The Criterion Collection

[BunyipPouch]

Originally Posted by hoytereden

Me too. I was very happy when those damn phantom pages disappeared. I still like to be surprised by Criterion every month.

Full-on leaks are lame but I kind of liked just vague hints like this time around. Makes the build-up a bit more fun in my opinion, instead of the same-old blind wishlists every month, we can actually make educated guesses. Adds an extra layer to announcement time, like the drawings used too.

Plus, if you really hate it, it's really easy to just avoid the Criterion threads on social media for a day or two before release time. I'm sure Criterion hates it though, in their shoes I probably would too.

[tatterdemalion]

This is a strange Criterion release month for me as it's one of the few that I haven't heard of any of them except for one: Buck and the Preacher. The Carne film was his next after Port of Shadows so that peaks my interest. Modern films I tend to have to research because I suffer from pretty bad motion sickness, and the fast editing and hand held camera work will make me feel sick while watching. Not fun having to take a meclizine just to watch a movie. LOL!

[dr727]

Originally Posted by tatterdemalion

Modern films I tend to have to research because I suffer from pretty bad motion sickness, and the fast editing and hand held camera work will make me feel sick while watching. Not fun having to take a meclizine just to watch a movie. LOL!

My sympathies to you as someone with immuno issues that make certain everyday activities difficult.

On a lighter note, I have to take steroids whenever I travel by air—they keep me safe but also make me feel like a superheroine. I mentioned that at a meeting with the Russos, Cumberbatch, and RDJ once and they joked about adding a bowl of pills to the craft services table.

[Benoit Blanc]

Originally Posted by dr727

My sympathies to you as someone with immuno issues that make certain everyday activities difficult.

On a lighter note, I have to take steroids whenever I travel by air—they keep me safe but also make me feel like a superheroine. I mentioned that at a meeting with the Russos, Cumberbatch, and RDJ once and they joked about adding a bowl of pills to the craft services table.

My curiosity's stoked. What do you do?

[Rayjg]

They need to spin off a modern line. They’re sitting on way too many classic films.

[Benoit Blanc]

Originally Posted by dr727

Sure. If I’m on set, it’s for creative direction and conceptual design. It involves long stretches of research immersion that leads to me creating something new from the references that I’ve earmarked along the way. You could think of it as establishing the vision/concept of a film, constructing an aesthetic foundation, world-building.

I’m also a curator/archivist/academic in the media arts. I’ve lead large-scale retrospectives and helped architect several media archives over the years. My emphasis is on elevating marginalized/minority artists who deserved a wider audience than they had access to in their day—which brings us full circle to Criterion and why I love that they do!

[Mauve]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

I'm guessing Von Trier is off the table for the foreseeable future. At least from Criterion.

Which is a bummer. I've been waiting years for a comprehensive release of Dogville.

[No Name]

Originally Posted by Rayjg

They need to spin off a modern line. They’re sitting on way too many classic films.

They still have the Eclipse line, so I don't see why they can't do something similar but they also have their streaming service as well and it often showcases many films not licensed by them including releases from Kino and the like.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by acroyear2

These are the kind of monthly announcements I love! Not a familiar title among them, but all sound immensely interesting. I'm sold on Hotel Du Nord by the cover art alone!

Hotel du Nord is an excellent melodrama with great ensemble performances and strong direction, and a wonderful example of pre-nouvelle vague classic mainstream French cinema. There was a blu-ray from Arrow a few years ago, which I blind-bought and thoroughly enjoyed.

[trobrianders]

Three last month, none in August.

[ShellOilJunior]

The nerve of Criterion. I hope they realize Barnes and Noble is trying to run a business.

[BaronVH]

Originally Posted by Benoit Blanc

Has it been a whole month since that endless, multi-page conversation about Summertime? Where the **** is my life going?

Why? Did they fix it?

[Rayjg]

Doesn't Indicator have a different line for newer films? Criterion could call it CriterioNow.

[CelestialAgent]

I don’t think the slate is that obscure, Frownland/Daddy Longlengs are/were both on FilmStruck and the Channel, Hotel du Nord had an Arrow Blu-ray two years ago, Faya Dayi was a theatrical release from Janus (unsure how wide though) and Buck and the Preacher was mentioned in obituaries to Poitier. I’ll probably skip Faya Dayi (already seen it and no compelling extras, though it’s a good film) and with Hotel du Nord I might just stick to the Arrow release, but otherwise I’m happy with the slate. I suppose it opens the possibility to future Safdie releases. Also great to see Criterion releasing another western.

There were so many 4Ks announced the previous month, I’m not expecting that to be the new normal.

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

The western could be Buck and the Preacher (directed by and starring Sidney Poitier).

Well done on the correct prediction!

[Benoit Blanc]

Originally Posted by BaronVH

Why? Did they fix it?

I dunno.

[DukeTogo84]

With the amount of titles Criterion has, I really think a second line should exist. Kind of like what Arrow was doing at one point. They are also constantly acquiring new films, so a HUGE portion of their film will never see the light of day on disc even with them already having nice HD masters.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

With the amount of titles Criterion has, I really think a second line should exist. Kind of like what Arrow was doing at one point. They are also constantly acquiring new films, so a HUGE portion of their film will never see the light of day on disc even with them already having nice HD masters.

While it's a nice on paper, it's likely not a practical one for Criterion and most other boutique labels. I'm sure production, licensing, and other costs limits the amount of title they can release each month, which is why we haven't seen any real increase in the number of titles that come out monthly. Creating a second line won't do a single thing in that regard. It won't magically make it possible for them to do 10-12 releases monthly instead of 5-6. Arrow is also not the best example since Arrow Academy ultimately turned out to be be a failed imprint, and was basically folded back into Arrow Video. Kino are one of the few boutique labels that has managed to churn out plenty of titles monthly, though many (if not most) don't provide that many extras, nor include booklets, etc..

[dvining]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

While it's a nice on paper, it's likely not a practical one for Criterion. I'm sure production, licensing, and other costs limits the amount of title they can release each month, which is why we haven't seen aany real increase in the number of titles that come out monthly. Creating a second line won't do a single thing in that regard. It won't magically make it possible for them to do 10-12 releases monthly instead of 5-6. Arrow is also not the best example since Arrow Academy essentially tuned out to be be a failed imprint, and was basically folded back into Arrow Video.

The idea of a second line would be an investment in growth, the concept that a second line would sell enough to sustain itself.

If they're not making enough now to up their output, that may say something, though.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by dvining

The idea of a second line would be an investment in growth, the concept that a second line would sell enough to sustain itself.

If they're not making enough now to up their output, that may say something, though.

I'm still not sure what a second line accomplishes though. Like, Criterion has always been a label that encompasses films from all eras, and genres. So, what's the point of a second line exactly? Because people want some films under one line and others under another? It's kind of silly to me. Unless people want Criterion to create a "bargain" line, like say Flicker Alley is doing with their Fusion series, sort of like the Eclipse series, but for BD's, but then that comes at a cost of possibly having barebone releases, lacking proper restorations in many cases, which no doubt people would complain about too.

In terms of output, I think people don't seem to realize how much work goes into each release. If they felt they could up the amount of titles they could put out in a month, I imagine they would have done so already, since it would obviously mean more revenue coming in, but the fact that they haven't likely means it's just not possible.

Last month they announced 7 titles, including 4 UHD's, which most were praising and saying was one of their biggest and strongest months ever. Fast Forward a month later, and they announce titles that many haven't heard of, and all of a sudden the boo birds come out, and declare that Criterion needs to create a second line, and other ridiculous comments. People have a short memory it seems..

[DukeTogo84]

If anything Criterion could just start doing something similar to the Eclipse sets, but in HD. Limited features, but we get the films in HD and at the end of the day, that's the most important part, especially films that probably won't get a release otherwise.