Criterion and IFC

[Nothing]

Criterion isn't going to acquire things they will lose money on. That doesn't have anything to do with being Americans. It has to do with not being stupid.

You obviously haven't been paying attention to a word I'm saying.

Okay, to put it another way, what makes Revanche so special? The Academy Award submission? Or that you happen to like it (who's being subjective now)? This was a minor film even by festival standards (in terms of hype / commercial potential), premiering in a Berlin sidebar.

I must say, your avatar is remarkably appropriate.

[Jeff]

Okay, to put it another way, what makes Revanche so special? The Academy Award submission? Or that you happen to like it (who's being subjective now)? This was a minor film even by festival standards, premiering in a Berlin sidebar

Revanche is special because it was (a.) artistically impressive enough to Peter Becker for him to feel that it fit their brand, (b.) commercially viable - It's a very accessible film and Janus' release was reportedly very successful, and (c.) not picked up by a larger studio or distributor.

I genuinely believe that there are very few films that meet all three of those criteria. I understand that you think there are many. Which other films of the "85%+ of the films selected by Cannes and Venice both this year and last [that] are without a US distributor" do you believe could possibly meet those three criteria? I'm sure you know more about that than I do, and I honestly believe that Criterion would welcome your suggestions. As often as I state that Criterion has to be profitable to stay in business (a concept you seem to find offensive), I believe that they are willing to go out on a limb when they think there is a chance for success. Why not post your sincere recommendations here, or email them to Criterion? Please try to do it without the ad hominems though. Your continual dismissals of entire countries and cultures makes it more difficult to take you seriously.

Janus' acquisition of Revanche was an experiment. Before they picked it up, they hadn't distributed a new film theatrically in decades. Its success may lead to further releases. Please understand that I am not opposed to Criterion picking up a variety of films that might not be seen otherwise. I am thrilled that they may continue this experiment. I just don't feel they have any sort of duty to do so, and wouldn't want them to do it at the expense of endangering the viability of the company.

[Nothing]

(a.) artistically impressive enough to Peter Becker for him to feel that it fit their brand

How can a film be artistically impressive to Peter Becker if he doesn't make the effort to see it? No film is going to meet this criteria until Becker and team start scouting methodically for acquisitions at the major festivals outside the US.

If you take the Peter Becker part out of the equation, however, then surely every film chosen for Cannes or Venice has artistic value on some level - or do you purport to know better than the programmers? The only possible exception might be a very high profile film (eg. Indiana Jones & the Crystal Skull or Babel) that is there to bring Hollywood stars to the red carpet - believe it or not, those aren't the kinds of films we're talking about here.

(b.) commercially viable - It's a very accessible film and Janus' release was reportedly very successful

But is this down to the film or the success of Janus' promotional campaign? I don't believe anyone can answer that definitively. What we do know for certain is that no other US distributor picked it up, including IFC - if the film is so very obviously accessible and commercial, why would this be? Some wild freak of nature, or for the reasons I have already very clearly outlined?

As you might imagine, I will not be sending a list of requests to 'jon mulvaney' anytime soon. It is a question of policy, not individual titles, and Criterion are hardly going to take the initiative, on the basis of an anonymous e-mail, when their contemporary arthouse slate for the year is already filled up with sub-licenses from IFC. I will, however, be boycotting all Criterion releases until this 'special relationship' comes to an end.

p.s. If this discussion were to be moved to an appropriate thread (eg. the Criterion - IFC thread), I would happily provide a list of recent films that I feel deserve US distribution. In the context of "Why Won't Criterion Release Only What I Want?", however, I feel such a list would be deeply inappropriate (these are not all films that I even like, necessarily, that's not the point of this at all).

[Jeff]

How can a film be artistically impressive to Peter Becker if he doesn't make the effort to see it? No film is going to meet this criteria until Becker and team start scouting methodically for acquisitions at the major festivals outside the US.

I believe that Criterion have sent a few members of senior staff to Berlinale, Cannes, and Venice the past couple of years. They're still very new at this though. Again, acquisition of new films hasn't been part of their business for over 30 years.

If this discussion were to be moved to an appropriate thread (eg. the Criterion - IFC thread), I would happily provide a list of recent films that I feel deserve US distribution.

Done.

[Nothing]

Okay then. These are all films I have seen from 2008, all lacking US distribution as far as I am aware (it's a little premature to be talking about 2009):

The Dust of Time (Angelopoulos)
Nuit de Chien (Schroeter)
Soi Cowboy (Clay)
Liverpool (Alonso)
Un lac (Grandrieux)
Delta (Mundruczo)
Bullet in the Head (Rosales)
A Light in the Fog (Rezaee)
Birdsong (Serra)
Parque via (Rivero)
Involuntary (Ostlund)
Johnny Mad Dog (Sauvaire)
Sleep Furiously (Koppel)
La rabia (Carri)

This is by no means a definitive list. I wasn't enamored with all of the above (indeed I hated a couple, as evidenced elsewhere on this board), however I believe they are all more than significant enough to merit US distribution. Two or three years ago, I believe all would have been acquired.

[HistoryProf]

It seems that IFC licensed all their early titles to different studios for home video release back when they were starting out early this decade. (Following with Sony, Y Tu Mama Tambien with MGM)

I'm not sure when IFC ended up with the distribution rights to Following, but it was recently. They didn't license it to Sony. Chris Nolan owns the copyright to it himself. He licensed it to Sony Home Entertainment when they wanted to release it on the heels of their successful home video release of Memento , and he must have gone to IFC when that deal expired.

MGM acquired the rights to all of the IFC catalog in 2002, but of course that deal has expired.

I wonder if IFC still has the rights to John Sayles' early films. He licensed them the rights to The Brother From Another Planet and Return of the Secaucus 7 when they released Casa de los Babys, and IFC released pretty good discs through MGM. If those discs weren't already well-appointed, I'd suggest they were likely candidates for Criterion. Of course that's not stopping them from doing Following and Y Tu Mama Tambien.

Anyone else think [Tape] is likely?

I'm not sure what the distribution rights are like on InDigEnt productions. IFC was a partner in that venture, but I'm not sure that they necessarily have any claim to home video rights. Tape is one of my favorite Linklaters. I'd love to see Criterion release it.

The Sayles thing really cheeses me...Matewan was announced as a loaded SE and completely remastered (the artisan disc is the single worst commercial dvd i've ever seen) to be released with Lianna, Secaucus, and the rest of his earlier stuff.....and then it just dissipated into the ether never to be mentioned again. It's a travesty that one of (imo it's #1) his best films STILL doesn't have a decent release. Is that in the IFC mix now too though?

[HistoryProf]

Jan Troell is also fantastic news!!!!! I'm going to cross my fingers that Criterion gets his early masterpieces out as well, which are M.I.A. worldwide as far as I know. [-o<

Yeah, I'm hoping that Criterion could also get their hands on The Emigrants and The New Land from Warner Bros. as well. [-o<

=D> =D>

i had to double check that it wasn't me that posted this! I've been aching for any kind of release of these two masterpieces for a decade. it's criminal they aren't available in the U.S. - the library had an ancient vhs of the New Land but it was horrifically bad - pan and scanned and like viewing through gauze.

[ianungstad]

How do people feel about Criterion doing season sets of television shows?

IFC issued a press release that they've acquired the rights (previously held by A&E) to Monty Python's Flying Circus. They are going to debut the show on the channel during a Python themed week and will run the series through 2010.

I'm just curious about home video releases. I think this would be a great project for Criterion. It would be unique since they've never done seasons of a tv show before. I notice the complete series box on Amazon is pretty heavily discounted currently (usually a sign something is being discountinued?!?)

I would be sad if they passed on Python and they ended up coming out in new sets via MPI in late '10.

[Matt]

It would be one thing if it were Scrubs or something, but Python is no ordinary "television show." It's a cultural touchstone. Though I'm not even much of a fan, I think it would be a great project for Criterion.

[Flike]

I wouldn't mind, either. The A&E sets are incredibly overpriced so I'm sure Criterion could do feature-rich, marginally costlier editions. I'm just wondering if they'd be willing to... that's a lot of television -- they have a lot on their plate.

Would be worth it (to me... I'm a Gilliam / Flying Circus fan) for the incredible packaging alone.

[MoonlitKnight]

I wouldn't mind, either. The A&E sets are incredibly overpriced so I'm sure Criterion could do feature-rich, marginally costlier editions. I'm just wondering if they'd be willing to... that's a lot of television -- they have a lot on their plate.

Would be worth it (to me... I'm a Gilliam / Flying Circus fan) for the incredible packaging alone.

Some of the episodes in the A&E set are also pretty butchered (in "A Book at Bedtime" [Series 3, Episode 12], both the beginning AND ending sketches are completely lopped off ). I'd love to see some of the deleted sketches included as well, if available (the infamous 'wee-wee' sketch, the sculptor sketch, etc.); if not, some behind-the-scenes/production photos will suffice.

[Mr. Ned]

It would be one thing if it were Scrubs or something, but Python is no ordinary "television show." It's a cultural touchstone. Though I'm not even much of a fan, I think it would be a great project for Criterion.

Agreed; if it were any other television show I would turn up my nose at this idea in a second...If I remember correctly that A&E set was made nearly a decade ago, right? Even more? I'm sure better supplements and transfers can be made...but at the same time I have seen new and used copies of the A&E set for bargain prices...

I still can't decide how I feel about the Criterion/IFC deal. I've really loved Criterion's interest in more 'contemporary' stuff recently (films like White Dog, Days of Heaven, Eddie Coyle, The Hit, Downhill Racer, etc...) but with the twelve film deal and the possibility of other releases that's a LOT of recent films for the upcoming months. I really hope that doesn't take away from the older things we still anxiously await/clamor for...

[ianungstad]

Press release is on various sites. Here's one link : http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx ... 91005ifc01" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Notable bit: Furthering its celebration of the world's most iconic comedy troupe, IFC announced today that Monty Python's Flying Circus, the original sketch comedy show that redefined the face of comedy forty years ago, will join the network's "Python-a-thon" week and continue airing through 2010. The network acquired all four seasons of the series directly from Python (Monty) Pictures Ltd.

Now I think this brings up an interesting question. Back when IFC was distributed by Genius, they handled IFC films and the tv stuff as well. I don't have the channel in my neck of the woods in Canada, so I'm not sure how many shows/programs they have. (I get the idea it's mostly a movie channel.) I would assume that licensing something like Flying Circus isn't anything different in terms of a home video release. I think this might be a unique situation as I can't recall any other TV show IFC has licensed.They seem to only have Criterion/MPI in their distribution chain with Criterion getting first pick.

So I do hope that this does come to fruition. One of my buddies on .com has the R2 box and he says the transfers are much, much better than the R1 A&E releases.

[Flike]

I know the IFC/Criterion schedule is pretty much filled and announced already (but one or two releases, I think), but does anyone think the deal has had any bearing on what IFC has chosen to pick up?

[Doctor Sunshine]

I don't have the channel in my neck of the woods in Canada, so I'm not sure how many shows/programs they have. (I get the idea it's mostly a movie channel.)

I don't get IFC anymore either (traded up for TCM) but they do have a bunch of shows and amazon lists IFC as the distributor for the DVDs. I'm a huge Python fan and have passed on the A&E set even at bargain prices in hopes of a nice(r) set one day. Criterion would be a dream for these, even in a limited capacity such gathering and creating supplements while MPI did the rest, but I'd be happy with a good or passable release from anybody.

[ianungstad]

I asked about Flying Circus on Facebook and this was there reply: You're way too up to the minute, Ian. We can't keep up with you!

Answer doesn't say much does it? Hmf.

[Jeff]

I asked about Flying Circus on Facebook and this was there reply: You're way too up to the minute, Ian. We can't keep up with you!

It may not be a done deal, but I suspect you would have received a "not in the cards" reply if it wasn't on their radar. I wouldn't be surprised if this was a big component of the IFC deal. The Pythons have to look for a distributor with a television outlet in need of programming and a home video division. That's why they went with A&E before. IFC makes perfect sense. The television channel will milk the series for programming, and the Pythons get to work with their friends at Criterion, which may have sealed the deal. Hopefully if this happens, Gilliam (at least) will be very involved. I've never been a Monty Python freak, but I might finally pick up the series if Criterion does it right.

[Tribe]

I asked about Flying Circus on Facebook and this was there reply: You're way too up to the minute, Ian. We can't keep up with you!

It may not be a done deal, but I suspect you would have received a "not in the cards" reply if it wasn't on their radar. I wouldn't be surprised if this was a big component of the IFC deal.

How many seasons and episodes would we be talking here?

[Jeff]

How many seasons and episodes would we be talking here?

Wikipedia says 45 episodes over four seasons. Each episode is 30-40 minutes. I'm guessing it would be a single release with eight to ten discs.

[gubbelsj]

Some of the episodes in the A&E set are also pretty butchered (in "A Book at Bedtime" [Series 3, Episode 12], both the beginning AND ending sketches are completely lopped off ).

Was there ever any reason given for this lopping off? I own the set and was indeed distressed to find the final few moments of "Book at Bedtime" to be missing - especially because they included clips from "Dad's Doctor" and "Dad's Pooves" and the great tv shut-off false ending, complete with "little dot".

[cdnchris]

I only bought one of the A&E discs and was not pleased with it so I never picked up the rest, not even the whole set at a cheap price. I don't think I was ever more disappointed with a DVD.

[Tribe]

Wikipedia says 45 episodes over four seasons. Each episode is 30-40 minutes. I'm guessing it would be a single release with eight to ten discs.

That would be a lot of Monty Python...Christ, I'm not sure I can take watching that damn Dead Parrot routine again....

EDIT: And this set would likely include the IFC produced six-part documentary: Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer's Cut).

[ianungstad]

^ Probably not. That documentary isn't made by IFC but by some company that normally does concert films. IFC is debuting the doc on it's channel as part of Python week. I think you can even pre-order the dvd for the doc. It's not a "real" IFC release though.

[Tribe]

^ Oh, I thought from the article I linked to it was self-produced.

[justeleblanc]

As long as both German episodes are included, I really don't care who releases it.