British Film Institute (BFI) Discussion Thread

[burdette]

Originally Posted by stepeanut

The Criterion edition of Good Morning is superior, particularly in the extras, but the BFI is no slouch. And at £6.99, it’s a bargain. .

Where can you find the BFI for 6.99? Everywhere I've seen it the cost is way higher. At that price I wanna grab it too. Along with Cassavetes' Opening Night, hopefully at a similar price.

[stepeanut]

Originally Posted by burdette

Where can you find the BFI for 6.99? Everywhere I've seen it the cost is way higher. At that price I wanna grab it too. Along with Cassavetes' Opening Night, hopefully at a similar price.

https://store.hmv.com/store/film-tv/...od-morning-(1)

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by stepeanut

Tokyo Story is the BFI’s flagship Ozu title. His Citizen Kane, if you like. I can’t see them revisiting all of his other works to the same degree. I’d be overjoyed if they did, but it seems unrealistic at this point. The BFI had major plans for Ozu a decade ago, but the project eventually ran out of steam and the staff spearheading it moved on. The market has only tightened further since then.

The Criterion edition of Good Morning is superior, particularly in the extras, but the BFI is no slouch. And at £6.99, it’s a bargain. The Criterion will cost you, what, four times that? It depends how committed you are, I suppose.

I understand budget, I just don’t know why anyone would go for older restoration, barebones disc, other film in SD over well the opposite of all that.

[stepeanut]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

I understand budget, I just don’t know why anyone would go for older restoration, barebones disc, other film in SD over well the opposite of all that.

You’ve answered your own question: budget. Criterions have gotten expensive to import in the last year or two. Not everyone has the budget to do that, especially in the current economic climate.

I love Ozu as much as the next person (see my avatar), and I already owned the BFI edition of Good Morning long before the Criterion was released. I’d like to upgrade, but I’ve got other priorities at the moment, like putting food on the table for my family and paying the bills. When times change, as they always do, I’ll consider that upgrade.

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by stepeanut

The BFI had major plans for Ozu a decade ago, but the project eventually ran out of steam and the staff spearheading it moved on. The market has only tightened further since then.

Disappointing, as I would love an OZU collection similar to Criterion's epic BERGMAN set. With the BFI out of consideration does that leave only Criterion to undertake such a comprehensive collection? I don't hold out much hope for that. Some think a truly massive KUROSAWA collection from Criterion might be coming and I would love that as well, but it probably dwarfs the chances of an OZU set even more.

[stepeanut]

Originally Posted by Professor Echo

Disappointing, as I would love an OZU collection similar to Criterion's epic BERGMAN set. With the BFI out of consideration does that leave only Criterion to undertake such a comprehensive collection? I don't hold out much hope for that. Some think a truly massive KUROSAWA collection from Criterion might be coming and I would love that as well, but it probably dwarfs the chances of an OZU set even more.

A comprehensive Ozu set is certainly viable, if they had the will. Kurosawa is probably a more commercial prospect.

[PlexShaw]

Originally Posted by sda_casl

Mogul Mowgli will be available to rent soon too due to lockdown.

It's available to rent as of today on BFI Player and Curzon Home Cinema.

[CelestialAgent]

The BFI booklet for Funeral Parade of Roses reuses the essay commissioned for the Eureka release, licensed from the author. Has this happened with any other releases before?

[Yami]

Searching the BFI National Archive for The Man Who Would Be King and a symbol besides its entry indicates that it is 'Published by the BFI'. I wonder if this indicates an upcoming release? I think it's usually reserved for titles that are released by the BFI's home video department

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Yami

Searching the BFI National Archive for The Man Who Would Be King and a symbol besides its entry indicates that it is 'Published by the BFI'. I wonder if this indicates an upcoming release? I think it's usually reserved for titles that are released by the BFI's home video department

It's a Sony release on VoD at least, so perhaps BFI have struck a Sony deal? Great news if so, this is one I was hoping Indicator/MoC might get hold of but also happy with BFI if they have.

[Yami]

My understand is that it's Warner in the States and Sony everywhere else. Which might explain it's near-absence from Blu-Ray outside of the US, if Warner have the best elements but I'm just thinking out loud. I assume that the French Wild Side release out next month is licensed from Sony, so it will be interesting to see the transfer. I actually bought the Amazon VoD offering the other day and it does look weaker than the screencaps of the US Blu-Ray that I've seen; it's a film that could do with a new 4K restoration, if anyone could negotiate that.

It has one of Connery's best performances, certainly the best I've seen outside the Lumet-directed The Offence and The Hill.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Yami

My understand is that it's Warner in the States and Sony everywhere else. Which might explain it's near-absence from Blu-Ray outside of the US, if Warner have the best elements but I'm just thinking out loud. I assume that the French Wild Side release out next month is licensed from Sony, so it will be interesting to see the transfer. I actually bought the Amazon VoD offering the other day and it does look weaker than the screencaps of the US Blu-Ray that I've seen; it's a film that could do with a new 4K restoration, if anyone could negotiate that.

It has one of Connery's best performances, certainly the best I've seen outside the Lumet-directed The Offence and The Hill.

You would think Sony could still access the same transfer as the Warner Bros disc (as they did with Papillon, for example), but I guess you never know with WB. Anyway, I'm sure Connery's passing will speed up a release of this film in the UK, especially with 'lesser' Huston output making it to BD here (e.g. Beat the Devil, Moby Dick). If Sony themselves don't do it, one of the boutiques would not miss the chance to release a film with names like Connery, Caine and Huston attached!

I agree about The Offence, by the way, but still not seen The Hill (heard constantly good things about it though). Perhaps Warner Archive will release it eventually?

[dwk]

Originally Posted by stepeanut

A comprehensive Ozu set is certainly viable, if they had the will. Kurosawa is probably a more commercial prospect.

Going a little off topic here, but I would suspect that an Ozu set would be on the books if the others keep being strong sellers. Rightswise, there is only a handful directors that Criterion can do big box sets (lets say more than 7 films = a big box set) for:
Ozu
Kurosawa
Kobayashi
Kinoshita (43 of his films up on the channel)
Shindo (22 films on the channel)
Oshima (19 films on the channel)
Fassbinder
Truffaut
Kaurismäki
Malle
Ray
Kiarostami

Of those, I'd say Kurosawa, Ray (next year is his centennial), Kiarostami (they have the rights to all his films and a complete set was rumored), Truffaut and Ozu (maybe 2023 for the 120 anniversary of his birth/60 anniversary of his death) are most likely.

[Yami]

Originally Posted by rapta

I agree about The Offence, by the way, but still not seen The Hill (heard constantly good things about it though). Perhaps Warner Archive will release it eventually?

I would expect so, but predicting Warner Archive's release schedule is a fool's errand!

Re: Criterion sets, I would expect Chaplin next year. They had a new restoration of The Great Dictator at Il Cinema Ritrovato and next year is the centenery of Chaplin's first feature film (The Kid).

[Scottishguy]

Looks like some clown over at BFIs advertising department doesn't know the difference between an HD Blu-ray and, a UHD. Potential for getting themselves into some hot water with trading standards.

[Cinematt]

It was newly restored in 4k though, and it is a blu ray.
Also trading standards don't do much these days except try and catch newsagents selling dodgy vodka.

[DefLeppard]

Originally Posted by Scottishguy

Looks like some clown over at BFIs advertising department doesn't know the difference between an HD Blu-ray and, a UHD. Potential for getting themselves into some hot water with trading standards.

[Show spoiler]

I suspect he's behind this...

[Show spoiler]

[magnetiques]

i'm hoping the hmv offer lasts the whole month, i've got three titles in my basket but i don't want to checkout without penda's fen 😭

i wouldn't even mind if i could order and get it next year or something

[Thewanderingfox]

Originally Posted by magnetiques

i'm hoping the hmv offer lasts the whole month, i've got three titles in my basket but i don't want to checkout without penda's fen 😭

i wouldn't even mind if i could order and get it next year or something

When I was in FOPP I was staring at the BFI section for so long that the employee told me the sale will last until the end of the year lol. Hopefully he's correct.

[Scottishguy]

Originally Posted by Cinematt

It was newly restored in 4k though, and it is a blu ray.
Also trading standards don't do much these days except try and catch newsagents selling dodgy vodka.

They are basically stating it's native 4K though, which is false.