'Forthcoming' Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol.2

[James]

Sorry if this is redundant, but which label is expected to release The Night of the Hunter in Blu-ray, if any? Is Criterion (still?) rumored to be interested and/or a possibility?

[Cinephrenic]

Nobody knows at the moment. Criterion is rumoured, but this could mean just DVD or both. We should know very soon.

[Peacock]

I'm sure this has previously been mentioned, and if so, i apologize, but why are Nights of Cabiria, La Strada, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Black Orpheus, Bicycle Thieves, Amarcord, The Tin Drum, Gentleman's Agreement, Mon Oncle, Closely Watched Trains, Z, Down by Law, Through a Glass Darkly, Rashomon, The Shop on Main Street, Forbidden Games, Hamlet, Fanny and Alexander, The Virgin Spring and (especially excitingly) Musashi Miyamoto

all have pages on Amazon, as Blu rays, publisher: Criterion

Something to do with most of them being Best Foreign Language Film, or winning honorary Oscars?
Does this mean anything or has amazon just put them up for the sake of it?

[Awesome Welles]

...Fanny and Alexander [blu-ray]...

Yes! I have been waiting for this since I sold my AE set for £40 a while back.

...Z [blu-ray]...

I find it hard to believe that Criterion wouldn't have issued this with the SD release after the The Last Emperor debacle, which leads me to believe you might be right when you say:

...amazon just put them up for the sake of it?

[ianungstad]

Those Amazon listings seem odd. Aren't several of those films Studio Canal titles and more likely to be coming from Lions Gate? Also, why would Criterion be releasing Elia Kazan's Gentlemen Agreement? The Fox disc has a good transfer, commentary track and behind the scenes look at the film. If Criterion would grab any Kazan from Fox you think it would be Wild River or Viva Zapata.

[Cinephrenic]

Odd indeed. It's no surprise that Criterion will get in as much of Janus Films out on Blu, but the priority logic seems to baffle me. Perhaps these will come in the next few years or they managed to increase production of Blu because of sales.

[TMDaines]

I'm sure this has previously been mentioned, and if so, i apologize, but why are Nights of Cabiria, La Strada, Bicycle Thieves, Amarcord, The Tin Drum,

all have pages on Amazon, as Blu rays, publisher: Criterion

Yes please!

[zachhh]

i wonder whats in store for the month of May, as far as releases go. i've been itching to buy Picnic at Hanging Rock, but i know a re-release is coming this year ](*,) hurry up with that

[bevilacq12]

Amazon will create placeholder pages based on frequent customer searches - they unfortunately really don't mean anything. If there is an active pre-order, then yes that's a good sign - that means there's been some communication with the publisher over said title and Amazon feels confident enough to start taking orders. But the "Please sign up to be notified" does not indicate any actual information - it's all customer driven.

Some of the titles listed are plausible, but others definitely not. Nights of Cabiria is out of print on DVD, so they're not going to release a Blu-ray if they don't even have the rights to distribute the DVD anymore. And they've previously said that recent DVD-only titles aren't going to get Blu-rays anytime soon, so I wouldn't expect to see a 'Z' Blu-ray either.

[Cinephrenic]

They said a 'Z' Blu ray will coming sometime this year. I would think they'd release films like L'avventura or The Rules of the Game in the next few months instead of The Shop on Main Street or Closely Watched Trains. Not saying anything wrong with these, but they not staple titles like other Janus properties. I don't get how Amazon manage to put these kinds of marketing plots on their site. I think it's misleading and pointless really. A good way to kill DVD sales in the meantime.

[domino harvey]

I know Criterion has their head up their ass a lot of the time but not even they can be under the delusion that anyone wants Gentleman's Agreement

[captveg]

"They said a 'Z' Blu ray will coming sometime this year."

When did they say this?

[CSM126]

"They said a 'Z' Blu ray will coming sometime this year."

When did they say this?

They didn't. They said it was "a year away, at least". Cinephrenic just likes to pull shit out of his ass when it comes to reporting old rumors/news.

[Cinephrenic]

Criterion said it would sometime later 2010. What the fuck you know.

[ianungstad]

Just some speculation. Not based off any real info:

On Facebook Criterion said that there's another Brian De Palma picture on the way. (quoted on the forthcoming list here as well) People keep asking about the two MGM titles Blow Out and Dressed to Kill, which Criterion has said no to. I think the most logical and likely choice is that it's Obsession, which was his first major commercial and critical hit. They have more Sony/Columbia titles coming. Obsession's been out of print for a long time. Screenplay is by Paul Schrader who is also friendly with Criterion. Looking at De Palma's credits, not really sure what else it could be.

[James]

Just some speculation. Not based off any real info:

On Facebook Criterion said that there's another Brian De Palma picture on the way. (quoted on the forthcoming list here as well) People keep asking about the two MGM titles Blow Out and Dressed to Kill, which Criterion has said no to. I think the most logical and likely choice is that it's Obsession, which was his first major commercial and critical hit. They have more Sony/Columbia titles coming. Obsession's been out of print for a long time. Screenplay is by Paul Schrader who is also friendly with Criterion. Looking at De Palma's credits, not really sure what else it could be.

The Phantom of the Paradise was just released on Blu-ray in France; could be that one.

[Mr. Ned]

Body Double, Phantom of the Paradise, The Fury and Home Movies would also be logical assumptions, especially since all of his films before Phantom are absolute trash (including Sisters...hope I don't step on any toes there...). Body Double would be a welcome addition to the CC, but as far as I know there are still cheapo DVD releases still being released; still, it'd be cool to have some sort of supplement with Brad Easton Ellis regarding why he made Patrick Bateman so obsessed with the film in the novel of American Psycho.

But Obsession fits the bill the most, for better or worse.

[domino harvey]

It's pretty clearly gonna be Hi, Mom!

[Jeff]

Sony already revisited Body Double in a special edition of their own. I'd say that Obsession and The Fury are by far the most likely candidates.

[Cash Flagg]

I trust Criterion wouldn't waste their time on an utter turkey like The Fury.

It's pretty clearly gonna be Hi, Mom!

Works for me!

[Jeff]

I trust Criterion wouldn't waste their time on an utter turkey like The Fury.

It's certainly a divisive film, but it's one of the DePalmaiest of all. It certainly got Pauline Kael all hot and bothered.

[Mark Metcalf]

I've always liked The Fury (saw it first time as a teenager). Many other DePalma's I find awful, like Dressed to Kill.

[bjeggert82]

Is Blow Out a possibility? If so, that would be heaven...

[ianungstad]

Is Blow Out a possibility? If so, that would be heaven...

Criterion said "no" the last dozen times it's been asked over the last two months, so I'm guessing it's unlikely.

[Highway 61]

De Palma has a ton of obscure early work, so it really could be anything. That said, I think it's going to be one of the De Niro pictures: The Wedding Party, Greetings, or Hi, Mom. I hope it's not Obsession.