The Criterion Collection

[WonderWeasel]

Originally Posted by jmclick

Turning away from the fascinating subject of what might be coming down the Criterion pipeline, I want to praise an existing release that I just saw for the very first time: Henri-Georges Clouzot's Diabolique. The film itself (as those of you who have been lucky enough to have seen it are already aware) is a bona fide masterpiece, and the blu-ray presentation is absolutely outstanding. I bought Clouzot's The Wages of Fear as a blind buy this past summer, and was so impressed that I knew it was time to jump off the fence and buy Diabolique.

What a great start to my 2015 viewings!

I was looking through the explore section on the Criterion website the other night, and 'The Wages of Fear' is really intriguing to me. I had never heard of the film or Henri-Georges Clouzot until then, but the plot seems like it has the makings of a great thriller. I'll probably be checking that one out soon.

Speaking of existing releases, I bought 'Umberto D.' during the 50% off sale about a month ago, and just got around to watching it last night. Wow. I don't know how De Sica manages to evoke such strong emotional reactions from the simplest of plots, but he was definitely a master of it. I couldn't help but get a bit choked up during the scene when Umberto is looking for Flike at the pound and realizes that he may be too late, as they load another cart of dogs up to be euthanized. After watching it, I can't wait to see 'Bicycle Thieves' again.


Oh, and has anyone seen Marcel Carne's 'Les Visiteurs du Soir'? I watched 'Children of Paradise' the other night and, despite the horrendous job Pathe did with the remaster, thoroughly enjoyed it. I was thinking of blind-buying 'Les Visiteurs' next, if it's worth it.

[ShellOilJunior]

The only thing One-Eyed Jacks has going against it is the fact it's a public domain film. IF Criterion is going to release it then it's most likely a very expensive endeavor to prep it for blu-ray. I saw a print of it a few years ago and it looked good. I don't recall if it was a collector's print.

It did cross my mind the "eye" clue could refer to the whale's eye from Werckmeister Harmonies but that's a stretch:

[filmmusic]

Another stretch I would hope for the rose clue (I don't know, it's the most intriguing clue for me):
The Age of Innocence
(the iconic Saul Bass main title sequence shows roses blooming)

[Cat III]

I was struck ill most of yesterday so I missed out on all the hubbub following the release of the cartoon. This is my first time seeing one of these Criterion cartoons so I'm green at this. Since there's a car would it be too much of a stretch to think Cronenberg's Crash? That may just be me being hopeful, as I think that picture is a billion times more interesting than The Brood.

I agree a Nausicaa release seems to be a long shot. Still, I have a tiny hope in my heart that Criterion has plans to do a Miyazaki box-set like is being released in the UK and Japan. That would be so amazing I'd pee my pants and then put on a new pair so I could pee those.

Some have suggested it may be Barbarella instead. On that same wavelength, what about Cherry 2000? It doesn't look like the character but do we need another Barbarella Blu-ray?

As far as the rest I'll defer to the rest of the forum. Inside Lleweyn Davis wouldn't disappoint me, though it seems an odd selection. After Hours is one of those Scorsese titles that interests me but that I haven't got around to yet.

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

It did cross my mind the "eye" clue could refer to the whale's eye from Werckmeister Harmonies but that's a stretch:

Werckmeister Harmonies is one that I've been interested in for awhile. The screenshot you use is from a site called bloodygoodhorror. Am I insane, or is WH not a horror film?

By the way, I have seen the porn version: The Twerk-meister Harmonies. Good stuff.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by Cat III

Some have suggested it may be Barbarella instead. On that same wavelength, what about Cherry 2000? It doesn't look like the character but do we need another Barbarella Blu-ray?

The thing is, could it be Barbarella? is it Criterion material? I thought it was considered a "bad" film..
Same for Cherry 2000.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Two people in the car. Two for the Road perhaps?

I have the MoC UK BD preordered for the week after next, so once my BD arrives, that should pretty much ensure Criterion releases it

About time this unsung masterpiece got some love.

[JoeBuck]

On top of that, Kino just announced that they're releasing Cherry 2000 the other day, so its definitely not coming from Criterion any time soon.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

well, the ship is almost identical to the one in the clue:

If we do get The New World from Criterion, I would give anything to have the BD include the original 150 minute cut, which I still think is far and away the best version. It played for a week in NY and LA, where I saw it two times. It has only been commercially released twice - briefly on DVD in Italy, and (unannounced and I suspect by accident) as a free digital download for buyers of the 173 minute extended cut DVD.

Ideally, they could even convince Malick to let them include all four versions:

- 150 min original cut
- 135 min wide release cut (never released on BD)
- 172 min home video extended cut (only version available on BD)
- presumed new fourth cut, which has been mentioned

The three existing versions are significantly different, and all worth preserving.

[Cat III]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

On top of that, Kino just announced that they're releasing Cherry 2000 the other day, so its definitely not coming from Criterion any time soon.

Holy shit, they did? I'm Googling it and I can't find record of this except people talking about it on this site. Is it official?

[JoeBuck]

Originally Posted by Cat III

Holy shit, they did? I'm Googling it and I can't find record of this except people talking about it on this site. Is it official?

It was announced by the director on his facebook page.
You can find more out if you go onto the forum for The Miracle Mile.

[filmmusic]

Just wanted to ask a general question about the drawing.
It shows around 19-20 clues.

Does that mean that these are the most important/known releases that are coming of all the year's schedule or that Criterion hasn't decided about other releases and these are the only sure ones?

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by JoeBuck

It was announced by the director on his facebook page.
You can find more out if you go onto the forum for The Miracle Mile.

There is a thread about the upcoming Kino release of Miracle Mile (great news!), and there was a mention of a Cherry 2000 release as well in the same thread.

Incidentally, as much as I love The Criterion Collection, I have to say that Kino Lorber was my Blu-ray hero of the past year.

[octagon]

Originally Posted by SammyJankis

Two people in the car. Two for the Road perhaps?

This is probably just wishful thinking but Knife in the Water opens with a couple in a car.

[adamhopelies]

Originally Posted by ShellOilJunior

The only thing One-Eyed Jacks has going against it is the fact it's a public domain film. IF Criterion is going to release it then it's most likely a very expensive endeavor to prep it for blu-ray. I saw a print of it a few years ago and it looked good. I don't recall if it was a collector's print.

I'm fairly sure that the Hellman Westerns were caught in public domain limbo too.

Originally Posted by filmmusic

The thing is, could it be Barbarella? is it Criterion material? I thought it was considered a "bad" film.

It's well regarded enough, and certainly fits in with Criterion's auteurist tendencies given who directed it.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by adamhopelies

It's well regarded enough, and certainly fits in with Criterion's auteurist tendencies given who directed it.

Oh, I see..
I thought it was a trashy camp film.
So, this could be it. (packed with extras that the existing Bluray doesn't have)
(although I would have hoped for Nausicaa)

[PowellPressburger]

Barbarella seems like a wrong guess to me. Possibly they could dig up or create more bonus features then the Paramount BLU release but I don't think it looks like Barbarella at all all of the lines all over the charaters body area just doesn't match up IMO. It seems to busy. I wouldn't be against a Criterion edition esp with cool psychadelic cover art. I guess we will see ... still shocked it looks so much like Nausicaa I bet now they are thinking wow that is a huge coincidence!

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Oh, I see..
I thought it was a trashy camp film.
So, this could be it. (packed with extras that the existing Bluray doesn't have)
(although I would have hoped for Nausicaa)

It was an arty trashy camp film, with a young and frequently nude Jane Fonda. What's not to like?

[ShellOilJunior]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

Just wanted to ask a general question about the drawing.
It shows around 19-20 clues.

Does that mean that these are the most important/known releases that are coming of all the year's schedule or that Criterion hasn't decided about other releases and these are the only sure ones?

Some of the biggest releases of 2014 did not have New Year's clues:

Persona (Newsletter clue)
La Dolce Vita (I don't recall any clues).
The Innocents

[SlickDamian]

Really surprised by Inside Llewyn Davis. I have the blu-ray of it, and it's a great release. A good entry in the Coen's filmography. It will name a great Criterion release, if that is in fact what the clue is.

Has anyone compiled a list of the hints and what it looks like they're hinting at?

[lordmorpheus72]

Originally Posted by octagon

I think I rented that once when it came out. I'm not exactly eager to see it again but I am curious.

The Big Clock would be an autobuy. I might not even wait for a B&N sale for that one. And I wouldn't exactly mind if somebody released a decent edition of No Way Out one of these days.

The first time I saw Fisher King I wasn't a big fan, and really wasn't sure I'd watch it again. But after more viewings, I've really grown very fond of the film. It's really well made and emotional... just a great film imho.