Basquiat 4K UHD (1996) Criterion Collection

[MifuneFan]

Criterion will be releasing the new B&W version of Julain Schnabel's Basquiat on 4K in April! The original color version will also be included on Blu-ray, sourced from a 4K digital restoration.

Basquiat 4K UHD

https://www.criterion.com/films/33321-basquiat

DIRECTOR-APPROVED 4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 4K digital restoration of the 2024 black-and-white version, supervised and approved by director Julian Schnabel, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• One 4K UHD disc of the 2024 black-and-white version of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Audio commentary featuring Schnabel and writer and curator Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan
• New 4K digital restoration of the 1996 theatrical version
• New interview with actor Jeffrey Wright
• Interview from 1996 with Schnabel and actor David Bowie
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by film scholar Roger Durling

New cover by Julian Schnabel

[PowellPressburger]

Is the 1996 Theatrical Version 4K digital restoration also in 4K or only on the Blu-Ray?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Is the 1996 Theatrical Version 4K digital restoration also in 4K or only on the Blu-Ray?

I don't think so. I was really hoping that would be included too.

[PowellPressburger]

The 1996 version is included, It just doesn’t really specify if it is on the 4K UHD in actual 4K. (As opposed to a 4K transfer as a bonus but only 1080p on a 4K disc.

[nicwood]

I’m happy about this release as this isn’t a title that would come to mind when thinking about 4K candidates but this seems to be another instance where Criterion cater to the filmmaker first and foremost. They could’ve easily added a second UHD with the color version in SDR and made everyone happy. And besides that, in this instance where the director did a radical change to the film’s appearance, there doesn’t seem to be any material that goes into this change. An interview or essay by Schnabel would’ve been appropriate here similar to Wong Kar-wai’s director statement. In that vein, Schnabel has fulfilled his vision and now has a proper document of it, yet here we are left somewhat in the dark about the context. A shame as I can’t see one of the boutiques that have a deal with Warner releasing the film too.

[nicwood]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

The 1996 version is included, It just doesn’t really specify if it is on the 4K UHD in actual 4K. (As opposed to a 4K transfer as a bonus but only 1080p on a 4K disc.

It’s only on the BD. It says 4K for the B&W version.

[PowellPressburger]

Originally Posted by nicwood

It’s only on the BD. It says 4K for the B&W version.

that means they must be squeezing 2 versions on the Blu-Ray then.

[VincentLord]

I know that Basquiat isn't exactly Seven Samurai or Anora in terms of public appeal, but would it cut into their profit margins so heavily to include an extra UHD with the film in colour? I don't very much mind personally, but I have to imagine it'll turn off a fair amount of buyers that the original version of the film is only on the standard blu.

[nicwood]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

that means they must be squeezing 2 versions on the Blu-Ray then.

No, the BD included with the UHD only has the color version whereas they’ll separately release a standalone BD that solely has the B&W version. At least that’s how I interpreted Criterion’s verbiage.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by nicwood

No, the BD included with the UHD only has the color version whereas they’ll separately release a standalone BD that solely has the B&W version. At least that’s how I interpreted Criterion’s verbiage.

The Blu-ray-only version appears to list both B&W and color (as an extra) so I do think it'll have both on the BD included with the BD too. Ideally this should have been a 3-disc release with a BD disc for each of the versions.

BD-only listing:

DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 4K digital restoration of the 2024 black-and-white version, supervised and approved by director Julian Schnabel, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack
• Audio commentary featuring Schnabel and writer and curator Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan
• New 4K digital restoration of the 1996 theatrical version
• New interview with actor Jeffrey Wright
• Interview from 1996 with Schnabel and actor David Bowie
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by film scholar Roger Durling

New cover by Julian Schnabel

[tsetse27]

great news!! have been waiting this one forever, I can get ride of the DVD.

amazing debut of Jeffrey Wright. Really fun to watch David Bowie and Dennis Hopper in it. Was surprise with the brief but memorable cameo of Gray Oldman and Willian Defoe.

[ShortFuse98]

Wish Downtown 81 had been included.

[DirkBelig]

While this is good news, I'm not too happy about the implication that this will primarily be Schnabel's "George Lucas/James Cameron Version" stripping the color out of a movie about ART with an "Oh, BTW, the old busted color version, I guess" afterthought.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by ShortFuse98

Wish Downtown 81 had been included.

Metrograph Pictures have the rights to that one. It was released on BD through Kino back in 2020:

[UnionJackMix]

Movie question: Seeing as Madonna was a good friend of Basquiat, was she represented or mentioned in this movie?

[asmodeux21]

Originally Posted by DirkBelig

While this is good news, I'm not too happy about the implication that this will primarily be Schnabel's "George Lucas/James Cameron Version" stripping the color out of a movie about ART with an "Oh, BTW, the old busted color version, I guess" afterthought.

I saw the trailer for the black and white version and thought it looked beautiful, but the color version is really stunning. I wish the color version was included as a separate 4k UHD with Dolby Vision/HDR. It's the version that I fondly remember at the theaters. Also, the use of color was an important element in Basquiat's art. It does seem strange Schnabel gravitated towards monochrome.

[Freddie_Quell]

Black and white? Jesus, Tom.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

Movie question: Seeing as Madonna was a good friend of Basquiat, was she represented or mentioned in this movie?

Yes, she's briefly mentioned in an interview in the film.

[Freddie_Quell]

Originally Posted by UnionJackMix

Movie question: Seeing as Madonna was a good friend of Basquiat, was she represented or mentioned in this movie?

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Yes, she's briefly mentioned in an interview in the film.

I seem to remember Jean-Michel Basquiat briefly complaining about having Madonna's big

[Show spoiler]penis

coming out of his left ear during a diner scene.

[callahan09]

Honestly so frustrating if the theatrical version is only on BD instead of 4K. I will be glad to upgrade my DVD after all these years, but come on... This new revisionist version of the film doesn't interest me at all. I'll give it a chance, but I have watched the original version dozens of times and really wish the 4K version was the familiar version. In my opinion BOTH versions should be 4K. You went to the trouble of doing a new 4K scan of the theatrical, why relegate it to a BD only? Makes absolutely no sense to me. Charge $10 more like you did for Seven Samurai, nobody who has any interest in the film will give a damn about the price difference to get a 3-disc set with 2 UHDs.