Forthcoming Lists Discussion and Random Speculation Vol. 5

[dwk]

It has been awhile since I tried to guess the announcements, so I figure I'll give it a shot:

Naked Prey (Blu-ray upgrade)
Wild Strawberries (whole new special edition)
Lord of the Flies (whole new special edition)
Tess
Madadayo
Hanzo the Razor Trilogy (I really want to say that they'll release these along with Lady Snowblood in a really awesome Kazuo Koike themed box set, but, other than Toshiya Fujita having a phantom page, I've no evidence that they have Lady Snowblood)

[BillWatkins]

I've always been a bit baffled by Criterion's choice of experimental/shorts. I picked up both Brakhage & Frampton sets in part because of the praises they received here, but was a bit underwhelmed by them both (particularly that these were chosen over my faves like Anger, Kuchar Bros., Quay Bros... which I not only like better, but would also probably sell better). Not sure if it's a high brow/low brow thing (which I would tend to doubt) or a need to push the less commercially viable (that others are not likely to pick up) when putting together a (very occasional) experimental set.

Personal taste aside, I'm not sure there's anything baffling about Criterion's choice of Brakhage and Frampton for experimental sets. They're among the most foundational filmmakers for the American avant-garde, and are generally pretty well-liked and well-studied among people who like that sort of thing. Anger is certainly part of that conversation too, but there already is a pretty comprehensive DVD collection of his stuff (albeit out of print, I think). The rest of the North American tradition is a weird nut to crack as far as commercial releases go - not just for market reasons but because of artistic temperament. I could imagine Criterion wanting to put together a Bruce Conner set, but I've heard his estate is pretty adamant about avoiding dvd (except for the institutional dvd collections he issued himself). Michael Snow allegedly wants no part of any kind of commercial release. Ditto the Markopoulos estate. Bear in mind this is a generation that took the primacy of the celluloid experience pretty seriously, and may see DVD or BD as an unacceptable compromise on their aesthetic. Someone like James Benning or Ernie Gehr might be more amenable, but their profile isn't as high as Brakhage and Frampton and their "bafflement" factor has to be at least as high.

I have no particular opinion about the Kuchar or Quay brothers, but my impression is that they would fill a different niche than did the "experimental / avant-garde" selections that Criterion has made so far (i.e., the Brakhage and Frampton sets). It's not always a question of "choosing over" but of choosing to fill different gaps, or of having a choice to begin with (it probably helps that those two filmmakers are as well-archived as they are, relative to their peers).

Well said. It's frustrating that Michael Snow won't allow his films to be released on disc, but there are other Canadian experimental filmmakers to choose from such as David Rimmer, Jack Chambers, and Joyce Wieland. There's also the NFB group, whom were more animation oriented, such as Arthur Lipsett, Colin Low, and Norman McLaren. Surely some more sets could be produced when/if Criterion wants to pursue experimental film again.

[Kauno]

There will be no surprises this time. No Chaplin and none of Cassavetes'.

[MongooseCmr]

They just released a Chaplin like a week ago. How is he surprising anyway, we all know those films are coming sooner or later.

[Kauno]

They just released a Chaplin like a week ago. How is he surprising anyway, we all know those films are coming sooner or later.

Sorry, I meant
a) There will be no surprises this time. b) No Chaplin and none of Cassavetes'.

[MongooseCmr]

That makes more sense. I don't know, maybe its the delay but I have a feeling something big is coming.

[vsski]

I think Wild Strawberries is a given at this point. When you currently try to access the specific page on their site it renders an "Application Error", while other pages load quickly without any problems.

[swo17]

other pages load quickly without any problems.

False.

[vsski]

Hmm - all other pages I tried load quickly, at least for me. Then again I haven't tried them all.

[swo17]

I'm not trying every page, or even that many pages. Just the home page, and it's only loading for me sporadically. When it does work, I can easily access the Wild Strawberries page.

[ptatler]

Predictions:
Eclipse Series 39: Dot Org's Stalled Ex-Certainties
JR85: The Complete Works of Jacques Rivette

[vsski]

I'm not trying every page, or even that many pages. Just the home page, and it's only loading for me sporadically. When it does work, I can easily access the Wild Strawberries page.

Ok then, maybe all it means is that they are doing something on the website (as we would expect), but I have no problems loading the home page or any other film page I tried except the Wild Strawberries one, which still doesn't load for me.

[Matt]

Works for me. Try clearing your browser's cache, maybe?

[vsski]

Too bad - it now loads fine for me as well.
Sorry for the false alarm - I was really hoping that this finally signaled the BD is coming, as it is one of my favorite Bergman films.

[dwk]

The disc features section of Wild Strawberries seems to have some additional items (at least, I don't think these were listed before):
Introduction by director Ingmar Bergman
Behind-the-scenes footage shot by Bergman

[ShellOilJunior]

The disc features section of Wild Strawberries seems to have some additional items (at least, I don't think these were listed before):
Introduction by director Ingmar Bergman
Behind-the-scenes footage shot by Bergman

You're correct. I checked the page's cache which only had:

• New digital transfer
  Commentary by film scholar Peter Cowie
  Ingmar Bergman on Life and Work, a 90-minute documentary by filmmaker and author Jörn Donner
  Stills gallery, featuring rare behind-the-scenes photos
  New and improved English subtitle translation
  Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

[donniedarko]

Here's my bets

Eraserhead
Persona
Lolita
Man Bites Dog (Blu-ray)
Repulsion (Blu-ray)


Well these are more hopes than anything, especially the first two.

[dwk]

Here is what it now says:

New high-definition digital film transfer
Audio commentary by film scholar Peter Cowie
Introduction by director Ingmar Bergman
Ingmar Bergman on Life and Work, a ninety-minute documentary by filmmaker and author Jörn Donner
Behind-the-scenes footage shot by Bergman
PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film writer Mark Le Fanu

[anton]

look's like you've slashdotted the whole thing, cause now the criterion web just gives an application error.

[eerik]

Here's my bets

Repulsion (Blu-ray)

Released four years ago.

[arsonfilms]

They just tweeted something about Le Samourai. I wouldn't be surprised if we see that announcement today as well.

[zedz]

Well said. It's frustrating that Michael Snow won't allow his films to be released on disc, but there are other Canadian experimental filmmakers to choose from such as David Rimmer, Jack Chambers, and Joyce Wieland. There's also the NFB group, whom were more animation oriented, such as Arthur Lipsett, Colin Low, and Norman McLaren. Surely some more sets could be produced when/if Criterion wants to pursue experimental film again.

There are already complete works box sets available for Wieland and McLaren, so no need for Criterion to go back to those wells. I would love to see McLaren on BluRay, but I'd hate Criterion to fritter away resources on a body of work that's already been celebrated so handsomely when they could be working on a hitherto overlooked filmmaker.

[MichaelB]

I've always been a bit baffled by Criterion's choice of experimental/shorts. I picked up both Brakhage & Frampton sets in part because of the praises they received here, but was a bit underwhelmed by them both (particularly that these were chosen over my faves like Anger, Kuchar Bros., Quay Bros... which I not only like better, but would also probably sell better). Not sure if it's a high brow/low brow thing (which I would tend to doubt) or a need to push the less commercially viable (that others are not likely to pick up) when putting together a (very occasional) experimental set.

Zeitgeist has the US rights to most of the Quays' catalogue, certainly including everything that Criterion would conceivably be interested in.

As for McLaren, that's down to the NFB in Canada - they own virtually all the relevant materials, and it would be impossible to create a hi-def upgrade without their extensive involvement. I'd love to see one, not least because the DVD has some of the heaviest windowboxing I've ever seen (I totally understand why, but it shouldn't be necessary any more), so the resolution upgrade should be even more noticeable - but I'm not expecting it from Criterion.

[NABOB OF NOWHERE]

They just tweeted something about Le Samourai. I wouldn't be surprised if we see that announcement today as well.

If it's another Pathe/Enfants DNR bowdlerisation deal on this one the AE burned in subs farrago shallt seem like a mote in the eye compared to the beam in Criterion's.

[dwk]

Things to Come