Criterion Discussion and Random Speculation Volume 7

[HardNight'sDay]

Look at how they haven't touched any Polanski in a while or upgraded KNIFE IN THE WATER to BD.

I have a theory that Criterion might upgrade Knife in the Water or any other Polanski film when he dies. Which sounds harsh but let's be honest, what is the better option?

[MovieBuff647]

Look at how they haven't touched any Polanski in a while or upgraded KNIFE IN THE WATER to BD.

I have a theory that Criterion might upgrade Knife in the Water or any other Polanski film when he dies. Which sounds harsh but let's be honest, what is the better option?

They shouldn't have to wait though because two things can be true at once: he should've been properly held accountable for that incident and his work, especially his work prior to that incident, is still worth recognizing. If VinSyn can go ahead and release a 4K of THE TENANT and license LAST TANGO IN PARIS 4K from MGM, then why do Criterion feel the need to be so cowardly, especially given they already released KNIFE IN THE WATER on DVD anyway? And Criterion still released their UHD upgrade of MISHIMA even two months after those allegations against Schrader came to light as opposed to canceling it, so not sure why they care so much about optics.

Also, STARS AT NOON would be great given no English-subtitled release for that one exists

I have been hoping for this! It's a top 3 film of the 2020s for me, and I doubt A24, Lionsgate or almost any boutique label would expect it to sell well enough to justify release, but a Criterion release seems like something that really could sell.

As it is now, because it came and went with so little fanfare (it was one of two Denis films that year, wasn't heavily promoted or widely championed by critics, I think it went to streaming at the same time or very soon after its limited theatrical release, etc) I think being an A24 release by Claire Denis starring Margaret Qualley is weirdly working against it.. if people are aware of it they might assume there's a reason they hadn't heard of it / haven't seen it. But if Criterion released it, I think that would be the 'and it's actually good!' endorsement currently missing from its identity which would flip all those other things back into selling points.

It's really not a film that I'd expect to connect with a huge audience (I only just realized that having it star the then-current partners of Taylor Swift AND Jack Antonoff could have been a selling point to a huge audience who REALLY wouldn't connect with it) but I do expect its reputation to slowly and steadily improve, and a Criterion release could certainly speed that up.

I do think Criterion would be interested but the question is if A24 would play ball. My gut says no but TBD.

[HardNight'sDay]

I definitely agree with you regarding Polanski, Movie buff. He is a great filmmaker but a terrible human being who should faced justice for what he did. My guess is that Criterion doesn't want to financially support someone like him in a post MeToo world, though to be fair I don't know how much royalties every filmmaker get with any Criterion release.

[Calvin]

I don't think it's purely about financial support. Criterion have clearly courted themselves an audience through social media that would be outraged if they released anything by the likes of Polanski today. Meetin' WA was also conspicuously absent from their release of King Lear. I think if that release comes out 10-15 years ago it would unquestionably have been included.

[MovieBuff647]

I definitely agree with you regarding Polanski, Movie buff. He is a great filmmaker but a terrible human being who should faced justice for what he did. My guess is that Criterion doesn't want to financially support someone like him in a post MeToo world, though to be fair I don't know how much royalties every filmmaker get with any Criterion release.

I don't think it's purely about financial support. Criterion have clearly courted themselves an audience through social media that would be outraged if they released anything by the likes of Polanski today. Meetin' WA was also conspicuously absent from their release of King Lear. I think if that release comes out 10-15 years ago it would unquestionably have been included.

Precisely what Calvin said. It's not about financial support, but instead about optics. If it were about financial support, Criterion would not have quietly picked up REPULSION for the UK in 2023. But of course, most people do not pay attention to their UK releases and there's no UK site where it'll be on top of the "COMING SOON" section.

Criterion have previously released LAST TANGO IN PARIS on LaserDisc. If they didn't expect outrage, they 100% would've swooped up the license for that 4K remaster before VinSyn could even consider approaching MGM.

I genuinely like Criterion a lot, and they've really won me over within the past 12 months when I had been previously mixed on them. I'm even willing to buy their recent and upcoming discs now when they're not 50% off (though Atomic Movie Store's prices are pretty damn close anyway). But their self-imposed image of "respectability" has done more harm than good, IMO. It's why so many people are irrationally angry about them releasing KPOP DEMON HUNTERS (which I have not watched and likely never will) despite it being an objectively genius financial decision.

[Finch]

Given that Polanski has apologized to Geimer and she is sick and tired of people hounding him about it (not to mention that the judge reneged on a guilty plea deal at the last minute), Criterion should upgrade his work, at least his pre-1975 output, and stand by it.