The Velvet Underground (2021)

[jkoffman]

Originally Posted by BluCollector13

Unless NEON is footing the bill since "Portrait of a Lady on Fire", "Parasite", "Memories of Murder" and "The Worst Person in the World" all got releases within half a year of their theatrical bows (and Decal hasn't released "Petite Maman" yet, so I'm guessing that gets announced for October/November).

"The Velvet Underground" isn't a top priority for Apple films I'd like to see on Blu but can't say no to Todd Haynes, the Velvet Underground and Criterion (and better this doc than some sophomoric crap like "My Octopus Teacher").

You're digging deep into the details when I was simply suggesting that "coming soon" only confuses people in this forum when applied to a mention, not an announcement. There are posts like this about Criterion releases that sit here for many years and still nothing comes of it. In this particular case, it's coming from a thirdhand mention at a screening, and might have even been misconstrued about Velvet Goldmine. Many of these leaks come from an interview or an in-person Q&A, but all that usually can be confirmed is that the filmmakers are working with Criterion in hopes of releasing it, with no confirmation of when that might happen. I'd be buying both if they were released, so I am interested, but also not holding my breath.

[BunyipPouch]

The Criterion Collection has announced a bluray release of The Velvet Underground from Director Todd Haynes (Carol, Safe) for December 2022.



Features:

• New 4K digital master, approved by director Todd Haynes and cinematographer Ed Lachman, with Dolby Atmos soundtrack
• Audio commentary featuring Haynes and editors Affonso Gonçalves and Adam Kurnitz
• Outtakes of interviews shot for the film with musicians John Cale, Jonathan Richman, and Maureen Tucker; filmmaker Jonas Mekas; and actor Mary Woronov
• Conversation from 2021 among Haynes, Cale, and Tucker
• Complete versions of some of the avant-garde films excerpted in the movie, including Piero Heliczer’s Venus in Furs (1965)
• Teaser
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Optional annotated subtitle track that identifies the avant-garde films seen in the movie
• A 2021 essay by critic Greil Marcus

[yoloswegmaster420]

Coming out in December:

[sb5]

Originally Posted by yoloswegmaster420

Coming out in December:

Ooh, I've never seen "Tevlev Dnuorgrednu"! Assuming that's an Eastern European film?

[James Luckard]

Well, this always seemed like the more realistic one.

Shame it's not a double feature with Velvet Goldmine, but maybe Criterion will still do that too at some point.

[gbm82]

The most exciting part for me

Complete versions of some of the avant-garde films excerpted in the movie, including Piero Heliczer’s Venus in Furs (1965)

[chas speed]

Isn't it time to fire the self-indulgent art department of Criterion and just hire a new crew!

[jackranderson]

Some of the extras are nice but I can't see it beating the 4K with DV so I'm a little conflicted.

[Scottie]

Strange that this didn't get a 4K release, given the fact that it's streaming in 4K on Apple TV+ with Dolby Vision.

[chas speed]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Strange that this didn't get a 4K release, given the fact that it's streaming in 4K on Apple TV+ with Dolby Vision.

There are probably not a lot of documentaries getting the 4K treatment.

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by chas speed

There are probably not a lot of documentaries getting the 4K treatment.

The Celluloid Closet is in the SPC boxset, but it feels like an odd choice to me given so much is talking heads and film clips. I feel less bothered about watching a documentary at home on DVD or BD it it’s predominantly talking heads, but when there’s a lot of archival footage or it’s more of a vérité documentary/fly on the wall I think a UHD makes more sense. I can understand why documentaries like Free Solo, Apollo 11, Moonage Daydream get UHDs at least in some territories.

I think this month of releases will be disappointing for UHD collectors, but I’m not expecting Criterion to release UHDs every single month. Sometimes 4K masters only reach BD while 2K masters reach UHD.

Personally, I would rather buy a BD than subscribe every month to watch UHD quality - goes for the Dazzler releases of series too.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by chas speed

There are probably not a lot of documentaries getting the 4K treatment.

Maybe. I don’t see much effort having to go into a 4K release for this film though, given its existence.

This begs the question for how well For All Mankind has sold.

[MifuneFan]

While I do think it's because it's a documentary that they don't expect to sell a ton, there's also the possibility that Apple simply didn't grant 4K rights, wanting to keep that exclusive to their stream.

[fteixeira]

Originally Posted by sb5

Ooh, I've never seen "Tevlev Dnuorgrednu"! Assuming that's an Eastern European film?

Yes. really excited about Criterion finally releasing great Bulgarian films. It even stars Deer Uol, one of the finest actors east of the Danube.

[trobrianders]

Anyone who has seen it, what does this doc have on the recording of Venus in Furs, Heroin and I'm Waiting for the Man in May 1966 at TTG Studios? Something good I hope.

[James Luckard]

I will say, that cover took guts. I mean a doc is already going to probably sell a limited number of copies, but a doc with an illegible cover is... well... brave.

I'll admit, I don't know anything about the subject, maybe the backwards cover has meaning in context.

I'll definitely buy it, because I collect all Haynes films, I think he's a genius.

[trobrianders]

Originally Posted by chas speed

Isn't it time to fire the self-indulgent art department of Criterion and just hire a new crew!

Not if they won't even fire the 15 year-old student activist who writes their blurbs.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by chas speed

Isn't it time to fire the self-indulgent art department of Criterion and just hire a new crew!

Criterion had nothing to do with this cover, it's completely based on one of the original posters made for the Apple TV+ stream..

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

Criterion had nothing to do with this cover, it's completely based on one of the original posters made for the Apple TV+ stream..

Maybe, but everywhere I saw that poster online it was right-side-around:



They certainly didn't design the poster, it's the original promotional poster, and they didn't even come up with the backwards presentation, but they did choose to run with it for the BD.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Maybe, but everywhere I saw that poster online it was right-side-around:

[Show spoiler]

They certainly didn't design the poster, it's the original promotional poster, and they didn't even come up with the backwards presentation, but they did choose to run with it for the BD.

It's definitely been marketed online backwards as well. The poster you're showing isn't even the same one. I personally like the cover, so I don't see anything wrong with them using it. It's possible that either Haynes or Apple wanted them to use it as well.