Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[ryannichols7]

I guess this is a good time to mention that I find it interesting how in the insert credits for all the new titles, people like Ashley Clark and Penelope Bartlett that have prominent outward roles at Criterion (they're very present on social media, as opposed to the old school Criterion names like Kim Hendrickson, Lee Kline, Issa Clubb, etc) aren't thanked in the official credits, but always get "special thanks" instead. Kseniya Yarosh too, who has answered a lot of the Mulvaney emails I've seen people post.

not sure what all it means, but just something I noticed and wanted to point out. I will say I think basically everyone they let go is on the web/branding/social media side of things

[FrauBlucher]

It'll be interesting to see if there is anything noticeable in the future in terms of their main product. Clearly, Criterion has suffered some kind of economic downturn, like much of society, in which they cut staff, raised their shipping costs for their flash sale and introduced pricey merchandise in hopes of adding to their revenue stream. I have to wonder if their streaming service has taken some kind of hit as have the big corporate streamers. Also, could the 3 three film sets they released recently also be part of a move to cut costs and raise potential revenue with higher MSRP.

[ryannichols7]

It'll be interesting to see if there is anything noticeable in the future in terms of their main product. Clearly, Criterion has suffered some kind of economic downturn, like much of society, in which they cut staff, raised their shipping costs for their flash sale and introduced pricey merchandise in hopes of adding to their revenue stream. I have to wonder if their streaming service has taken some kind of hit as have the big corporate streamers. Also, could the 3 three film sets they released recently also be part of a move to cut costs and raise potential revenue with higher MSRP.

the latter of which would be a win for all of us...the call for more of these boxsets/BD eclipse-type stuff/etc have been a call that myself and others have made a lot lately. a company of their size (even with 20% less staff!) can surely manage these as often as the UK labels (who seem to all have almost single digit staff) are able to do it.

I'm definitely curious what it all means. the foldout inserts/cheapening of packaging (less digipacks - see Night of the Living Dead for the most egregious example) definitely seem to agree with you, but there have been decent amounts of extras on a lot of these titles lately, both archival and in house.

[ellipsis7]

Only one Italian release in 2022, the lukewarm MIRACLE IN MILAN... Seems there has been quite a slowdown on that front for Criterion since the ESSENTIAL FELLINI mega box in November 2020,,,

[FrauBlucher]

I do hope that at some point Criterion gives us a standalone of Bergman's Hour of the Wolf. Maybe even a UHD edition. It's a stunning B&W and would probably be amazing in that format

[ryannichols7]

I do hope that at some point Criterion gives us a standalone of Bergman's Hour of the Wolf. Maybe even a UHD edition. It's a stunning B&W and would probably be amazing in that format

I would love that but they made it very clear that Shame was the only one of the late 60s films they truly cared about, considering the rest didn't get any extras in the boxset despite crying out for them. my hope is that a UK label (since BFI didn't do them) gives them a more thorough edition in the future, be it Arrow, Radiance, or whoever. Hour of the Wolf and Passion of Anna are ripe for commentaries from the likes of Kat Ellinger or Troy Howarth

[yoloswegmaster]

February 2023 titles:
Hollywood Shuffle
Thre Colors Trilogy UHD
Dazed and Confused UHD
Two Films by Marguerite Duras
Romeo and Juliet

[Harmonov]

Yawn.

[guyetgenevieve]

Hollywood Shuffle is another former Olive Films title. I wonder what else, if any, are potentially on the way. A New Leaf and Johnny Guitar seem like potential candidates, no?

[dwk]

Both of the Olive rescues have been MGM titles. Maybe Criterion has picked up some of the blaxploitation titles they had.

[DeprongMori]

Hollywood Shuffle is another former Olive Films title. I wonder what else, if any, are potentially on the way. A New Leaf and Johnny Guitar seem like potential candidates, no?

Some Olive releases I recently picked up were Rossen’s Body and Soul, which could use some supplements — perhaps on Garfield, Rossen, and Polonsky vs HUAC, Let There Be Light: John Huston’s War Documentaries, for which there are probably no better film elements available, and a couple minor Samuel Fuller films, Dead Pigeon on Beethoven Street and China Gate. The latter just got a packed release from Impulse in Australia, so I’m hoping it might see a similar domestic re-issue.

[yoloswegmaster]

Hoping they rescue 'Eat Drink Man Woman' and 'The Wedding Banquet' soon.

[Finch]

Nothing in February for me unless Three Colors is confirmed to have, uhm, accurate colors on the 4k discs. Not selling my BD set until we know what's going on.

[beamish14]

Hollywood Shuffle is another former Olive Films title. I wonder what else, if any, are potentially on the way. A New Leaf and Johnny Guitar seem like potential candidates, no?

Phase IV would be great, but only if they actually added Bass’ original ending to the feature instead of relegating it to the extras

[M-A]

Nothing in February for me unless Three Colors is confirmed to have, uhm, accurate colors on the 4k discs. Not selling my BD set until we know what's going on.

I believe the new restorations have the correct colours, judging by the clip potemkine uploaded which shows how the new restoration of blue matches the reference print exactly, so I assume they got the other 2 films correct as well.

[Boosmahn]

Well, not all months can be winners. The Duras set and Hollywood Shuffle sound interesting, but the former's lack of extras makes me want to wait for appearances on the Channel.

I'm anticipating comparisons of the Three Colors releases. I'm not fully convinced by that short comparison (but maybe I'm just being stubborn).

[dwk]

The two Duras films are on the channel.

[Boosmahn]

Thanks. The "Digital Options" section isn't on the overall set...

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

Both of the Olive rescues have been MGM titles. Maybe Criterion has picked up some of the blaxploitation titles they had.

It's not exactly Coffy, but I can see Criterion doing Cornbread, Earl and Me.

[andyli]

I'm anticipating comparisons of the Three Colors releases. I'm not fully convinced by that short comparison (but maybe I'm just being stubborn).

The Three Colors restorations have been released by Potemkine in France and comparison caps have been uploaded on Caps-a-holic for ages, so judge away. It's unlikely Criterion's will deviate from the masters supplied in any meaningful way. The only uncertainty is whether they could improve on the encoding.

[FrauBlucher]

With La dolce vita now with Janus I guess the stand-alone should come back into print

[Computer Raheem]

With La dolce vita now with Janus I guess the stand-alone should come back into print

According to their site, they're only allowing bookings for the UK

[ryannichols7]

I may be late on the ball with my speculation roundups but I do try and get them out within 24 hours. and the second for 2023 certainly provided some surprises..

Romeo and Juliet - a complete and total surprise. first new spine licensed from Paramount since The Parallax View in February 2021

Two Films by Marguerite Duras - both films are on the Criterion Channel with Janus logos; otherwise no prior indication they'd come to disc

Hollywood Shuffle - another Olive Films license from MGM rescued as this month's Ashley Clark title, following Cooley High in December 2022; no prior hints

Dazed and Confused - no prior hints, popular title from director Criterion has a continued relationship with. second Universal UHD license after Double Indemnity and first upgrade

Three Colors - extensive Janus tour and promotion; long speculated as its known to be one of Criterion's most popular boxsets; an inevitability

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DVD to Bluray/UHD upgrades this month: none

Bluray to UHD upgrades:

336 Dazed and Confused
587 Three Colors
588 Three Colors: Blue
589 Three Colors: White
590 Three Colors: Red

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some things I do want to note - this does confirm Criterion are still licensing from Paramount, even after The Paramount Six went OOP in 2021. in future speculation roundups, I guess we will await to see the fate of those titles and whether they return to the collection or not. The Virgin Suicides UHD was the only Paramount license of 2022, and many speculated it was just Sofia Coppola pulling strings. Romeo and Juliet is a pretty indisputable license, so I guess it's no longer off the table that we see anything new from the studio (which makes sense, as Kino and several UK labels have worked with them recently)

and Dazed and Confused is the first Universal UHD upgrade - Criterion have a very long, consistent, and fruitful relationship with Universal. even at the beginning of the Bluray era, Universal had no issues releasing barebones BD editions of films like Dazed and Confused, Fear and Loathing, Charade etc but still allowing Criterion to upgrade their DVD editions. I remain curious to see if more of these titles get upgraded, and what they split with new spine licenses as well (Lost in Translation and Children of Men seem like no brainers)

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for some reason I had imagined a lot more people had guessed Three Colors for this month, as its been a frequent guess for some months now, but only criterionsnob and yoloswegmaster did for this month! sorry that I would normally quote your posts so you'd both be notified, but you're both active enough that I trust you'll see this meaningless accolade. may both of you see your wishes granted with the March announcements. for the rest of us - better luck guessing next time!

[FrauBlucher]

To me, Dazed and Confused getting a UHD release smells like a director pushed release. I can’t imagine this was at the top of CC’s list of films to be upgraded for the format.

[ford]

To me, Dazed and Confused getting a UHD release smells like a director pushed release. I can’t imagine this was at the top of CC’s list of films to be upgraded for the format.

I’m pretty happy about it. The existing Criterion Blu-ray looks shockingly bad.