criterionforum.org

jindianajonz wrote:

Matt wrote:Sure, some person on Facebook cites an unnamed "higher-up" who still doesn't commit 100%. Where do I pre-order?

I thought the same thing, but it's actually a dude from terrencemallick.com that posted it (see link). That gives it a tad more credibility, in my eyes

I am the dude from terrencemalick.org , paul, and the story is this, unrelated to Criterion's announcement, I wanted to get further evidence of WB's intentions toward Badlands. I contacted the V.P. of the home release division. He sent me the message that it "most likely will be Criterion." This makes me think then that it will not be anytime soon, since the film, to my knowledge, hasn't been restored, and to get the Criterion treatment, this is a must. That obviously takes time. Film editor Billy Weber told me that him, Art Director Jack Fisk, Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek have all given either interviews or provided commentary already for a British release, or, he may just be referring to the featurette currently online at Youtube, Absence of Malick. Since that came out in 2003, he may have meant something created sooner than that. Not sure.

The VP at WB then wrote me that he expects Badlands to see a release "sometime this year."

So, we have confirmation from the Malick camp and now we have one from a credible source at WB as of today, but not Criterion, which would be typical until they post a cryptic shot from their screening room (like they did with The Thin Red Line), or a clue of some sort.

I did follow-up my email with a request about the state of Badland's original print, if there has been any work done on it by Warner Brothers etc., but haven't heard back from him yet. When I do, I will post it asap.

Janus films is screening "The Telephone Book" at the Tribeca theater in NY on January 25th, with a Q+A following the screening. Did we know that this was in the works? I've never even heard of this film but it sounds fun and the log line gives off a Waters-esque vibe:

Super rare 35mm film screening of a forgotten classic from the New York Underground! Producer Merv Bloch in person for post-screening Q&A with Janus Films’ Brian Belovarac.

Sexually frustrated gamine Alice (Sarah Kennedy) is freed from her apartment-bound malaise when she receives the world's greatest obscene phone call from one "John Smith," sending her on a picaresque journey through the Manhattan white pages in search of its maker. As Alice encounters ego-crazed porn directors, perverted psychologist and priapic shut-ins, her trip grows more and more deranged, interrupted by first-person interviews with phone freaks and climaxing in one of the nuttiest half-hours of 1970s cinema. The sole directing credit of Saturday Night Live writer Nelson Lyon and produced by Merv Bloch, creator of some of the movie industry’s best ad campaigns, The Telephone Book is hilarious and disturbing in equal measure.

Anybody else thinking Criterion has Valerie and Her Week of Wonders now?

I don't know about Criterion, but I have it from Second Run.

I'm just thinking how many films that was Facets dvds at one time do they have.

allthingsshining wrote:I contacted the V.P. of the home release division. He sent me the message that it "most likely will be Criterion." This makes me think then that it will not be anytime soon, since the film, to my knowledge, hasn't been restored, and to get the Criterion treatment, this is a must. That obviously takes time.

Criterion actually licensed Badlands along with a very few other Warner titles a couple of years ago, but I believe something (not related to elements I think) threw a wrench in the works and the deal was jeopardized. When and if the titles materialize remains to be seen. I don't know that the film really needs to be "restored" per se. It will just need a new HD scan with Criterion's usual cleanup. Usually in licensing situations, I think Criterion does the scan and gives the HD master back to the studio as part of the deal. I don't know if that's how it would work with Warner or not. Both MGM and Fox have licensed titles to Criterion in the past then changed their minds and decided they wanted them back and Criterion has acquiesced (for a price or a higher profile title). When that happened with Beyond the Valley of the Dolls, Fox even got custody of the supplements Criterion had already prepared. I could see something like that potentially happening with Badlands. I suspect the HD master is actually already done and they just haven't sorted out the legalities of who's going to distribute.

CSM126 wrote:Wouldn't it be hilarious if that is why Wenders was in the office and the road movies were a red herring?

Well, seeing as how this week's Friday Repertory Roundup mentions Kings of the Road, I presume it is indeed forthcoming. I can't think of any other reason for posting about a film not in the collection. I know this has happened before with Le Havre, though we also know that it is a Janus property and they've since made a poster. Then there are others like Rohmer's Le rayon vert which hasn't otherwise been speculated on, as far as I know. Has anyone else picked up on these F.R.R. hints and have any further insight?

Considering this Eclipse set and Marketa I wonder how many films Criterion licensed from Barrandov and if it's only limited to these '60s films.

When I saw saw La rayon vert this past summer there was no Janus logo. Not that it necessarily means anything, but I was surprised to see that listed.

It is being distributed by Film Desk, who likely will put it out through Zeitgeist as they have in the past.

This may be a long shot but I'm hoping the release of the Organizer will eventually result in a CC of The Working Class Goes to Heaven

Excellent month! So excited for Frampton (can't believe more people aren't) and the CNW set, though annoyingly I ordered the Second Run Party and the Guests last night.

htshell wrote:Excellent month! So excited for Frampton (can't believe more people aren't)

I know. The only modicum of April excitement seems to be focused on HAROLD AND MAUDE which is great and all but hardly off the beaten path.

The Frampton and the Ozu upgrade alone make this one of the best months in years for me. Interested in Alambrista and the Monicelli as well.

I've just watched Rosemary's Baby and spotted that, in the scene where Minnie (Ruth Gordon) gives Rosemary the tanis root necklace, Minnie herself is actually wearing a medallion.

DeusEx wrote:The Frampton and the Ozu upgrade alone make this one of the best months in years for me. Interested in Alambrista and the Monicelli as well.

Yeah, all of these are very welcome. With the Czech set, a great month -- many more obscurities than we've gotten all at once in a long time.

*CG* wrote:I'm just thinking how many films that was Facets dvds at one time do they have.

I say we all chip in $100 and ask Criterion to buy out Facets so their catalog can get the proper release it truly deserves....

Just imagine Blu Rays loaded with pertinent extras:

Bill Douglas
Raul Ruiz
Bela Tarr
Frantisek Vlacil
Eliseo Subiela
Andrezj Wajda
Luis Bunuel
Alexander Sokurov
Aventurera
Christ Stopped At Eboli
Fantastic Planet
The Decalogue
Heimat
...

SamLowry wrote: Just imagine Blu Rays loaded with pertinent extras:

Bill Douglas
[. . .]
Fantastic Planet

No need to imagine in these two instances, just pick up the fabulous UK editions.

It's not possible for everyone to pick up the Blu of the later though (I believe all of Douglas is R0).

ianungstad wrote:Janus films is screening "The Telephone Book" at the Tribeca theater in NY on January 25th, with a Q+A following the screening. Did we know that this was in the works? I've never even heard of this film but it sounds fun and the log line gives off a Waters-esque vibe

Holy shit. Thanks for the info. I love this movie; it's a bit like a cross between Robert Downey Sr. and Godard. I see where you would get Waters from the description (a la Dirty Shame), but it seems more concerned with the mechanics of sexual perversion rather than the camp celebration of those perversions (although it is very funny).

...it's a bit like a cross between Robert Downey Sr. and Godard.

Speaking of the man, anyone heard anything about Putney Swope? Only good part of the Golden Globes the other night was Robert Downey Jr.'s quick reference to his father's 60's output (How Breaking Bad wasn't even nominated is a terrible thing, but expected).

Putney Swope is already available in a good edition.

knives wrote:Putney Swope is already available in a good edition.

Criterion are releasing it anyway.

Any chance of a boxset, (at this point I would even take an Eclipse set) of Raise the Red Lantern, The Story of Qiu Ju, Ju Duo and Red Sorghum? Zhang Yimou's chinese films are shockingly underrated and unavailable in decent, lavish dvd editions in R1 land.

stroszeck wrote:Any chance of a boxset, (at this point I would even take an Eclipse set) of Raise the Red Lantern, The Story of Qiu Ju, Ju Duo and Red Sorghum? Zhang Yimou's chinese films are shockingly underrated and unavailable in decent, lavish dvd editions in R1 land.

I have no clue, but I can't remember not even one single mainland CC release. And I have to admit that in my opinion neither Red Lantern nor Red Sorghum fit into the conceptual outline of the eclipse series as they can't truly be considered to be "lost, forgotten or overshadowed classics", can they?