Criterion and Sony

[jindianajonz]

Well, yes, but I had figured they just distributed to the places Criterion told them to distribute to; I didn't think they would have any effect on what those places are.

[FrauBlucher]

They also put motors on the discs, which is what keeps them spinning around inside your player.

I'm shocked! I Thought there was a tiny man with really big arms in there cranking that baby around and around.

[jindianajonz]

They also put motors on the discs, which is what keeps them spinning around inside your player.

I'm shocked! I Thought there was a tiny man with really big arms in there cranking that baby around and around.

I'm just pissed that I spent money getting my Playstation fixed when really the problem was with my Southpark disc.

[zedz]

Well, yes, but I had figured they just distributed to the places Criterion told them to distribute to; I didn't think they would have any effect on what those places are.

Retailers will generally be dealing direct with the distributor for their Criterion titles, not with Criterion itself. The bigger and more efficient the distributor is, and the more extensive its distribution network, the more likely it is that retailers will be able to carry the product (if they want it). That said, I doubt that there's any significant difference in performance between the various distributors with which Criterion has been aligned. They've all been pretty big players.

[Sandman]

...
I do think it's interesting that many foreign language titles and titles released by Criterion on laserdisc should happen to go out of print a couple of months before this press release.

Such as?

[peerpee]

What about Criterion now becoming the home for all Sony Pictures Classics titles?

[giovannii84]

What about Criterion now becoming the home for all Sony Pictures Classics titles?

Awesome idea!

The important releases get a spine number, and the less important but exciting stuff can be put into eclipse sets

[Cinephrenic]

Criterion would have to clear their slate to commit themselves to Sony catalog. I don't see this happening. They probably release several films a year that they find important, such as Capra, Hawks, Cukor, etc... and more contemporary films.

[ShellOilJunior]

I'd like to see Criterion at least release Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I've heard the HD master has been a round for a few years now.

[FrauBlucher]

Criterion would have to clear their slate to commit themselves to Sony catalog. I don't see this happening. They probably release several films a year that they find important, such as Capra, Hawks, Cukor, etc... and more contemporary films.

...unless this business deal was at least a couple of years in the making which I find highly probable. A company like Sony always has and operates under long term strategies. I don't see this as a last minute get together between the two companies. If that's the case then it's possible CC included some of the SPC titles into their schedule knowing this was going to happen. I also think this explains fewer IFC titles then what CC has released in the past.
I guess we'll learn more at the Wexner talks.

[Perkins Cobb]

I still think some of you are misreading this as "Criterion is Sony's new distributor" rather than "Sony is Criterion's new distributor."

[matrixschmatrix]

It certainly seems reasonable to assume that Criterion will have greater and cheaper access to whatever they want out of Sony's holdings, though, right?

[Perkins Cobb]

I mean, they've already had pretty good access to Sony catalog titles since the BBS set, right? I would think that if Criterion wanted to compete with Twilight Time for, say, Major Dundee or As Good As It Gets, they could have been doing so already. I would only think this was a big deal if it represented a relationship with an entity that Criterion wasn't already licensing from.

(And even if this did somehow mean opening the Sony floodgates, I wouldn't be enthusiastic about it; it'd just be still more slots on the Criterion slate that would go to films that a big studio should be releasing itself, as opposed to stuff like Pierre Etaix or WCF.)

[giovannii84]

In recent times we've had 2 very good releases of Columbia classics: ok the waterfront & anatomy of a murder, and I'm sure more will follow.

[ianungstad]

What about Criterion now becoming the home for all Sony Pictures Classics titles?

I could see a similar arrangement with SPC that Criterion has with IFC. Perhaps it's telling that Sony Classics president Michael Barker did a top 10 list for Criterion recently.

[Moe Dickstein]

(And even if this did somehow mean opening the Sony floodgates, I wouldn't be enthusiastic about it; it'd just be still more slots on the Criterion slate that would go to films that a big studio should be releasing itself, as opposed to stuff like Pierre Etaix or WCF.)

I'd be thrilled to see that happen. With the lack of extras and features on catalog releases these days, it's no good to have the studios release their own films. I welcome more mainstream Hollywood product from Criterion with open arms and wallet.

[CSM126]

All this chatter and no one's mentioning Housekeeping, a lovely masterpiece in desperate need of a blu-ray edition? I'm stunned it hasn't materialized by now. Sony/Columbia put it up on iTunes and, if I recall correctly, a MOD archive DVD-r. But for crying out loud it deserves better.

[matrixschmatrix]

(And even if this did somehow mean opening the Sony floodgates, I wouldn't be enthusiastic about it; it'd just be still more slots on the Criterion slate that would go to films that a big studio should be releasing itself, as opposed to stuff like Pierre Etaix or WCF.)

I'd be thrilled to see that happen. With the lack of extras and features on catalog releases these days, it's no good to have the studios release their own films. I welcome more mainstream Hollywood product from Criterion with open arms and wallet.

You might be the most consistent poster on the board in your viewpoint, man.

[Perkins Cobb]

I'd be thrilled to see that happen. With the lack of extras and features on catalog releases these days, it's no good to have the studios release their own films. I welcome more mainstream Hollywood product from Criterion with open arms and wallet.

It's a mad, mad, mad, mad forum these days.

[giovannii84]

(And even if this did somehow mean opening the Sony floodgates, I wouldn't be enthusiastic about it; it'd just be still more slots on the Criterion slate that would go to films that a big studio should be releasing itself, as opposed to stuff like Pierre Etaix or WCF.)

I'd be thrilled to see that happen. With the lack of extras and features on catalog releases these days, it's no good to have the studios release their own films. I welcome more mainstream Hollywood product from Criterion with open arms and wallet.

Completely agree. I think WB do a great job at adding supplementary features to their DVD/BD releases but Sony/Columbia are often quite bare. Usually the trailer, a poster gallery & occasional short featurette on some releases.

[Moe Dickstein]

You might be the most consistent poster on the board in your viewpoint, man.

I'm going to choose to take this as a compliment

[ryannichols7]

What about Criterion now becoming the home for all Sony Pictures Classics titles?

SPC already charges $35 for their Blurays anyway, why not just do them up right?

[Yaanu]

I can't wait for the inevitable one-3DBD/two-BD/five-DVD release of JACK AND JILL through this new deal.

[rossen]

Is there any real chance for Criterion releases of The Last Detail, California Split and Fat City on blu?

[dustybooks]

I remember hearing that Last Detail was screened in a restored print not long ago. Now there's a Hal Ashby title I'd pick up immediately!

edit: oops, just saw that this came up before in this thread and it was concluded that Millcreek has it so probably not. Sorry for the redundancy.