Scoop (2006) Blu-ray (Kino Studio Classics)

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Thoroughly bizarre. I would have to think the only person who would need to approve the use of the new Annie Hall master for home video would be Allen, I wonder why he participated in the restoration and approved the 2017 theatrical screenings, but is blocking a 4K release.

I had assumed the lack of a UHD release was down to timid boutique labels, it's bonkers that it's presumably because he's the one blocking it.

This member made the claim that it's being blocked by a certain boutique label, but didn't provide any follow-up when asked for a source. Sounds like BS to me.

Originally Posted by Dailyan

"Annie Hall" and "Manhattan" have had 4K restorations for years but, supposedly, a certain label (not hard who to guess) has made MGM not make them license-able (Arrow's discs were suppose to use these restos but were forced to use the MGM discs).

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

This member made the claim that it's being blocked by a certain boutique label, but didn't provide any follow-up when asked for a source. Sounds like BS to me.

It seems that one label has become the boogeyman for arty titles that people want to see but no one's released. With pretty much zero evidence most of the time. They're just the go-to culprit.

If that label paid for rights years ago to scores of titles they won't release, it seems they have either very bad financial management or huge piles of money in the bank they're just sitting on like Mr. Moneybags.

I suspect neither of those things is true and that rights to many of those titles is either very complicated, or the specific licensing costs are more than any label wants to pay, or there are odd rights issues with those titles, or the elements are in sad shape and need a lot of time, effort and money to turn into a quality release. Not an evil label head who delights in keeping titles people really want out of circulation for their own amusement.

[Brad1963]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

Annie Hall and Manhattan both had 4K restorations that got a good deal of promotion online a few years back, with trailers and such, but no distributor seems willing or able to release them.

Manhattan and Annie Hall seem like good choices for Kino Lorber to release ing 4k.

[poisonmail]

Originally Posted by sherlockjr

It seems that one label has become the boogeyman for arty titles that people want to see but no one's released. With pretty much zero evidence most of the time. They're just the go-to culprit.

You're partially right about this, but the tendency to license titles and then sit on them is something that actual former employees and associates of the label I've spoken to have bemoaned. When I asked one of them, she told me that the issue was often that the release schedule is very much beholden to the whims of the company's leadership. What that means and how it's changed since 2022 or so, you're welcome to speculate.

[klauswhereareyou]

Read the Newly released Patrick McGilligan biography of Woody Allen and I've gone back and watched a lot of Wood Allen films recently. I will definitely pick this up. Kind of hoping Husbands and Wives and Manhattan Murder Mystery can get back in print since I never got the Twilight Time releases.

[sherlockjr]

Originally Posted by poisonmail

You're partially right about this, but the tendency to license titles and then sit on them is something that actual former employees and associates of the label I've spoken to have bemoaned. When I asked one of them, she told me that the issue was often that the release schedule is very much beholden to the whims of the company's leadership. What that means and how it's changed since 2022 or so, you're welcome to speculate.

Assuming we're talking about the big C, company ownership changed in 2024:

https://www.indiewire.com/news/break...es-1235007234/

I certainly can't see how either that company or a film's owners benefit financially from paying for licensing of many titles upfront without then actually releasing revenue generating product. Seems that would be the opposite of a good business practice

There probably are some occasions where that really does happen. I suspect many other times when certain desired titles are unavailable on disk for a long period, there are a myriad of reasons other than that one evil company is sitting greedily on titles aficionados want to own, cackling like Blofeld while keeping all those great films locked up unavailable, moldering deep in their private vaults.

[poisonmail]

To be clear, I don’t think it’s them being evil or nefarious, I think it’s more a situation of acquisitions/licensing having an ambition that isn’t well matched by either the pace of output or the fact that instructions can come down from on high redirecting priorities. (One example is that The Lady Eve was rushed into production past numerous other projects when Becker asked why it wasn’t out yet.) And yes, I think it’s clear from both the ownership change and the recent release schedule that Criterion’s priorities have changed again.

A lot of the specifics are still just speculation, but not too hard to fill in the blanks. Think of The Wedding March, for instance; do they still have that license after all these years? Is it just tied up because of a long-term restoration? We likely won’t know until a release literally appears. (Hitchcock’s original Man Who Knew Too Much is comparable, I don’t think anyone knew they were working on it for years until it was suddenly announced.) Two of Preston Sturges’ most famous films at Paramount would almost certainly have already been released on Blu-ray if it were possible to license them, since Kino put out The Great Moment and such. Is there any conceivable candidate besides Criterion? And what about the lingering Chaplins, which we know are under their aegis? And on and on. I’m not slamming them, I’m just saying that this does happen with them, and maybe there are good reasons, maybe not.

Is it possible Criterion cut a deal for those Allen films way back before he was persona non grata in the industry (or even after, since that didn’t stop them from working with Lars Von Trier or Neil LaBute)? I’d lean toward no largely because Allen’s extreme antipathy toward special features would discourage the investment. On the other hand, they do love recovering their old laserdisc titles, which Annie Hall was, but again I kinda doubt this is “the big C.”

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by klauswhereareyou

Read the Newly released Patrick McGilligan biography of Woody Allen and I've gone back and watched a lot of Wood Allen films recently. I will definitely pick this up. Kind of hoping Husbands and Wives and Manhattan Murder Mystery can get back in print since I never got the Twilight Time releases.

I think H&W is still in print from TT!

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by jshaide

I think H&W is still in print from TT!

None of the TT titles are technically still being pressed, but their licensed distributor, Screen Archives, still has stock of some titles.

They still carry H&W brand new:

https://www1.screenarchives.com/titl...ND-WIVES-1992/

Manhattan Murder Mystery is long gone, unfortunately.

[jshaide]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

None of the TT titles are technically still being pressed, but their licensed distributor, Screen Archives, still has stock of some titles.

They still carry H&W brand new:

https://www1.screenarchives.com/titl...ND-WIVES-1992/

Manhattan Murder Mystery is long gone, unfortunately.

I know, I'm so peeved I didn't get MMM. I'm not even sure why I didn't, it's not a favorite Woody movie but for the collection I should've picked it up.

Will buy the UK one eventually.

[MifuneFan]

Scoop's pre-order now up at Kino. Just a reminder that this is a limited release, that has a shorter licensing window than their typical releases, so best not to wait too long before getting it.

https://kinolorber.com/product/scoop

[Watershipdownisgood]

Originally Posted by James Luckard

None of the TT titles are technically still being pressed, but their licensed distributor, Screen Archives, still has stock of some titles.

They still carry H&W brand new:

https://www1.screenarchives.com/titl...ND-WIVES-1992/

Manhattan Murder Mystery is long gone, unfortunately.

A lot of out of print Code Red titles too might need to pick up those and my first bunch of Twilight Time titles as there's some TT titles I've been wanting to pick up.

[MifuneFan]

Originally Posted by Kino Lorber Insider

Coming August 26th!
https://kinolorber.com/product/scoop

SCOOP (2006)
• Theatrical Trailer
• Dual-Layered BD50 Disc
• Optional English Subtitles

Color 96 Minutes 1.85:1 PG-13
Scarlett Johansson (Match Point) and Hugh Jackman (X-Men) star in this hilariously twisted tale of murder and mystery by the great Woody Allen (Annie Hall, Vicky Christina Barcelona). Sondra Pransky (Johansson) is an American journalism student visiting friends in London. While watching a stage performance by another American, magician Sid Waterman (Allen), a.k.a. Splendini, Sondra is shocked to find herself able to see and hear the recently departed U.K. journalist Joe Strombel (Ian McShane, John Wick). From beyond, Joe gives her a hot tip, on the identity of the “Tarot Card Killer,” who’s still at-large in London. Sondra immediately starts chasing the big story, enlisting the aid of a very reluctant Sid. Her chase leads right to a handsome British aristocrat, Peter Lyman (Jackman), with whom she falls head-over-heels. Soon, Sondra finds that the romance of her lifetime may very well be the dangerous Scoop for which she’s in hot pursuit.

[HG4486]

Got my copy in person at Vintage Stock. Love just strolling into a retail store and seeing all kino releases

And now for my review!
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It's not very good. About as crisp and colorful as a bluray from 2009. Seems like an old transfer, but ummm I guess better than nothing?

[James Luckard]

Watching it now.

It's a very dated transfer, but watchable, and probably all we'll ever get.

Slight but fun film.

[JRob]

$12.49 on amazon currently