Criterion Random Speculation Vol.2

[justeleblanc]

How's this theory...

Since Viridiana was pushed back all the way to May, could that be because they will be releasing it as part of a Bunuel box? Maybe a Bunuel/Pinal box? I assume they wouldn't delay it this much just for a new cover design.

Edit: tags were all messed up.

[stephan73]

Has Viridiana been moved to May? On the Criterion website it still states February as the month of release!

[justeleblanc]

On the Viridiana thread, CriterionDVD.com has it for a May release.

[pzman84]

Maybe they want to make Viridiana a two-disc set with Land without Bread to show his views on Spain.

BTW I have heard nothing about Los Olvidados being released on DVD by Koch Lorber. Anyone know if Criterion might release it?

[tryavna]

BTW I have heard nothing about Los Olvidados being released on DVD by Koch Lorber. Anyone know if Criterion might release it?

I spoke with somebody at Koch Lorber via e-mail a couple of months ago, and they still sound committed to Los Olvidados. The problem they've encountered is a rights dispute that they're trying to settle. I was told to expect it in the latter half of 2006.

[Noir of the Night]

Nothing Lasts Forever (1984, Tom Schiller)

Any chance of Criterion putting out this famously unreleased film?

[pzman84]

You're new here, aren't you? If you had bothered to check IMDB, you would see the copyright is Turner Entertainment. This means Warner's owns the rights to it. Warners has stated it will never release any of its titles on Criterion. Of the major studios, only Universal, Fox, and Fine Line have ever released their films on Criterion DVD.

It's okay, newbie. I made the same mistake when I was new. Just remember to check these things out first. Also, put topics like this in random speculation in the future.

P.S. There are apparently legal difficulties with the film:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothing_La ... er_(movie)

[Noir of the Night]

I don't really appreciate the condescension. I had read an article on the film. The article said that MGM owned the rights, hence my query.

[daniel p]

I don't really appreciate the condescension. I had read an article on the film. The article said that MGM owned the rights, hence my query.

Yeah, talk about welcomed with open arms...

I hate nothing more than people with the whole 'you're a newbie, so you know nothing' attitude.

[katjakassin]

I don't really appreciate the condescension. I had read an article on the film. The article said that MGM owned the rights, hence my query.

Don't worry about it, there's a lot of it around here.

[Narshty]

Maybe they want to make Viridiana a two-disc set with Land without Bread to show his views on Spain.

Perhaps Gary Indiana wants to turn his now-cancelled BFI monograph on the film into a commentary. Would be nice.

[Andre Jurieu]

You're new here, aren't you?... It's okay, newbie.

Actually, I believe Noir is an old member who is returning.

[The Invunche]

pzman84 is cool because he has a number in his screen name.

[ianungstad]

Complete speculation, but I was trolling the .com wasteland reading about the hassle Gilliam has been having getting distribution for Tideland.

Anbody else think Criterion might try and go after the rights from telefilm canada?

At this point it looks like the film will be going straight to dvd in both the UK/USA markets unless something is announced in the very near future.... which is too bad; it looks like an interesting if not controversial entry into Gilliam's catalogue.

Anyone who has seen the film think it would be CC worthy?

[Andre Jurieu]

Complete speculation, but I was trolling the .com wasteland reading about the hassle Gilliam has been having getting distribution for Tideland.

Anbody else think Criterion might try and go after the rights from telefilm canada?

At this point it looks like the film will be going straight to dvd in both the UK/USA markets unless something is announced in the very near future.... which is too bad; it looks like an interesting if not controversial entry into Gilliam's catalogue.

Anyone who has seen the film think it would be CC worthy?

Well, side-stepping the the whole "CC worthy" issue, the film is a disappointment. Hardly as controversial as it's publicity makes it appear, it wears out its welcome quickly and just grows redundant. It's a film that I'm sure will be embraced by either Gilliam devotees and people who haven't enjoyed Gilliam's previous work and consider this a departure. It will probably find a small cult following of people who just think it's misunderstood and under-appreciated. In my opinion, it's neither. I'm saying all of this as a Gilliam enthusiast.

[Doctor Sunshine]

I'll speak to the Criterion-worthiness, it's better than Fear and Loathing so I'd say that qualifies it. It's got all the energy and over-the-top lunacy of Fear and Loathing plus it's funny. A return to that oldschool Gilliam charm. I agree it meanders a bit but Gillliam's career was founded on tangents so I'm willing to overlook that.

[stroszeck]

My Dinner With Andre... This one is going OOP from Koch Lorber. Any news on whether its gonna end up on Criterion? Or should us Malle fans just buy the present crappy quality DVD?

[LightBulbFilm]

How about some Takeshi Kitano? Personally, I'd love to see Fireworks get into the collection. It's one ofmy favorite films of all time. The New Yorke DVD that's out now does not (IMO) have a very good transfer, and it desperately needs a good transfer.

[Jeff]

It sounds like Rome, Open City is indeed on its way. Possibly with a nifty supplement, no less. This excerpt is from a Jonathan Rosenbaum post in Slate's always entertaining "Movie Club".

Michelangelo Antonioni's Michelangelo Eye to Eye and Guy Maddin and Isabella Rossellini's My Dad Is 100 Years Old—two very singular shorts that I would bet most readers haven't even heard about...The latter film—Madden's supple mise en scène of Rossellini's heartfelt yet highly ambivalent effort to "place" her troublesome father Roberto in terms of film history, which she wrote, and in which she plays all the parts, including such figures as Alfred Hitchcock and David O. Selznick—will most likely turn up as a DVD bonus (I've heard that Criterion's Open City is a distinct possibility).

[Andre Jurieu]

It sounds like Rome, Open City is indeed on its way. Possibly with a nifty supplement, no less. This excerpt is from a Jonathan Rosenbaum post in Slate's always entertaining "Movie Club".

Michelangelo Antonioni's Michelangelo Eye to Eye and Guy Maddin and Isabella Rossellini's My Dad Is 100 Years Old—two very singular shorts that I would bet most readers haven't even heard about...The latter film—Madden's supple mise en scène of Rossellini's heartfelt yet highly ambivalent effort to "place" her troublesome father Roberto in terms of film history, which she wrote, and in which she plays all the parts, including such figures as Alfred Hitchcock and David O. Selznick—will most likely turn up as a DVD bonus (I've heard that Criterion's Open City is a distinct possibility).

Both Rome, Open City and My Dad is 100 Years Old were screened at TIFF this past September, but I wasn't able to attend due to a scheduling conflict. I asked around a bit to see if either film had Janus credits attached but no one seemed to know/care. I find it funny that Rosenbaum spells Maddin's name wrong when he mentions it a second time, mostly because I suck at spelling/typing.

EDIT, because of a spelling error...

[ellipsis7]

Antonioni's short film MICHELANGELO EYE TO EYE is a supplement on the forthcoming February DVD release of the Antonioni/Soderbergh/Wong Kar Wai triptych EROS...

Problem with ROME OPEN CITY (according to bfi) is sourcing adequate quality source materials... But certainly the Arrow R2 DVD release could be improved upon, not least with a much more comprehensive subtitling...

[pzman84]

In May and June of 2006 will the 100th birthdays of Wilder and Rossellini respectivly. I asked Jon about this. He gave the "nothing is certain at this time" response we have grown used to. In Isabella's interview on The Flowers of St. Francis they showed a still from Open City and posters for Paisan and Europa '51. I think there was a still of Rossellini making either Paisan or Germany Year Zero (there were US Army soliders in the background). This is just random speculation. However, Image did release Open City a couple of years back (nothing special there). Also, I think Stromboli and Europa '51 did have Janus logos on then when they were shown on TCM. Hopefully, they will release a "Rossellini War Trilogy" or "Rossellini/Bergman Trilogy" box set or, even better, both.

As for Wilder, we all know Universal treats its Paramount library. What it did for the Marx Brothers was criminal. Hopefully, they will finally release Double Indemnity and other titles via Criterion. However, nothing is certain at this time.

[Doctor Sunshine]

Hi -

Thanks for your note. I am taking a much needed vacation. While I'm away, a few of my colleagues in the Criterion office will be reading my mail and dealing with any emergencies that come up (replacement discs, faulty discs, torn packaging etc.) If you're writing about something of this nature, one of them will get back to you shortly. If you're query isn't an emergency, rest assured I'll read it when I return and get back to you.

If you're writing about a title suggestion, please use the suggestion link on the Criterion website. This link goes directly to our acquisitions department.   Many films that have become Criterion editions first came to our attention through your enthusiastic recommendations.

Please note the Criterion offices will be closed for the week between Christmas and New Years, although I assure you the production work continues during that time.  We've just completed a wonderful interview with Jeanne Moreau and there will be many great discs in the coming year.

Best wishes for the holidays and a happy New Year -

JM

From this I will randomly speculation the following: the Moreau interview will appear on Elevator to the Gallows, Mulvaney is a real person and all the Âs lead me to believe he may have a problem with the sauce--or he just started early.

Regarding Rome, Open City and My Dad is 100 Years Old, I missed this at the TIFF as well but I heard the latter was --well, they were--great and the discussion afterwards with Maddin and Rossellini was well worthwhile. They filmed all of the Dialogues discussions and, where regular Q&As were often embarrassing and painful, these were always much less so and might be worthy of special featuredom too. Although... I suppose interviews would probably work better. Well, back-up special featuredom.

[Lino]

I'm betting the Moreau interview is for Les Amants.

[ben d banana]

Both Rome, Open City and My Dad is 100 Years Old were screened at TIFF this past September, but I wasn't able to attend due to a scheduling conflict. I asked around a bit to see if either film had Janus credits attached but no one seemed to know/care.

Well I saw them at the VIFF and Rome... was in far from immaculate condition. It also kept my streak of never being able to stay awake during a Rossellini movie alive, although I was down with the Vampira-esque look for the lead Nazi pleasurer. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the previous night's screening complete with Isabella Q&A, but my excuse, Herzog's The White Diamond if I recall correctly, lacks the embarrassment factor of Andre's.