Irma Vep (1996)

[Scottie]

Listed on Janus Films and Criterion's website (as a phantom page).

http://www.janusfilms.com/films/1895

https://www.criterion.com/films/29197-irma-vep

[Doctor Jack]

More Assayas is always welcome.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by Doctor Jack

More Assayas is always welcome.

Yep. This would be a great announcement.

[Hoke Moseley]

Great news.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

Excellent news. Irma Vep is a fantastic film, and one of Assayas' best. I first saw this on the DVD back in the 200X's, and have re-watched it a couple of times since.

I liked the "movie within a movie" aspect, and the interesting look at the film industry in France. And, of course, prolific Hong Kong actress Maggie Cheung is amazing. Also really dig her in some of director Wong Kar Wai's films, i.e. As Tears go By, Ashes of Time, In the Mood for Love, and 2046.

[BluCollector13]

I'd be elated if Criterion also got "Demonlover" at some point.

[NeoNical]

2 years and no announcements yet

[sahoward]

Love the use of Sonic Youth's "Tunic (Song For Karen)" in this, one of my favorite uses of pop music in a movie.

[SuperFlyHighGuy]

Originally Posted by sahoward

Love the use of Sonic Youth's "Tunic (Song For Karen)" in this, one of my favorite uses of pop music in a movie.

I feel like I'm disappearing
getting smaller every day
But when I look in the mirror
I'm bigger in every way

[ShellBeacher]

Where is this Blu-ray????

Well, now, it may inch a bit closer so that Criterion can capitalize on this new project. "Expanded universe," Vikander says? "Special project"..? Wonder if it takes place in the same "world" as Assayas' film? Wonder if they may possibly even be able to secure the now-notoriously-elusive Maggie Cheung for a scene or two, since Assayas is producing?

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/li...eries-irma-vep

[Scottie]

Release Date: April 27, 2021

https://www.criterion.com/films/29197-irma-vep

[iv3rdawG]

Hmm, Arrow release has a commentary by Assayas that isn't present here, and it seems kind of odd to just include 1 episode out of 10 from Les Vampires.

[The Sovereign]

Wow, I forgot how far back this got called. Glad it finally made it.

[professorwho]

Originally Posted by iv3rdawG

Hmm, Arrow release has a commentary by Assayas that isn't present here, and it seems kind of odd to just include 1 episode out of 10 from Les Vampires.

In comparing them, it seems that the Arrow release has the original stereo audio track while the Criterion only has a 5.1 remix. Really strange. Normally Criterion would do both, so it seems like a strange decision.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by professorwho

In comparing them, it seems that the Arrow release has the original stereo audio track while the Criterion only has a 5.1 remix. Really strange. Normally Criterion would do both, so it seems like a strange decision.

If it only has the remix, I would assume that it was Assayas' decision.

[Dino-Killer 912]

Is this “new 2K digital restoration” a newer remaster or the same one as the Arrow release?

[ravenus]

^I assume the same, since that was also from the OCN with Assayas' supervision and approval.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by dwk

If it only has the remix, I would assume that it was Assayas' decision.

Putting the Arrow disc on my wishlist, because it's nice to have more options, not less.

[yoloswegmaster420]

Response I got regarding the missing audio track and commentary:

Thank you for reaching out. My apologies for the delayed reply, I'm happy to help!

We aren't including the original 2.0 mix on our IRMA VEP Blu-ray release and, in this case, it's because this new 5.1 is director approved and the preferred track.

The good news is that no audio from the original track will be lost if you don't have a 5.1 set up. When we release a 5.1 surround soundtrack that track will "fold down" to stereo on 2.0 systems. This process should happen automatically in the Blu-ray player and is invisible to you. Also, no audio info is lost in the process and the end result is almost always indistinguishable from the 2.0 mix.

In regards to the audio commentary by Olivier Assayas and Jean-Michel Frodon, note that the previous tracks were actually not a commentary, but a recording of a talk and audience Q&A that Olivier gave at Berkeley in 2007. As the conversation is not scene specific to IRMA VEP, and mostly focuses on Olivier's earlier career, it was decided that it did not make sense to use this audio as a commentary track for IRMA VEP. The information about Olivier's years as a film critic and his earlier films, as well as new information about the making and inspiration for IRMA VEP, are included in a new interview that we conducted with Olivier for this release.

[ravenus]

When we release a 5.1 surround soundtrack that track will "fold down" to stereo on 2.0 systems. This process should happen automatically in the Blu-ray player and is invisible to you. Also, no audio info is lost in the process and the end result is almost always indistinguishable from the 2.0 mix.

Gee whiz Crit, if it weren't for you, I would have never realized that a surround track folds down to stereo on 2.0 systems.

In any remix, and especially when expanding the sound-field, there will always be audio alterations, and I would have thought Criterion should provide both options and let their customers decide if it sounds indistinguishable or not.