Drowning By Numbers (1988) 4K UHD coming from Severin on May 30

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by Lope de Aguirre

Will this be also available by other online retailers?

Or is it a shop exclusive on Vinegar Syndrome's own shop/site?

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Lope de Aguirre

Or is it a shop exclusive on Vinegar Syndrome's own shop/site?

Seeing as it’s coming from Severin I’ll say that it’s a pretty big chance it won’t be exclusive to the different company, Vinegar Syndrome.

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by Gacivory

Seeing as it’s coming from Severin I’ll say that it’s a pretty big chance it won’t be exclusive to the different company, Vinegar Syndrome.

Man, I meant Severin - so will this be exclusive or appearing omn other retailer sites?

[Shaw24]

Originally Posted by Lope de Aguirre

Man, I meant Severin - so will this be exclusive or appearing omn other retailer sites?

Their website seems to indicate that only the slipcover is exclusive to their website.

[sfmarine]

I literally just imported the Blu-ray last month. You're Welcome!

Awesome news though. Always hoped Criterion would add some Greenaway films to their collection. Maybe someday.

[HillSprinter]

I grew up seeing loads of weird and wonderful films on Channel 4 in th UK. Peter Greenaway’s films were always part of that. Nice to see them emerging in HD eventually.

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

I don't know if I've ever seen a Greenaway film, but I loved that trailer, so I might blind-buy this.

I remember seeing "Drowning by Numbers", "The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover", and "Prospero's Books" in cinemas when they were new.

I've also seen "The Draughtsman's Contract", "The Belly of an Architect", "The Baby of Macon", and "The Pillow Book" at home on video.

"The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover" is probably his most popular and well known film, and man is it something else. When it played in theaters in the US, via distribution through Miramax, it received an 'X' rating from the MPAA, so Miramax simply released it Unrated (uncut). I remember the promotional material all asked that 'No One Under 18 Will Be Admitted'. I don't recall more walkouts in a film in a theater, LOL. It's so artistically presented. Every shot has the aesthetic of a Renaissance painting. The music by Michael Nyman is glorious. But, man, is it ever strong stuff. Few films truly make me wince and that one did a couple of times.

By comparison, this film, "Drowning by Numbers" isn't as disturbing or extreme, but it has some very dark humor in it.

"The Baby of Macon" genuinely has two 'Jesus Christ!' moments in it, for me, LOL.

Anyway, look into him.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

I literally just imported the Blu-ray last month. You're Welcome!

Awesome news though. Always hoped Criterion would add some Greenaway films to their collection. Maybe someday.

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover is said to be with Criterion.

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover is said to be with Criterion.

But that's been said for many years, now. It has yet to materialize. There is also an unconfirmed rumor as well that Criterion passed on some Greenaway titles because the film materials weren't in good shape. Who knows?

I have an OOP Mexico blu ray of it that's decent but not stellar (the disc, I mean, not the film). I've heard the Umbrella release from Australia is a pretty good release. Love the film, though. I'd love to see it get a new, great release in the US from a nice, reputable label.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover is said to be with Criterion.

Any word on The Baby of Macon?

[ghidorah]

Drowning is my favourite Greenaway film so I’m very happy its getting a 4k release. I’d really like to see Prospero’s Books get the 4k treatment as well. The imagery in that film is incredible. There’s not even a decent blu-ray of it.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

I have an OOP Mexico blu ray of it that's decent but not stellar (the disc, I mean, not the film). I've heard the Umbrella release from Australia is a pretty good release. Love the film, though. I'd love to see it get a new, great release in the US from a nice, reputable label.

I only learned about Criterion supposedly having it a week after I bought the UK release. It was still in transit... Whatcanyado?

Originally Posted by sfmarine

Any word on The Baby of Macon?

I haven't heard anything. I have the Swedish release of it from Atlantic Film, so there is a master, but it's an old release by now (2010) and could benefit from a new scan.

Atlantic Film were also supposed to release Prospero's Books, but I've never been able to find even a listing for it. I think it was canceled.

[Pondosinatra]

Now I can retire my Laserdisc copy...

[CelestialAgent]

Originally Posted by Knaldskalle

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover is said to be with Criterion.

If you’re talking about the rumour from 2019, that was debunked.

[Knaldskalle]

Originally Posted by CelestialAgent

If you’re talking about the rumour from 2019, that was debunked.

In that case I seem to have been spreading baseless rumors. My apologies.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Pondosinatra

Now I can retire my Laserdisc copy...

I’ve got the Macon JP release as well. That’s a nice little collection you have there!

[houseca]

I so want this but $48 for a slipcovered copy that would be a blind buy is a bit much. I have only seen The Cook, The Thief , His Wife and Her Lover. That absolute gem of a movie has made me want a lot more Greenaway. Definitely want Baby of Macon as well. Might have to wait for a standard edition on this one.

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by sfmarine

Any word on The Baby of Macon?

I have that Swedish import release. It looks quite good picture-wise.

[Olmo]

Originally Posted by houseca

I so want this but $48 for a slipcovered copy that would be a blind buy is a bit much. I have only seen The Cook, The Thief , His Wife and Her Lover. That absolute gem of a movie has made me want a lot more Greenaway. Definitely want Baby of Macon as well. Might have to wait for a standard edition on this one.

I had a look at the cost to import this to the UK. $73.50 (£62).

It's like Severin have factored in a pre-emptive scalpers price on EBay at RRP.

Just ludicrous.

[Shaw24]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

"The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover" is probably his most popular and well known film, and man is it something else. When it played in theaters in the US, via distribution through Miramax, it received an 'X' rating from the MPAA, so Miramax simply released it Unrated (uncut). I remember the promotional material all asked that 'No One Under 18 Will Be Admitted'. I don't recall more walkouts in a film in a theater, LOL. It's so artistically presented.

"The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover" had a massive influence on my taste in cinema at a young age, in the sense that it completely expanded my ideas about what film could be. I lived in a shitty little town in the middle of nowhere, so I had to drive half an hour to rent movies. I remember I saw it when I was 15 and I'd just hand movies to my mom and say, "I want these," and she'd rent them for me, none the wiser about the content (God bless her). I was a weird, nerdy, kid who liked foreign films and I never got in trouble like my sisters (lol), so my parents trusted me and would let me watch anything.

It also first introduced me to Michael Nyman, who ended up being my gateway drug to opera and classical music.