The Criterion Collection

[dvining]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

I used to read them before, but the BFI booklets always provide a SPOILER WARNING notice even if it’s minor, I remember being spoiled on the ending by Easy Rider’s booklet. So I read them after now. Plus sometimes you just want to turn the TV on instead of reading for half an hour, by the time you’re finished reading you might no longer have the energy to put the film on. Although I’m not against spoilers as sometimes they can encourage you to watch the film, and how you imagine the scene based on the description might play out differently in the actual film. Reading about film and watching documentaries or trailees always runs the risk of spoilers. Although I suppose broader overviews or short stories could be read independently of the film.

I'm one of those who don't care at all about spoilers. Spoil the whole thing before I start, I don't care. If the film works, it works spoiled.

I choose afterwards because the essays always assume some level of familiarity with the film. It just reads better.

[slop101]

A rare case of the studio DVD cover being far better than the Criterion cover...

[MifuneFan]

I love the new Criterion After Hours cover personally. Great colors, and illustration.One of my favorite covers of the year so far.

Here's a great interview artist Sister Hyde did with Forbes, that discusses the process of the cover (they also discuss The Trial's cover with artist Nessim Higson):

https://www.forbes.com/sites/darrynk...h=51ce0bdf103a

Tell us about your cover design, and how the movie inspired it.

The cover is based on the tactile, handmade punk flyers, wanted posters, and art pieces that populate the film. One character makes papier-mâché sculptures and plaster of Paris bagel and cream cheese paperweights that both have a strange staying power throughout the film, while another lives above a print shop and uses it to steadily populate the film with flyers of the Dunne’s character’s face.

On the cover, Dunne is foregrounded with a wide-eyed, worried look, while a hectic collage of the film’s supporting cast and events swirl around him.

For visual reference, I dove into punk and new wave flyers and LP designs from the era, as well as the work of great punk graphic designers like Art Chantry and Gene Greif. I love the way they allow images and type to clash almost haphazardly with one another in a way that is simultaneously playful and anarchic that, to me, felt right for this film’s extremely specific tone. Screenprinted stippling and halftones not only connect to the visual language of 80s punk and club culture, but also gives the images extremely high contrast to play into the thriller elements of the film. Being able to hand-color the image further into hyper saturated new wave teals and hot pinks helps bring back the excitement and humor of the film while keeping it in an otherworldly pop-art space.

Outside of sticking dogmatically to images from the film for the collage, I went out and bought vintage New York City subway maps and tokens from the era, along with the same copy of Henry Miller’s “Tropic of Cancer” which sparks off the film’s events. I even made real plaster of Paris bagel and cream cheese paperweights with the help of visual artists Ivory Woods and Savana Ogburn, which, outside of just being a lot of fun, all together adds to the DIY feel and authenticity needed to properly capture the art punk New York that Dunne is catapulted into.

This treatment extended beyond the cover into the rest of the release where you’ll find handmade plaster of Paris bagel and cream cheese paperweights as your discs, and a booklet styled after punk zines from the era, sporting the original Wanter flyer from the film, further collages, and a handful of easter eggs. All in service of bringing the film off the screen and into your hands to set you up for the ultimate at home experience of Martin Scorsese’s underrated comic nightmare.

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I love the new Criterion After Hours cover personally. Great colors, and illustration. One of my favorite covers of the year so far.

Yes, there are many far worse Criterion covers. I like both versions of After Hours.

[Gigantic Gene]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

I can't imagine paying $150 full price for the Ranown set in that flimsy packaging. That's too hefty a price to command for such poor quality.

Full stop, I can't imagine anyone here paying full MSRP for any Criterion. Even Criterion only sells them at 20% off minimum.

[MifuneFan]

One thing a lot of people don't realize is all of those pictures in the background of the After Hours cover are physical clippings that Sister Hyde used to created a collage (it's mentioned in detail in the interview above). She does similar things with other covers like the one for Chan is Missing.

She even made an actual plaster of paris bagel with cream cheese, which I believe was used for the disc art. That's some next level dedication.

[MifuneFan]

Janus Contemporaries October slate officially announced

EO

SPECIAL FEATURES

• The Making of “EO,” a new conversation with writer-director Jerzy Skolimowski and writer-producer Ewa Piaskowska
• PLUS: All the Donkeys, an introduction to the six Sardinian donkeys who play EO
• Trailer

No Bears

SPECIAL FEATURES

• On Panahi’s Films, a new interview with filmmaker Ramin Bahrani about director Jafar Panahi’s work
• PLUS: Panahi Speaks from Prison
• Trailer

The Innocent

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Meet the Filmmaker, a new interview with director Louis Garrel
• Trailer

[DukeTogo84]

Finished watching One False Move and thought it was a great film. Reminded me of a darker version of Fargo set in the South. While Criterion has been letting me down more and more, every once in awhile they release something like this and hopefully 2024 has a lot more new to HD titles.

[CelestialAgent]

EO extras correspond with Criterion Channel - conversation is 23:56 and donkeys is 04:46. The BFI release is arguably more stacked as it includes Lincoln Center Q&A, Michael Brooke guide to Skolimowski and CFF film High Rise Donkey plus a booklet. Definitely odd seeing Criterion releases sans booklets.

No Bears extras correspond with Criterion Channel - interview is 18:17 and Panahi’s statement is 02:04. This is better than the UK release which is barebones - regret missing it in the cinema.

The Innocent extra corresponds with Criterion Channel - interview is 17:25. Italian and French Blu-rays don’t have English subtitles and doubt it will get a UK BD (MetFilm is the distributor) so this is probably the most exciting of all the titles.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

No Bears extras correspond with Criterion Channel - interview is 18:17 and Panahi’s statement is 02:04.

Same for EO. and The Innocent. I believe they basically said the physical releases will mirror what's on the channel.

[exzachary]

Speaking of Satyajit Ray, i'm still surprised Criterion didn't do a big boxset in 2021 for his centennial.

[trobrianders]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu31

So the new Blu-ray release of Don't Look Now is the same release from 2015 correct?

Criterion's 4k policy is straightforward.

For 4K catalog upgrades where we've previously released a Blu-ray edition, the same Blu-ray is included in the 4K combo edition. It is not a new encode/Blu-ray from the new 4K restoration. For new 4K releases of titles not previously released by Criterion on Blu-ray, the 4K disc and the Blu-ray disc are from the same (new) 4K restoration.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by trobrianders

Criterion's 4k policy is straightforward.

For 4K catalog upgrades where we've previously released a Blu-ray edition, the same Blu-ray is included in the 4K combo edition. It is not a new encode/Blu-ray from the new 4K restoration. For new 4K releases of titles not previously released by Criterion on Blu-ray, the 4K disc and the Blu-ray disc are from the same (new) 4K restoration.

The sole exception is LE Cercle Rouge, which includes a BD based on the new restoration, rather than the previous Criterion release.

[TolerancEJ]

So, I'm just making sure that I understand this correctly. Aside from the regular 4 monthly Criterion releases, there will be an additional selection of 3 titles under Janus Contemporaries. So, 7 new titles per month?

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by TolerancEJ

So, I'm just making sure that I understand this correctly. Aside from the regular 4 monthly Criterion releases, there will be an additional selection of 3 titles under Janus Contemporaries. So, 7 new titles per month?

8 Total. There's 5 in the main CC slate.

CC

The Others 4K
Videodrome 4K
Don't Look Now 4K
Tod Browning Collection
Nanny

JC

EO
No Bears
The Innoucent

[TolerancEJ]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

8 Total. There's 5 in the main CC slate.

CC

The Others 4K
Videodrome 4K
Don't Look Now 4K
Tod Browning Collection
Nanny

JC

EO
No Bears
The Innoucent

Oh yes, you're right. Thanks for confirming.

[Mythos]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Finished watching One False Move and thought it was a great film. Reminded me of a darker version of Fargo set in the South.

Thanks for this - I'd managed to forget to pick the 4K when ordering Three Colors, the Ranown box and After Hours in 4K, off to order it now

[Lannister1098]

Just watched The Worst Person in the World via the Criterion Blu-ray and it was amazing. Memorizing performances from the lead actress and the supporting cast. Great writing and cinematography. Go watch it if you haven’t already. One of my favorite movies in recent memory.

[BunyipPouch]

Originally Posted by Lannister1098

Just watched The Worst Person in the World via the Criterion Blu-ray and it was amazing. Memorizing performances from the lead actress and the supporting cast. Great writing and cinematography. Go watch it if you haven’t already. One of my favorite movies in recent memory.

I saw 270 movies in theaters last year and The Worst Person in the World was my favorite

[alexrinse]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

One thing a lot of people don't realize is all of those pictures in the background of the After Hours cover are physical clippings that Sister Hyde used to created a collage (it's mentioned in detail in the interview above). She does similar things with other covers like the one for Chan is Missing.

She even made an actual plaster of paris bagel with cream cheese, which I believe was used for the disc art. That's some next level dedication.

I think she might be sending copies out herself, as mine arrived yesterday with the cellophane covered in a kind of greasy paste and the unmistakeable whiff of roast beef flavoured Monster Munch.