time to gather extras.

[colinr0380]

For what it's worth, Glenn Kenny has pointed out that Joe Swanberg has already appeared on a Criterion disc, in the contemporary interviews for My Dinner With André. That may be the reason for his Top Ten appearance in the newsletter.

[TheGodfather]

Eh?

Excellent!

[HistoryProf]

While i haven't been able to see either part of Che, wasn't the general consensus from critics that had seen it that Part I was great, while Part II was, well, not? And that collectively, it all just became too much? I seem to recall reading somewhere a suggestion to just go see Part I if it came anywhere near you and then pretend part II doesn't exist. and aren't they completely different in terms of aspect ratio, color schemes, etc?