The Official Radiance Films Thread

[nicwood]

I hope so too that the Paramount deal makes Radiance opening up a bit more to US / Hollywood films in between their usual line-up again. I loved their balance right at the beginning when they juggled more "mainstream" films together with what we now associate with Radiance (Japanese studio classics, Italian dramas, European discoveries etc.), which gave us beautiful editions of The Hot Spot, for example that outdid Kino’s.

I also suggested this to Fran in a subscriber Q&A and urged him to pursue such titles here and there. I’m not sure if I can share all that much but Fran got the opportunity to license a well-known 1990s masterpiece that was previously released in 4K in the US and he passed on it as he didn’t think the film would fit Radiance as it’s that well known. It would’ve paid his bills though. With how beautifully he and his team are curating their releases, I mentioned that this would’ve been wonderful and if something like that pays the bills and "enables" more risky, expensive projects like the Oshima set, I can’t imagine there’d be many complaints.

[gekats]

I’m sure there are plenty of Paramount titles I’d love to see in HD, but aside from the Vadim I mentioned earlier, turning to US titles, the one that immediately comes to mind is Silvio Narizzano’s Blue (with the late Terence Stamp in the lead). I know it’s not exactly well regarded: too pretentious and arty for its own good, some would say, but I really love this film.

I’ve never been able to get Hadjidakis’ score out of my head, and Stanley Cortez’s garish hues adding to the film’s haunted beauty and elegiac tone. It’s exactly the kind of underappreciated oddity you’d expect to see from Kino or Indicator. But if Fran happens to be a fan, I could just as easily see it finding a home in the Radiance catalogue. An idiosyncratic, slightly oddball western that definitely deserves a second look.

(Any other fans out there?)

[Show spoiler]

Manos Hadjidakis - THE DEATH OF BLUE,(Blue-finale) - Silvio Narizzano,1968 - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...eyMEulp2tkXUOp

[OnlyJapantown]

Originally Posted by nicwood

I hope so too that the Paramount deal makes Radiance opening up a bit more to US / Hollywood films in between their usual line-up again. I loved their balance right at the beginning when they juggled more "mainstream" films together with what we now associate with Radiance (Japanese studio classics, Italian dramas, European discoveries etc.), which gave us beautiful editions of The Hot Spot, for example that outdid Kino’s.

I also suggested this to Fran in a subscriber Q&A and urged him to pursue such titles here and there. I’m not sure if I can share all that much but Fran got the opportunity to license a well-known 1990s masterpiece that was previously released in 4K in the US and he passed on it as he didn’t think the film would fit Radiance as it’s that well known. It would’ve paid his bills though. With how beautifully he and his team are curating their releases, I mentioned that this would’ve been wonderful and if something like that pays the bills and "enables" more risky, expensive projects like the Oshima set, I can’t imagine there’d be many complaints.

That's disappointing to read. I really don't care for labels getting precious about the kinds of movies they release, and 'curating' themselves. I don't think anyone here would think the sky was falling if Radiance put out a big tentpole movie, as long as the deep cuts keep coming in addition. Criterion is putting out House Party, which is a pretty daft (if fun) movie in my book - but it hasn't changed my estimation of Criterion one bit.

Anyway, come on, giz a hint what that 1990s masterpiece was then.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by nicwood

I hope so too that the Paramount deal makes Radiance opening up a bit more to US / Hollywood films in between their usual line-up again. I loved their balance right at the beginning when they juggled more "mainstream" films together with what we now associate with Radiance (Japanese studio classics, Italian dramas, European discoveries etc.), which gave us beautiful editions of The Hot Spot, for example that outdid Kino’s.

I also suggested this to Fran in a subscriber Q&A and urged him to pursue such titles here and there. I’m not sure if I can share all that much but Fran got the opportunity to license a well-known 1990s masterpiece that was previously released in 4K in the US and he passed on it as he didn’t think the film would fit Radiance as it’s that well known. It would’ve paid his bills though. With how beautifully he and his team are curating their releases, I mentioned that this would’ve been wonderful and if something like that pays the bills and "enables" more risky, expensive projects like the Oshima set, I can’t imagine there’d be many complaints.

They may treat it like the MGM deal, and still go for lesser-known titles that are generally neglected or ignored by other boutique labels. There are at least a couple I can see them doing big 4K releases of though, such as Danger Diabolik or Let's Scare Jessica to Death

Originally Posted by RossyG

I think Radiance has said that they’re not interested in releasing stuff that’s easily available elsewhere. The Gaumont French releases of these two have English subtitles and excellent transfers. But you never know.

I believe that comment was largely aimed at Criterion, but I could be wrong, and even then it's not always as cut-and-dry as that as there have been a few crossovers with the Criterion catalogue.

Either way, the extras are a bit lacking on both releases, and The Devil, Probably seems to be OOP on Amazon at least, so I'd say those are two qualifiers for at least giving them a go. It's Bresson after all, probably one of the most esteemed European directors of all time.

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by nicwood

I also suggested this to Fran in a subscriber Q&A and urged him to pursue such titles here and there. I’m not sure if I can share all that much but Fran got the opportunity to license a well-known 1990s masterpiece that was previously released in 4K in the US and he passed on it as he didn’t think the film would fit Radiance as it’s that well known.

Showgirls!?

[Sterling450]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Showgirls!?

Something much more snowy... And bloody.

[OnlyJapantown]

Originally Posted by Sterling450

Something much more snowy... And bloody.

If Fran passed up on Fargo, he needs his head checked.

[gekats]

Originally Posted by RossyG

I think Radiance has said that they’re not interested in releasing stuff that’s easily available elsewhere. The Gaumont French releases of these two have English subtitles and excellent transfers.

But you never know.

Really hoping they stick mostly to new-to-HD titles. In any case, they do add some nice extras anyway (like including those Kumel shorts in their Daughters of Darkness release, which might make me double dip in a future sale), but a new-to-HD or even a new-to-disc film is always the best kind of release, even when I don't care for it.

The Gaumont Bresson releases are indeed fantastic and English-friendly, so another UK release might feel a bit unnecessary, much like Eureka’s Finis Terrae.

[adamfeldman]

Originally Posted by OnlyJapantown

That's disappointing to read. I really don't care for labels getting precious about the kinds of movies they release, and 'curating' themselves. I don't think anyone here would think the sky was falling if Radiance put out a big tentpole movie, as long as the deep cuts keep coming in addition.

The subscription model they have makes curation a more important consideration, since people have signed on expecting they'll be sent well-curated arthouse and genre films of a type that aren't well-served by other labels.

Personally, I'm quite happy with Fran's careful curation, this year's roster has been excellent. That being said, if he wanted to make a more mercenary decision to pay the bills sometime, I'd understand.

[rapta]

Originally Posted by OnlyJapantown

If Fran passed up on Fargo, he needs his head checked.

I'm a huge Coen Bros fan, but Fargo may be too popular for Radiance, and people would then expect similar titles of that calibre. It's all about what fits within the brand, hence why Transmission was started, to still do more pulpy/cult stuff without harming the perception of Radiance as a whole.

That said, I reckon they could get away with a lesser-known Coen Bros film such as The Hudsucker Proxy, or even Barton Fink, both of which firmly remain cult titles. Fargo has only become more than that due to the TV series, to be honest, and was their biggest hit of the 90s (and has since only been eclipsed in popularity by The Big Lebowski).

[adamfeldman]

Originally Posted by rapta

That said, I reckon they could get away with a lesser-known Coen Bros film such as The Hudsucker Proxy, or even Barton Fink, both of which firmly remain cult titles.

It's interesting, checking the Letterboxd list, Radiance has only released a single title with more than 100K views from that site's users (Welcome to the Dollhouse, 145K views). Fargo at 1.5M views may have as many as their entire catalog combined.

[logboy]

David Bowie on why you should never play to the gallery - YouTube

[MifuneFan]

If Radiance passed on Fargo, I have to wonder if Arrow passed on it before them, or if they now scooped it up? I don't want to live in a world where Fargo is available to license, and multiple UK labels are passing on it

[rapta]

Originally Posted by MifuneFan

If Fargo's license is actually available in the UK, I have to wonder if Arrow themselves passed on it, or has now scooped it up.

I doubt Arrow would pass on a title like that, that's exactly the kind of film they'd be looking to acquire from MGM. If they didn't get it, I wouldn't put it past Eureka at this point, who seem to be trying to be a little unpredictable with their picks for MoC.

If it went to Final Cut or someone like that, I take everything I said back regarding Radiance passing on it.

[HunterHorseman]

Normally I only buy the Japanese and Hong Kong films that Radiance releases. Those are the kinds of films I like and at this point can afford to buy lol. But I took a chance on Misunderstood during their last sale and finally got around to watching it last night. And wow, it is one of the best movies I've seen in some time. I will be picking up another Italian film during their Black Friday sale for sure. Someone said earlier in this thread that they don't think labels should be precious about what they release, but this is a counterpoint to that. I'm blind buying movies from Radiance like no other label mainly because I trust that they'll be good if not different from what I've seen before.

[schmutzig]

From reading some posts here I feel like I'm on the other side of the fence. I prefer labels to have a tighter and more personal grip on curation and so far Fran made a great job. Not that I don't like Fargo for instance but just looking at the movies releases page here on blu-ray.com, there are countless discs from all over the world, a mainstream hit that's readily available.
In my opinion that wouldn't fit with Radiance, that's not the kind of stuff I "signed up" for. Maybe it would even delude the curation effort in the long run and suddenly the French flag hint wouldn't point to Une Femme Douce but Amélie, no thanks.

[RossyG]

Must admit, Fargo feels a lot more like an Arrow release than a Radiance one.

[dwk]

Originally Posted by rapta

That said, I reckon they could get away with a lesser-known Coen Bros film such as The Hudsucker Proxy, or even Barton Fink, both of which firmly remain cult titles. Fargo has only become more than that due to the TV series, to be honest, and was their biggest hit of the 90s (and has since only been eclipsed in popularity by The Big Lebowski).

Issue is both of those need new transfers and I'm not sure Radiance has the juice to convince WB to let them access The Hudsucker Proxy negative or convince the Mouse to let them access Barton Fink's negative. (Assuming the US rights holders of those two films have the elements.)

[Yami]

I can fully understand why Fran would pass on a title like Fargo - he has limited resources at his disposal and why use them on a film that will almost certainly get a release anyway? There's the old argument about labels releasing more mainstream titles in order to subsidise the lesser known films, but if he didn't feel that was necessary on that occasion then more power to him. (Note that we don't know what the quoted licence fee for it was and this could have been when Radiance weren't in the 4K game)

Originally Posted by rapta

I believe that comment was largely aimed at Criterion, but I could be wrong, and even then it's not always as cut-and-dry as that as there have been a few crossovers with the Criterion catalogue.

Either way, the extras are a bit lacking on both releases, and The Devil, Probably seems to be OOP on Amazon at least, so I'd say those are two qualifiers for at least giving them a go. It's Bresson after all, probably one of the most esteemed European directors of all time.

I don't think it was ever specified as being Criterion.

Re: The Devil, Probably - I expect it's just waiting for new stock to be pressed. It wouldn't make much sense to be OOP - it was never advertised as being limited, it's a Gaumont-owned film, and it's only just 3 years old.

I could certainly see Radiance releasing them because, as you say, there's certainly room for improvement on the extras but I can see why they would de-prioritise them. Especially because there are two other Bresson films potentially available to them: Angels of Sin (which should also be Gaumont) and Diary of a Country Priest (a StudioCanal title they've not released on Blu in the UK).

[OnlyJapantown]

Originally Posted by logboy

David Bowie on why you should never play to the gallery - YouTube

Sorry Coen Bros, your indie cred is insufficient and releasing your work would now be deemed 'playing to the gallery'. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with yakuza flick #37.