The Criterion Collection

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by dana martin

been in a Noir state of mined lately, think Criterion would consider rescuing another from PD hell, much like they did with Detour,

D.O.A. is in need of a proper release, all because someone forgot to renew the copyright

Originally Posted by belcherman

I would love it, but from what I've read, the only half decent print is in the hands of someone who is asking exorbitant dollars, and even that print would need work.

If you're talking about Wade Williams, no, I don't think he owns it. He does own quality elements for Detour, but Criterion didn't use him as a source for that.

The Roan Archive DVD of D.O.A. is probably the best I've ever seen the film, but even their source elements need a boatload of work for a halfway decent HD release.

[mja345]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Speaking of Bogdanovich, wouldn’t it be great if Criterion could produce a feature length documentary about how he shops for all his ascots?

I'd also love a doc where Wes Anderson hits up all the best spots in NYC to purchase corduroy pants.

[yoloswegmaster420]

Celine and Julie Go Boating, Jafar Panahi's Mirror and all the new Jackie Chan films are playing on the Criterion Channel with both the Criterion Collection and Janus logos.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by yoloswegmaster420

Celine and Julie Go Boating, Jafar Panahi's Mirror and all the new Jackie Chan films are playing on the Criterion Channel with both the Criterion Collection and Janus logos.

Sweet, all of those Chan films have logos? Man, a box set in 2021 would be clutch.

[Meek12345]

Thanks bwdowiak for posting this several days ago...

Originally Posted by bwdowiak

Ok. Well, here goes...

Many of you probably received this e-mail. Definitely worth amplifying here on this forum. I like clicking and refreshing and watching numbers go up, so here's hoping this leads to the mother lode.

Dear Criterion Community,

There are more than 150 independent local art-house cinemas all across the country that are on the brink. Closed to slow the spread of COVID-19, cut off from ticket revenue and relying on gift certificate sales and online rentals, these nonprofits and small businesses have already had to cut their budgets to the bone. Without immediate assistance, many are just going to run out of money before substantial government aid kicks in. We can't let the few theaters that still play foreign, classic, art-house, and independent films die off as a result of this crisis.

On Monday evening, Janus Films and the Criterion Collection contributed $25,000 each to establish the Art-House America Campaign, a fund to offer immediate assistance paying essential bills and key non-executive staff salaries. Most theaters will benefit from grants of $2,500 or more.

We’re off to a good start, with more than 500 small donors having already contributed an additional $35,000—but there are hundreds of theaters in need, so the campaign can use all the help you can offer. Even a small gift could enable a theater to extend employment for a projectionist or a programmer, or pay critical bills. Please give what you can, and please leave a comment to inspire others to understand how essential these theaters are to our culture. No one knows better than the Criterion community why movies matter.

Please help independent cinemas survive!

Peter Becker, Jonathan Turell
& the Criterion and Janus teams

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Art-House...cp+share-sheet

I was able to make a donation earlier this week. The fundraiser deadline has been extended to 5/14. Hope it's still okay to repost this since it's Criterion related.

[StarDestroyer52]

Originally Posted by yoloswegmaster420

Celine and Julie Go Boating, Jafar Panahi's Mirror and all the new Jackie Chan films are playing on the Criterion Channel with both the Criterion Collection and Janus logos.

Superb news about the JC films. I've got most of the excellent Eureka and 88 releases but would double dip depending on the extras and the PQ/AQ. Maybe this means other Fortune Star titles could be open for Criterion?

[belcherman]

Originally Posted by jayembee

If you're talking about Wade Williams, no, I don't think he owns it. He does own quality elements for Detour, but Criterion didn't use him as a source for that.

The Roan Archive DVD of D.O.A. is probably the best I've ever seen the film, but even their source elements need a boatload of work for a halfway decent HD release.

I’m going from very foggy memory, but the article I read did not mention Wade Williams by name (I would have remembered that). I’m not sure who the collector was, or if the print in question was 35mm or 16mm, the writer had seen the print and suggested it might make a serviceable HD master with some work.

D.O.A is probably my second most wanted noir, behind High Sierra. I’d love to see it on blu.

[KMR]

Originally Posted by rip63

That's right. From memory, he said he did those two and another (I think it was Lost In Space) to finance his directorial effort, the amazing Nil By Mouth.

I absolutely loved Oldman's performance as Dr. Smith in Lost in Space. I want to say that his performance is easily the best part of the film, but of course some people are going to come back with "That isn't a very high bar to clear." Personally, I enjoy the film quite a bit, even though it didn't meet the expectations I had when I saw it on initial release. It's grown on me since.

[NeoNical]

This is completely off topic but I just watched India Song (1975) last night and while I felt like the story does extend itself too long, I thought it was an interesting and a stunning movie in the end. But what shocks me the most is that there's no Blu-ray release nor an English DVD release for it but it does seem like there's a clip of a restored version available on YouTube. This can possibly mean that the restored version that France did in 2017 is only available through digital copies in Sweden (The clip had Swedish subtitles). With the fact that a small French company named Tamasa released a trailer of it a few weeks ago with the restored version for it alongside an announcement of a screening coming later this year in France (Probably not going to happen) and the brief but well needed digital streaming option by MUBI (MUBI used the restored print WITH English subtitles luckily), I wonder if they'll release a Blu-ray of this in America with Criterion or perhaps Kino Lorber? I would love to hear more people's reactions to this movie and it certainly was a little difficult for me to review and give my honest opinion about it without having to find myself bringing up points that can also be argued with Tarkovsky's and Resnais' works. What are your opinions?

EDIT: https://www.tamasa-cinema.com/film/india-song/
Link to the re-release in France. Just hope that a Blu-ray will come after a wonderful restoration like this. Probably won't though

[Ray Jackson]

I love My Own Private Idaho.

It’s so freaking good.

The weird thing is that I grew up in Eugene, Oregon...two hours away from Portland. And yet it’s a city I know relatively little about.

...I know New York City better than I know Portland.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Reddington

The BBC series is utterly brilliant, and deserves its reputation as one of TV's finest-ever dramas. It is sufficiently different to the film, and its appeal lies in the procedural, almost mundane portrayal of a spy mole-hunt. There are plenty of meetings in nondescript rooms, cups of tea, cigarettes, and prosaic conversations. Guinness is the star, but he is supported by a stellar cast of some of Britain's finest actors. If you like intelligent, low-key, and slow-burn storytelling, it's an easy recommendation.

Welp you convinced me. Ordered the BBC show, the English release, and I got the book!

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Welp you convinced me. Ordered the BBC show, the English release, and I got the book!

Nice one! Hope you enjoy it.

If you do, then I'd also recommend the follow-up series, Smiley's People, made in 1982. Guinness is equally as good, and it also stars one of my favourite actors, the brilliant Michael Lonsdale.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Nice one! Hope you enjoy it.

If you do, then I'd also recommend the follow-up series, Smiley's People, made in 1982. Guinness is equally as good, and it also stars one of my favourite actors, the brilliant Michael Lonsdale.

Is the American release the full version or did it get cut too?

[Reddington]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Is the American release the full version or did it get cut too?

Unfortunately, both were cut for PBS. For Tinker, Tailor..., the number of episodes were changed, some scenes re-ordered, and some dialogue excised. If I remember rightly, Smiley's People was the same number of episodes but cut for time - and by as much as 40 minutes.

I have the UK DVD releases, but not yet purchased the Region B BD of Tinker, Tailor... (which I assume is what you picked up). There is no Region B of Smiley's People yet, so the BBC DVD would be the way to go as the US Acorn BD/DVD features the series as presented on PBS.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Unfortunately, both were cut for PBS. For Tinker, Tailor..., the number of episodes were changed, some scenes re-ordered, and some dialogue excised. If I remember rightly, Smiley's People was the same number of episodes but cut for time - and by as much as 40 minutes.

I have the UK DVD releases, but not yet purchased the Region B BD of Tinker, Tailor... (which I assume is what you picked up). There is no Region B of Smiley's People yet, so the BBC DVD would be the way to go as the US Acorn BD/DVD features the series as presented on PBS.

Yeah I got the Region B Tinker because of the cuts. I’ll watch Smiley, but hold out hope for a Region B Blu.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Reddington

Unfortunately, both were cut for PBS. For Tinker, Tailor..., the number of episodes were changed, some scenes re-ordered, and some dialogue excised. If I remember rightly, Smiley's People was the same number of episodes but cut for time - and by as much as 40 minutes.

Not to be pedantic, but Smiley's People aired in the US on a syndication platform called OPT (Operation Prime Time) rather than on PBS. That's most likely why it was cut as severely as it was, in order to allow for commercials.

I have the UK DVD releases, but not yet purchased the Region B BD of Tinker, Tailor... (which I assume is what you picked up). There is no Region B of Smiley's People yet, so the BBC DVD would be the way to go as the US Acorn BD/DVD features the series as presented on PBS.

Judging from the review here at blu-ray.com, the Acorn BD of Tinker is a visual nightmare. One user gave it a "2", the site reviewer, Michael Reuben, gave it a "1.5". Which is why I never tried to get a copy. I also own the UK (BBC) DVDs of both series, precisely because they were uncut (I had previously owned the Acorn DVD, but ditched it when I got the Brit releases). I haven't watched them in a while, though.

I'm tempted by the new(ish) BBC BD of Tinker, though I'd like to see some reviews of it first. The scan of the backcover says it's 1080p, though the database entry says 1080/50i (which may be a carry-over from the Acorn release)

[Hellspawn28]

Originally Posted by dwk

No, Home Vision released Cure and a number of other Janus titles (like Pale Flower and a lot of the Zatoichis)

I hope Criterion will give Cure a home video release soon. It needs more love because it's a great movie.

[jayembee]

Robert Harris posted a very positive (brief) review of The Great Escape at HTF:

https://www.hometheaterforum.com/a-f...on-in-blu-ray/

[HaroldnMaude]

Watched Prince of Tides blu-ray last night.
Was the first time I have ever seen the film. Was in my late teens when it first came out, so wasn't on top of my list to see, and hadn't yet developed a great love for Streisand. Not my favourite of her films, but Nick Nolte very impressive. I didn't think the rape scene was gratuitous. Not sure about the psychology of the film, if it adds up. Definitely questionable behavior on the part of a therapist to get involved with a patient, or even a relative of a patient. Makes the romantic angle of the film hard to sympathize with.

Unfortunately, it didn't quite line up with the zeitgeist of the times as anyone alive then remembers that was the year of Silence of the Lambs. Also the Cape Fear remake, Thelma & Louise, & of movies I definitely saw in theatre: Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, Point Break, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Interesting that also the year Fisher King came out - another film I never saw at the time, but when I watched it for first time on TV by chance last year, I was super impressed and surprised that it isn't better known now.
Anyways, as for Prince of Tides, after looking at the wikipedia article about the novel the film is based on, I think about all the gossip that's been spouted for years that it was snubbed due to misogyny - which is one of the few things that I do remember about the movie from the time. I think perhaps what people disliked was that Streisand changed so much of the plot of the novel, really turning it more into a romance between her character of the therapist and Nolte's character and gutting all of the older brother's story. In the film he becomes a minor character. I want to read the novel now. I am curious if the whole subplot about Nolte's character coaching the son in football is even in the novel?
I saw Streisand on her 2012 tour when she came to Vancouver and it was so cheesey when she gave her son Jason time during the show to do a few solos. In this film he was 24, playing a teenager, and the worst acting & goofiest lines are all his. If he had been serious about following in his parent's footsteps as an actor he probably could have had every opportunity to study & learn the craft - his father Elliott Gould is one of the greatest film actors of the '70's - but in this it is obvious that it was just a passing fancy. Anyways, I can't judge him too harshly since I didn't do anything serious in my 20's either.

Found this review of movie and blu-ray on YouTube, I think this really represents the age & demographic thst needs to discover this release. I think if Criterion advertised more or did product placement on shows like Drag Race or if they had had ads running during episodes of Will & Grace this could have been a big seller.

https://youtu.be/MYSEhTS6Mis

[somethingblu]

Originally Posted by HaroldnMaude

Watched Prince of Tides blu-ray last night.
Was the first time I have ever seen the film. Was in my late teens when it first came out, so wasn't on top of my list to see, and hadn't yet developed a great love for Streisand. Not my favourite of her films, but Nick Nolte very impressive. I didn't think the rape scene was gratuitous. Not sure about the psychology of the film, if it adds up. Definitely questionable behavior on the part of a therapist to get involved with a patient, or even a relative of a patient. Makes the romantic angle of the film hard to sympathize with.

Unfortunately, it didn't quite line up with the zeitgeist of the times as anyone alive then remembers that was the year of Silence of the Lambs. Also the Cape Fear remake, Thelma & Louise, & of movies I definitely saw in theatre: Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, Point Break, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. Interesting that also the year Fisher King came out - another film I never saw at the time, but when I watched it for first time on TV by chance last year, I was super impressed and surprised that it isn't better known now.
Anyways, as for Prince of Tides, after looking at the wikipedia article about the novel the film is based on, I think about all the gossip that's been spouted for years that it was snubbed due to misogyny - which is one of the few things that I do remember about the movie from the time. I think perhaps what people disliked was that Streisand changed so much of the plot of the novel, really turning it more into a romance between her character of the therapist and Nolte's character and gutting all of the older brother's story. In the film he becomes a minor character. I want to read the novel now. I am curious if the whole subplot about Nolte's character coaching the son in football is even in the novel?
I saw Streisand on her 2012 tour when she came to Vancouver and it was so cheesey when she gave her son Jason time during the show to do a few solos. In this film he was 24, playing a teenager, and the worst acting & goofiest lines are all his. If he had been serious about following in his parent's footsteps as an actor he probably could have had every opportunity to study & learn the craft - his father Elliott Gould is one of the greatest film actors of the '70's - but in this it is obvious that it was just a passing fancy. Anyways, I can't judge him too harshly since I didn't do anything serious in my 20's either.

Found this review of movie and blu-ray on YouTube, I think this really represents the age & demographic thst needs to discover this release. I think if Criterion advertised more or did product placement on shows like Drag Race or if they had had ads running during episodes of Will & Grace this could have been a big seller.
https://youtu.be/MYSEhTS6Mis

I was in college when this film came out and working at a movie theater, where I was also employed as a high school student. Interestingly enough, The Silence of the Lambs was originally on the books for release in 1990. I don't remember from the trades as to why it was booted to February, but it ended up being for its own good...as it certainly had a huge visibility in the "dead zone" of February releases at the time. Having your movie booted to the late winter was never a good sign. I am not sure if that is the case in 2020?

The Prince of Tides' attendance at the time, from my observation, consisted of big fans of the novel, people who read the novel and were passively curious to see a film of it or BIG Barbra Streisand fans. Throw in there the a smattering of people who came to the box office because they were just looking for something to watch. It was always an interesting bunch for the showings as pretty much you knew who was going to show up. It was also a solid hit in my little corner of the South and played for quite a while. The novel is a bit of a bloated affair. It really needed some sizable trimming to make it shorter than "The Ten Commandments". While I wasn't a fan of all of the choices of cuts made, I also knew that it was a personal project for the filmmaker...and Pat Conroy wasn't raising a stink about it. I'm curious to see how this lives on in the 21st century.