'Forthcoming' Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.2

[Amazing Goose]

'It's Criterion, Jim, but not as we know it'...

*sigh*... shoot to kill.

[Napier]

After watching The Naked Prey the other night, I find myself wondering if this sells enough to warrant a Blu-ray edition. I think it would be a great candidate for 1080p.

[Arthur House]

I just caught Resnais' Private Fears in Public Places on the IFC channel. Clearly the film is a masterpiece, but is there any chance this film will be released on Criterion? The film is on the IFC label and it appears that Criterion has a nice relationship with Resnais. Even getting a "Late Resnais" box set would be a treat. Maybe once The Wild Grass completes it's theatrical release, maybe an Eclipse set of Resnais' films from Smoking/No Smoking to The Wild Grass can be released.

This would make me unbelievably happy.

But PFiPP is already out from IFC. It would be cool to see more late Resnais in some form. Personally I'm jonesing for the much earlier Je t'aime, je t'aime.

I also noticed while looking up PFiPP on amazon that Image's edition of La guerre est finie is now OOP, so maybe that one will eventually get a wacky c.

[Dr. Snaut]

But PFiPP is already out from IFC. It would be cool to see more late Resnais in some form. Personally I'm jonesing for the much earlier Je t'aime, je t'aime.

I also noticed while looking up PFiPP on amazon that Image's edition of La guerre est finie is now OOP, so maybe that one will eventually get a wacky c.

Aren't most of the films IFC licensed to Criterion already out in decent additions. Y Tu Mama Tambien is one that sticks out in my mind. I don't think just because PFIPP has already been released on dvd doesn't rule out the possibility of it being licensed by Criterion. I mean, Benjamin Button has two simultaneous releases, one by Criterion and one by Warner Brothers(??? I could be wrong), so I doubt your theory holds water.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

I mean, Benjamin Button has two simultaneous releases, one by Criterion and one by Warner Brothers(??? I could be wrong), so I doubt your theory holds water.

It's distributed by Paramount in the States and Warner Bros. is distributing it internationally.

[Arthur House]

Aren't most of the films IFC licensed to Criterion already out in decent additions. Y Tu Mama Tambien is one that sticks out in my mind. I don't think just because PFIPP has already been released on dvd doesn't rule out the possibility of it being licensed by Criterion. I mean, Benjamin Button has two simultaneous releases, one by Criterion and one by Warner Brothers(??? I could be wrong), so I doubt your theory holds water.

If by decent editions (YTMT excepted of course), you mean discs you can only get at Blockbuster, then well yeah. YTMT is presumably an exception because it was licensed out to MGM for its initial release, and the updated Criterion disc will done on standard def and BluRay. The case against Private Fears... is that IFC released the disc (albeit a bare bones one IIRC) on their own imprint fairly recently (2007) and it isn't a Blockbuster exclusive. So you can actually go into a store and buy a new copy, unlike most of the other leaked titles (Hunger etc.).

Regarding your last point, Benjamin Button is a considerably higher profile film, and--wacky c aside--it's simultaneous release is basically the same as any other studio dropping multiple editions of their new releases.

I do concur that Private Fears... would make a fabulous addition to the collection, but I wouldn't hold my breath just yet. Methinks some earlier Resnais will be out first.

[Zazou dans le Metro]

I do concur that Private Fears... would make a fabulous addition to the collection, but I wouldn't hold my breath just yet. Methinks some earlier Resnais will be out first.

Region freers can avail themselves of most of the mid-later period Resnais from MK2 but a bumper version of 'Je t'aime, Je t'aime' or maybe 'La Guerre est fini' would fit Criterion's bill quite well. Of course screaming out for release is Providence; a title that seems to be keeping its contemporary (Fassbinder/Bogarde's Despair) company in oblivion.

[zonk]

If we need to see something other than Glengarry Glenross (10 yr Anniv) I have. Where the heck is a reissue of Luis Malle's - Atlantic City?? Criterion doesn't like Louie Baby?

[LastLament]

I really would like to see Criterion release The Portrait of a Lady (1996). The original dvd has gone out of print and think it would be quite a nice addition. Anyone know if any of her others may be coming out on Criterion?

I think it'd be a great part of the collection, and logically it could happen since Campion's already part of the Collection and if I recall correctly it's part of the Focus Features library...

[otis]

Any chance Stagecoach will be accompanied by Mizoguchi's Oyuki the Virgin and Wise's Mademoiselle Fifi? Would make a great 'Boule de Suif'-inspired triple bill.

[sidehacker]

Any chance Stagecoach will be accompanied by Mizoguchi's Oyuki the Virgin and Wise's Mademoiselle Fifi? Would make a great 'Boule de Suif'-inspired triple bill.

Good idea, but not particularly likely. I'd at least like to see some supplements mentioning Mizoguchi's film.

[zedz]

It's a sign of the times that the random speculation thread is now largely focussed on which films already released in decent editions in R1 within the last five years might soon be rereleased by Criterion.

[zedz]

Zedz I think this has been true now for a couple of years. Everyone reading here would have presuably been cherry picking Carlotta, Sutiod Canal, Arthaus, Madman and Moc - hell virtually half the original Crit catalouge is being ported over to Madman here in Oz, and MoC are now doing unheard of things like Femme Mariee in Blu!

You're correct re: other regions (and I wish they were even more aggressive in porting Carlotta titles, for example), but the shift I've noticed recently is speculating on titles already out in the US, and often not even out of print or in notably poor editions.

[James]

I saw a double feature of Dillinger Is Dead (one of the best movies I've ever seen) and Black Moon on Friday and both had Janus Films title cards in front of them. We already know Janus Films is releasing Dillinger Is Dead so there's a more than likely Criterion to follow, but I haven't heard much talks of Black Moon. Do you all like it? I liked it a lot actually, more than I originally though; images from it resonant with me and Sven Nykvist does an incredible job creating a bleak post-apocalyptic atmosphere. It seems like Black Moon is something Criterion would release.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

Did you go to the New Beverly to see those?

Dillinger was being advertised as using the new restored print, but how did Black Moon look?

[James]

Did you go to the New Beverly to see those?

Dillinger was being advertised as using the new restored print, but how did Black Moon look?

Yep, and the Black Moon print looked good, but I don't think it was newly restored.

[Tribe]

From Criterion's Facebook page:

I know we'll see a Criterion edition of Jean Vigo's Zéro de conduite someday...any chance we might also see L'Atalante?

The response:

Looking good...

For whatever that's worth....

[Cinephrenic]

Since the New Yorker L'atalante went oop, I think we should get the whole Vigo package sometime with his shorts including Zero de Conduite in the future.

[Tommaso]

Sigh.... whatever you think about Artificial Eye (and I'm currently upset about them because of the second part of "Jeanne la Pucelle"), if there's one thing you can blind-buy from them, it's their Vigo set. There's very little space for improvement that CC could do, I'd say, even thinking of extras. I see the value of Vigo for the collection, but at a time when almost all great films made before 1950 are dumped into Eclipse or Essential, and the last Renoir release being three and a half years in the past, and with far, far less classics appearing in general from CC, I can only say: please not another edition which only takes up production time and costs away from other, much more desired titles.

[tojoed]

^ Absolutely agree re: The Artificial Eye "Jean Vigo". Also the set has the feature length edition of the Cineastes du Notre Temps by Jacques Rozier.
Criterion are in the habit of only showing excerpts from these films, and I shouldn't be surprised if they did it again. Also, as you say, if you're Region free you'd rather they spent the time on something that isn't already on DVD.

[Tribe]

Sheesh, I understand why a Jean Vigo release wouldn't be a priority for those of us who have region-free equipment...but I fail to see why a release isn't justified because a minimum of folks are savvy enough to go region-free. There's millions of people out there who would never even think in those terms.

[GringoTex]

(and I'm currently upset about them because of the second part of "Jeanne la Pucelle")

What's wrong with it?

[Tommaso]

I've tried to describe the problems with it over in the Rivette thread. I really think it looks awful.

[Tommaso]

Sheesh, I understand why a Jean Vigo release wouldn't be a priority for those of us who have region-free equipment...but I fail to see why a release isn't justified because a minimum of folks are savvy enough to go region-free. There's millions of people out there who would never even think in those terms.

There's millions of people who would never even think of buying Vigo. For the minimum of folks who care about films of that vintage, going region-free is the minimum requirement if you want to see at least some of the stuff that is out there. Simply don't let the regional industry decide what you're allowed to view. That goes for regardless of which side of the Atlantic you happen to be. I'd never want to deprive myself of all the great R1 releases just because I'm in Europe. And I'm equally 'critical' of MoC releasing "The Burmese Harp" instead of another unavailable Ichikawa, for instance.