Criterion and Sony

[ianungstad]

http://magazine.creativecow.net/article ... abia-in-4k" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Having seen Sony's restoration of Taxi Driver last year, I can say that the company -- with Crisp at the helm -- is treating its priceless cultural artifacts with the respect and care they deserve. Next up, said Crisp, is On the Waterfront, The Last Detail and, next year, Funny Girl. I can hardly wait.

On the Waterfront is being released by Criterion. Does anyone think they'll also release The Last Detail/Funny Girl? Or will they end up at Twilight Time?

[cdnchris]

I thought Millcreek got The Last Detail in that batch they licenced. Unless it's not an exclusive thing I don't know if Criterion would be able to get it.

[ianungstad]

Mill Creek? I hope not! I don't see Sony doing a major restoration for a title that's going to be dumped in a dollar store discount bin.

[Minkin]

I can say that the company -- with Crisp at the helm -- is treating its priceless cultural artifacts with the respect and care they deserve.

Millcreek

[Roger Ryan]

Maybe (hopefully) the Mill Creek license was for DVD only and a proper restoration for Blu-ray will receive a better release.

[duck duck]

Anyone else pissed that "Birdy" ended up on that too?

[ianungstad]

I noticed on Mike's Movie Mayhem that Sony/Columbia just discontinued all releases of Bennett Miller's Capote this past week. I would love for Criterion to release special editions of Capote and In Cold Blood as back to back spine numbers. Hopefully with Sony discontinuing these releases that might happen eventually.

http://dvdlist.kazart.com/queryDVDList. ... ort3by=ASC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[captveg]

I noticed on Mike's Movie Mayhem that Sony/Columbia just discontinued all releases of Bennett Miller's Capote this past week. I would love for Criterion to release special editions of Capote and In Cold Blood as back to back spine numbers. Hopefully with Sony discontinuing these releases that might happen eventually.

http://dvdlist.kazart.com/queryDVDList. ... ort3by=ASC" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't be surprised to see them re-released via Mill Creek.

[Ashirg]

The link ianungstad posted also says that Capote is being re-released by MGM on January 15. (since it was United Artists co-production).

[kneelzod]

Not thrilled about that or AVALON, either.

Anyone else pissed that "Birdy" ended up on that too?

[Bruce]

Not thrilled about that or AVALON, either.

Did I miss something? Has Avalon been announced or promised on Blu?

[Roger Ryan]

Not thrilled about that or AVALON, either.

Did I miss something? Has Avalon been announced or promised on Blu?

No, we're just referring to the poor treatment of these films on DVD via Mill Creek. Can't speak for GARDENS OF STONE (one of the few Coppola films I haven't seen), but the other three all deserve high quality Blu-ray releases.

[knives]

Gardens of Stone is mediocre to the point of terribleness, but even it doesn't deserve the Mill Creek treatment.

[Lowry_Sam]

Looks like City Of Hope is now available for streaming (480p, widescreen) for $9.99 on Youtube (rights to Sony Pictures) and Amazon (rights to Samuel Goldwyn). Not sure how that bodes for a Criterion blu-ray.

[zedz]

People are really lobbying for City of Hope on Criterion? That seemed little more than a really long episode of L.A. Law to me.

[captveg]

Aren't both the "new" Mill Creek Gardens of Stone and Avalon simply recycled versions of the Sony DVDs from 2001-02?

[captveg]

A bluray.com user has stated that Twilight Time answered his inquiry about them licensing Tootsie (which is getting released overseas by Sony) by saying they hadn't been offered it. This likely means that Sony considers it prestigious enough to release it themselves in the US, but it wouldn't surprise me to see them give it to Criterion, either.

[Lowry_Sam]

A bluray.com user has stated that Twilight Time answered his inquiry about them licensing Tootsie (which is getting released overseas by Sony) by saying they hadn't been offered it. This likely means that Sony considers it prestigious enough to release it themselves in the US, but it wouldn't surprise me to see them give it to Criterion, either.

I can't imagine Sony handing this off to someone else & Criterion doesn't usually release Hollywood blockbusters unless the director is paying for street cred.

[Moe Dickstein]

A bluray.com user has stated that Twilight Time answered his inquiry about them licensing Tootsie (which is getting released overseas by Sony) by saying they hadn't been offered it. This likely means that Sony considers it prestigious enough to release it themselves in the US, but it wouldn't surprise me to see them give it to Criterion, either.

I can't imagine Sony handing this off to someone else & Criterion doesn't usually release Hollywood blockbusters unless the director is paying for street cred.

Except that Criterion already released it on Laserdisc. I'd like to see more Hollywood popular type films in the collection to ensure balance between that and more niche titles. Also if they gave up As Good As It Gets, I'd not be surprised to see Tootsie. The commentary CC owns on it is stellar.

[Lowry_Sam]

I think Criterion was more likely to get blockbusters because laserdisc was such a niche market. Now that streaming & blu-ray is commonplace, I think it's less likely, unless they do some type of special edition (i.e. different cuts of a film) that your average home video consumer won't likely splurge for, not sure if a commentary alone cuts it. I'd also think that The Graduate, Midnight Cowboy or Straw Dogs would be more likely candidates (with picture quality complaints on at least 2 of those current blu-ray titles) or Lenny (unreleased on blu) than Tootsie or Kramer vs. Kramer or Rain Man (the other Hoffman titles I've heard speculation/wishful musings).

[Moe Dickstein]

If Tootsie isn't going to TT either Criterion is getting it or Sony is doing it themselves. It's announced overseas, so Id guess we know soon. CC and Sony have a big package of titles licensed and I would not be in the slightest surprised to see Tootsie as one of them.

[MongooseCmr]

Tootsie really doesn't seem like the kind of film current day Criterion would release, though maybe its because the hype for that film completely escapes me.
I would definitely welcome a Midnight Cowboy redo, though. The current Blu felt like I was watching a stream buffer from scene to scene.

[hearthesilence]

That Dave Grusin score alone is f-ing horrid.

[Moe Dickstein]

I guess if you didn't like the movie you wouldn't want to see it in the collection. It's a favorite of mine and its a really fantastic example of how to structure a character based comedy film. The Pollack commentary is top notch and there were many other features on that LD. Adding in the deleted scenes and other bonus material from the DVD would make a great package.

I hope with the new availability of "bigger" films that Criterion will take advantage. I miss the types of films they were able to get in the LD days when I started collecting them.

And Dave Grusin has done way more ear-splitting work than Tootsie, that's one of his that isn't too bad, but sticking with Grusin for everything was definitely Pollack's blind spot.

[Feego]

Perhaps Criterion could arrange (or has arranged) a deal with Sony similar to what they did with Taxi Driver, giving Sony the laserdisc supplements for Tootsie in exchange more films.

I have to agree that I don't see Criterion releasing Tootsie today, not that I wouldn't welcome it as I love the film (hideous score aside).