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Antoine Doinel wrote:So IFC is licensing to Criterion now?

Yeah, but we knew that after Che (Which is... where?)

WTF? That's the only thing I can say right now. ](*,) ](*,) ](*,)

domino harvey wrote:

Antoine Doinel wrote:So IFC is licensing to Criterion now?

Yeah, but we knew that after Che (Which is... where?)

Duh. Right. I guess I figured Che had more to do with Soderbergh's relationship with Criterion than anything else. I'm guessing Che in December?

Why Criterion? Why?

November is the biggest DVD buying month, that they're releasing high profile, recent films and crazy boxes shouldn't be surprising. But still, man, I'm not looking forward to the next couple weeks of posters polishing their guns over this

I honestly don't understand all the bitching. Of all a sudden it appears Criterion has access to WB, MGM, IFC, Focus and Sony. It would only make sense they make the most of the opportunities while they have it (and as Domino mentions, during Xmas season).

Eh, I liked Gomorrah. And I like Desplechin. And I liked Bad News Bears. And I like TV. Seems like a pretty solid month to me.

For a second there I thought it was Gammera.

Despite my bitching, I am looking forward to A Christmas Tale, and Television looks interesting. There, I can be optimistic! 8-[

...

Is there anything that could have prepared us for this?

this, I guess.

Well, I was completely, terribly wrong on the no more surprises for 2009 prediction.

The new IFC relationship shouldn't be a surprise to anyone, see, e.g. Che. Wouldn't be surprised if we see Summer Hours next year (after Blockbuster has it for six months).

Some genuine surprises there (never would have thought that Desplechin or Gommorah would make it into the collection)! I, for one, don't mind the move towards more contemporary films if it means that Criterion can still afford releasing "riskier" titles and overlooked or forgotten classics (the licence of Make Way For Tommorow, for example) in this economy. If anything, November's releases seem to confirm a recent trend that was touched upon in the discussion in the Warners thread, with the studios focusing mainly on modern films and pictures not older than 15 years (now that the big chains seem to consider a film like 1991's Silence of the Lambs "old"). My only hope would be that it doesn't represent a huge shift on Criterion's part and that films of a certain age like McCarey's don't get marginalised entirely.

Here's the weird thing: The April newsletter announces Cronos for the fall. The May newsletter announces three times the post war devastation (Rossellini) for this fall. The June newsletter announces Che for this fall. And now, as of November, none of these titles have been officially announced.

I imagine the war trilogy got bumped january, and who knows when the second eclipse history films set is due.

Although two of their titles appear to be straight ports from earlier releases, I think this is a fine month for Criterion. Gomorrah is a good film that will benefit from Criterion's profile, and The Golden Age of Television looks like a must-buy. I haven't seen A Christmas Tale, but I'm thrilled that Desplechin is going to be in the CC and will probably pick this one up, too.

Tom Hagen wrote:Here's the weird thing: The April newsletter announces Cronos for the fall. The May newsletter announces three times the post war devastation (Rossellini) for this fall. The June newsletter announces Che for this fall. And now, as of November, none of these titles have been officially announced.

I wonder if December might be a first and we'll get a full release slate. Might explain why August and September were so quiet with 2 releases each? It would seem odd that all the titles got bumped at the last minute.

I dunno, this stuff has always changed around a lot. The newsletter clues might be more concrete than Mulvaney hints, but I don't think three postponements is terribly unusual ... especially if Criterion really is hurting financially, and is actively shuffling things around to try to frontload some cash-cows.

Perkins Cobb wrote: ... especially if Criterion really is hurting financially

Where did that come from?

General consensus

I'd think a Guillermo del Toro and Soderbergh to be more bankable, though.

Maybe Criterion is as dorky about spine numbers as we all can be, and is saving the war trilogy for 500 - 503.

Tom Hagen wrote:Maybe Criterion is as dorky about spine numbers as we all can be, and is saving the war trilogy for 500 - 503.

Could be, but I kinda hope it`s gonna be a december release: would make a nice christmas present for myself 8-[

Rod Serling on Criterion? You'll get no bitching from me.

Being as November has a number of surprises I hope December contains what I think would really be pleasant surprises:

1. Shanghai Express - how long can this take?

2. Senso - in Blu-ray, natch!

3. A special christmas box set of S. Ray (edited: to include the films released by Merchant/Ivory and would include the Apu trilogy, Devi, and The Music Room, plus more!)

4. Blu-ray editions of In the Mood for Love & The Leopard