criterionforum.org

The Naruse retrospective (link ) is starting out here in the bay area in Berkeley. I'm going to see as much of his films as I can. I am going to make sure I see WHEN A WOMAN ASCENDS THE STAIRS, FLOWING, SOUND OF THE MOUNTAIN, MOTHER, LATE CHRYSANTHEMUMS, & FLOATING CLOUDS.

They always have to announce something we already know.

We're happy to report that Jon Mulvaney's back from vacation. He has a large backlog of mail but promises to get to it all and keep everyone posted on what's in store for 2006.

This has got to be a joke...

Annie Mall wrote:

We're happy to report that Jon Mulvaney's back from vacation. He has a large backlog of mail but promises to get to it all and keep everyone posted on what's in store for 2006.

This has got to be a joke...

lol.

It's sort of weird that they have an Altman blurb and forget to mention 3 Women, but it's utterly bizarre that they have the Grey Gardens piece and fail to mention the forthcoming re-release (while encouraging people to pick up the soon to be obsolete current edition). I guess it's safe to assume that the GG re-release has been put back - or that Criterion has recently appointed a new publicist with a death-wish.

zedz wrote:It's sort of weird that they have an Altman blurb and forget to mention 3 Women...

No mention of Short Cuts either.

It seems it's Altman's year - play in London, Altman on Altman published, honorary Oscar and now hotly tipped for Berlin Golden Bear with A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION

"Perhaps best known for such grand-scale masterpieces as M*A*S*H, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Nashville, The Player, and Short Cuts,"

They do mention Short Cuts.
They don't mention Tanner '88.

Theodore R. Stockton wrote:"Perhaps best known for such grand-scale masterpieces as M*A*S*H, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, Nashville, The Player, and Short Cuts,"

They do mention Short Cuts.
They don't mention Tanner '88.

That's odd. I thought I saw Tanner '88 on their website when it was originally posted in the news section and I was certain Short Cuts wasn't listed. Guess the eyesight starts to fade (moreso) as you near the big 3-0.

You're both right. The excluded Shorts Cuts on the website and Tanner '88 in the newsletter. I assumed they were just keeping the listing down to 3--restrained touting--from 4--flagrant hawk mongering.

http://www.criterion.com/nl206/wackyanimal_2-06.gif

*sigh*

I can't believe they actually call it "wacky animal".

Noir of the Night wrote:http://www.criterion.com/nl206/wackyanimal_2-06.gif

*sigh*

I can't believe they actually call it "wacky animal".

Don't let it bring you down, bro - it's just a toad. Although, the toad is the least "wacky" of the Earth's manifestations; it is the chosen animal symbol of Zen Buddhism, for one thing.

Yeah, but which film does it come from?

filmghost wrote:Yeah, but which film does it come from?

Magnolia

Is the toad from The Last Wave?

It's the only toadful Criterion title I can think of.

Virgin Spring.

Toad the Wet Sprocket Live at Budokan

its getting close to newsletter time. god forbid there's some news in it this time.

Y'know... if we weren't so busy obsessing for hours on end over Criterion's next release (myself included), the thing would be chock full of news. Hell, sometimes I think we know about Criterion's plans before Criterion knows about Criterion's plans.

-Toilet Dcuk

Last month they did solidify Dazed & Confused, that was news of sorts, I mean how long have we been getting quotes about Beyond the Valley of the Dolls and She's Gotta Have It!.
They haven't done it for a few months but I did like their little behind the scenes stories about how the discs came to be (Theives' Highway).

And we also got notice on Late Spring and Metropolitan through the catalogs, not to mention a heads up on selling our Seven Samurai discs before the newer version is released.

At least Seven Samurai sounds promising.

So far, this year has been very weak. They have announced a lot of good titles, but have fumbled up by delays (The Children are Watching, The Complete Mr. Arkadin), something wrong with the box (Young Mr. Lincoln's packaging, Viridiana's cover art) and now "Pictureboxgate" (Kind Hearts & Coronets, La bête humaine). This, on top of the fact there are not as many titles issued as last year, despite the flood of "double dip" releases (Grey Gardens, The 400 Blows, individual sections of Monterey Pop).

At first, I too was complaining about how Criterion should not release Metropolitan and Dazed and Confused and should release more classics, like some Rossellini or Ray (either Nick or Satyajit) and the long awaited Eisenstein Silent Films Box Set. Now, with how bad the year has gone, I no longer care. It can't get much worse. Because of my new-found depression , I have no anger over the news Kicking and Screaming will be released sometime this year.

I am hoping Criterion will turn the year around. As much as I hate reissues, I do think ones for Seven Samurai, Yojimbo, and Sanjuro would be appreciated. Also, they may have some big annoucement (maybe we will get the Eisenstein box set).

However, untill that happens, I have to live up to my Avatar. Criterion...you are on notice.