The Criterion Collection

[Sommerswerd]

What are the chances Criterion will do a comprehensive Abbas Kiarostami box-set?
Janus Films did a touring career retrospective of his films last year which including his feature films and rarely-screened documentaries and short films. Here is a PDF of the program. They did similar retrospectives for Ingmar Bergman and Federico Fellini and we got corresponding Criterion box-set releases for them.

[ravenus]

Being in the mood for something noir-ish last night, I put on Louis Malle's Elevator to the Gallows, and man, it was a great choice.

The film begins with a phone call where a woman (Jeanne Moreau) is planning with her lover to bump off her husband (who is also his boss), then meet with her at an assigned rendezvous. The lover successfully carries off the killing, after he surreptitiously reaches the boss' chamber by climbing a rope with grappling hook, and rejoins his colleagues as they quit office for the weekend. But when about to drive off he realizes the rope is still hanging. To remedy the lapse, he again rushes into the building and is going up the elevator when the caretaker shuts off the power; our man is trapped inside.

Outside, his car is stolen by a blowhard delinquent and his girlfriend, who take it for a joyride. They find a gun in the glove compartment, and thus begins their own journey towards violence. Meanwhile, the woman waiting impatiently for the lover that didn't show up, starts trawling through their familiar haunts hoping to get news of him, only aware that she saw his car being driven away earlier with another girl in the passenger seat.

In terms of rational plot, Elevator is not always convincing. If the woman is having a secret affair, how is it that every bartender in town knows who she is going with? Surely that would have been difficult to hide, especially from a husband who seems to be involved in some form of espionage. The behavior of some of the other characters also seems to be decided more by where the plot needs to go at a given moment rather than be an organic expression of their personality.

But it does not matter much because Elevator is a film of style and attitude, and it delivers that in spades. Even when I am not convinced why, I can endlessly watch Jeanne Moreau walking the chiaroscuro Parisian streets at night with a smoky, downbeat Miles Davis trumpet in the background (the score is astounding, and reminds me of one of my favorite albums - Sunset Mission by Bohren & Der Club of Gore). Everyone is perfect in their parts (look for Lino Ventura turning up later as a detective). It may have been Malle's first fiction film (before this he worked on documentaries with Jacques Costeau), but his style is bold and consistent. Henri Decae's luminous BW photography captures the claustrophobic confines of the elevator (and in a pulse-tingling moment, the shaft) and the gritty streets of Paris with equal flair, and Leonide Azar's editing is deft. This is a film I suspect I will be revisiting several times just to soak in its irresistible brand of elegant melancholy.

The video presentation on Criterion is generally quite good, but some of the darker scenes have a heavier, more swarmy kind of grain. The LPCM audio has no issues, and spectacularly presents the Miles Davis score. Have to look into the extras but this is already a winner for me.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by Sommerswerd

What are the chances Criterion will do a comprehensive Abbas Kiarostami box-set?
Janus Films did a touring career retrospective of his films last year which including his feature films and rarely-screened documentaries and short films. Here is a PDF of the program. They did similar retrospectives for Ingmar Bergman and Federico Fellini and we got corresponding Criterion box-set releases for them.

I’m unsure about these. I had first heard they were doing a big box, but they’ve continued releasing some discs. I’m wondering if they’ll do a smaller set with the remaining titles instead of packaging Koker, Close Up, the recent ones, and Taste of Cherry again?

I’m still waiting on more Wenders. . . That tour was 6 years ago now!

[Sifox211]

Bear in mind they were releasing stand alone Bergmans shortly before the big box, and afterwards, so it wouldn't rule it out.

[dwk]

Kiarostami's son initially said that Criterion was going to do a box of all his father's films but that they might release the Koker Trilogy on its own.

I think mk2 commissioned all the restorations except the Koker Trilogy, which was done by Criterion, so it would make sense that they released that on its own first, to recoup more of that investment, before releasing a set of all the films.

[jw007]

Does anyone here own Symbiopsychotaxiplasm? I have been curious about buying/watching this movie, as its one of the most experimental curiosities/oddities in the Criterion Collection in my opinion.

[Xtempo]

Originally Posted by jw007

Does anyone here own Symbiopsychotaxiplasm? I have been curious about buying/watching this movie, as its one of the most experimental curiosities/oddities in the Criterion Collection in my opinion.

I am also interested. I can't quite get it during the sales and haven't decided to put it on my wishlist which is ever growing.

[Sommerswerd]

Originally Posted by dwk

Kiarostami's son initially said that Criterion was going to do a box of all his father's films but that they might release the Koker Trilogy on its own.

I think mk2 commissioned all the restorations except the Koker Trilogy, which was done by Criterion, so it would make sense that they released that on its own first, to recoup more of that investment, before releasing a set of all the films.

So you think the big box-set will come out eventually? I was wondering if I should go ahead and get the Koker Trilogy, which is on sale right now, or wait.

You were right about MK2. Looking at the program it states that besides the Koker Trilogy the remaining restorations were undertaken "by MK2 in collaboration with L’Immagine Ritrovata." I am a little worried about L’Immagine Ritrovata's involvement in this.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by Sommerswerd

So you think the big box-set will come out eventually? I was wondering if I should go ahead and get the Koker Trilogy, which is on sale right now, or wait.

You were right about MK2. Looking at the program it states that besides the Koker Trilogy the remaining restorations were undertaken "by MK2 in collaboration with L’Immagine Ritrovata." I am a little worried about L’Immagine Ritrovata's involvement in this.

I'm not sure. It might be worth waiting to see if we get any hints at 2021's slate.

[SleazyForWeasley]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Not sure if it's been mentioned but Criterion at some point released another of those Postcards books, this one including 2019 titles like the Godzilla Showa cover.



https://www.criterion.com/shop/produ...cards-volume-4

I'm glad these are successful enough for them to continue printing. I love them!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by PBateman87

Release date March 23, 2021! No Ashes of Time though...

[Show spoiler]

Since I have the Artificial Eye blu-ray of Ashes of Time Redux, I don't mind it not being in the Criterion set, given that the set will have 2046 instead! (which I don't have on BD).

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by PBateman87

Big YES on John Woo! At least upgrades of The Killer and Hard Boiled, since the Criterion DVDs have been OOP for a long time I think.

Yes, about 20 years, actually. They were barely released on DVD before Criterion lost the licenses.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by ravenus

I can endlessly watch Jeanne Moreau walking the chiaroscuro Parisian streets at night with a smoky, downbeat Miles Davis trumpet in the background (the score is astounding, and reminds me of one of my favorite albums - Sunset Mission by Bohren & Der Club of Gore).

Equally astounding and confounding is the fact that this is Davis' ONLY film score. I'd really like to know how a French film, where none of the cast/crew were especially renowned, secured that honor.

Regardless, it only makes it that much cooler.

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by SeanJoyce

Equally astounding and confounding is the fact that this is Davis' ONLY film score. I'd really like to know how a French film, where none of the cast/crew were especially renowned, secured that honor.

Regardless, it only makes it that much cooler.

Davis was touring Europe at the time and appreciated the way he was treated while there. Malle asked him to do it. He just had his pick-up group of European musicians, not his regular recording group from the U.S. He watched the film and improvised over the scenes as they played. I believe it was done over two evening sessions.
Davis also did a couple of soundtracks in the late 80s, for Dennis Hopper's "The Hot Spot" and Mary Lambert's "Siesta", and in 1991 for the Australian film, "Dingo" which Davis also starred in. And of course he appeared as a busker in "Scrooged".

[ilenewoodsfan99]

General question, but should I get the massive Olympics box set, or wait for the few I really want to see get separate releases?

[SlickDamian]

Originally Posted by dcx4610

Up next, I watched Silence of the Lambs for the first time.

Seriously? One of the best movies ever.

[alull]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Being in the mood for something noir-ish last night, I put on Louis Malle's Elevator to the Gallows, and man, it was a great choice.

[...]

But it does not matter much because Elevator is a film of style and attitude, and it delivers that in spades. Even when I am not convinced why, I can endlessly watch Jeanne Moreau walking the chiaroscuro Parisian streets at night with a smoky, downbeat Miles Davis trumpet in the background (the score is astounding, and reminds me of one of my favorite albums - Sunset Mission by Bohren & Der Club of Gore).

You got me curious about this album! Never heard of it but I just downloaded it for a definite listen in the coming days!
Thanks for this inadvertent suggestion.

[BillWatkins]

Big surprise for me to see Howard Hawks' The Big Sky (1952) added to The Criterion Channel in the section dedicated to Film Foundation restorations. When I read Criterion's December 2020 lineup post at the beginning of the month (https://www.criterion.com/current/po...er-2020-lineup) it doesn't even mention The Big Sky. I got an email today from Criterion and it was mentioned almost as a footnote at the end of it.

I asked Warner Archive about 10 years ago when The Big Sky was going to be released on DVD (this was before they started releasing Blu-rays) and they said the hold up was that they were searching for better elements for the 20 minutes that were cut from the original version so that they could reinstate them to Hawks' original vision. The film hasn't been released to date on DVD (or Blu-ray). The version streaming on the Criterion Channel is the full 140 minute original cut so I guess The Film Foundation helped Warner restore the film.

I have to imagine there is a very strong chance that Criterion is going to be releasing the film now.

[the sordid sentinel]

Watched Tokyo Story for the 1st time tonight..really blown away by it. This was my 1st Ozu..definitely gong to check out more. I think the rapid changes in post war Japan serve as a very good metephor for what takes place within the family the movie centers on. I'm sure that was intentional..it definitely works.

I've never seen so many actors looking directly into the camera while delivering dialogue..I didn't mind it, just something that stood out. Looks like a healthy serving of supplements w/this release..I will get around to those soon. Hopefully some things that struck me will be discussed.

[SeanJoyce]

Originally Posted by BillWatkins

[Show spoiler]Big surprise for me to see Howard Hawks' The Big Sky (1952) added to The Criterion Channel in the section dedicated to Film Foundation restorations. When I read Criterion's December 2020 lineup post at the beginning of the month (https://www.criterion.com/current/po...er-2020-lineup) it doesn't even mention The Big Sky. I got an email today from Criterion and it was mentioned almost as a footnote at the end of it.

I asked Warner Archive about 10 years ago when The Big Sky was going to be released on DVD (this was before they started releasing Blu-rays) and they said the hold up was that they were searching for better elements for the 20 minutes that were cut from the original version so that they could reinstate them to Hawks' original vision. The film hasn't been released to date on DVD (or Blu-ray). The version streaming on the Criterion Channel is the full 140 minute original cut so I guess The Film Foundation helped Warner restore the film.

I have to imagine there is a very strong chance that Criterion is going to be releasing the film now.

This makes my heart flutter. A home video release of The Big Sky is a dream come true. A restored release from Criterion? That's like the holy grail.