criterionforum.org

I'll try and say something more in depth later but Criterion's sheer dedication to nailing their John Waters covers, almost getting me to buy the films (even though I don't think I could stomach them), is top notch. both all timer covers for sure, up there with Polyester and Pink Flamingos. thrilled for fans they got both at the same time!

Beloved Aunt wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 5:59 pm Love the Waters covers, they're great. High Art cover is the most instantly forgettable thing I've ever seen. Radha Mitchell doesn't look very happy about Ally Sheedy being on top of her, and the cover makes it look likes she's the star. Is this actually the case?

It’s a variation on the film’s key art. Sheedy is “the star” in sense of name recognition but Mitchell is the protagonist— all the posters had Sheedy hidden behind her hair

The Panahi is incredibly unremarkable, especially informed by current events. I also hate the layered title...a lot.

Your fourth and five words are now my favorite conjunction of two words. It deserves to become a meme.

Zot! wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 6:14 pm The Panahi is incredibly unremarkable, especially informed by current events. I also hate the layered title...a lot.

I love it. Also happy, because it's probably the only film I'll be buying from this batch.

Zot! wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 6:14 pm I also hate the layered title...a lot.

You're right, it is a very pitiful stab at making the cover more interesting. Like a person who's been shot in the brain with a shotgun feebly trying to attack their assailant for the few seconds before they die.

ryannichols7 wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 6:08 pm I'll try and say something more in depth later but Criterion's sheer dedication to nailing their John Waters covers, almost getting me to buy the films (even though I don't think I could stomach them), is top notch.

Not even Hairspray works for you?

IWJAA is a yikes from me. There’s a lot more visually interesting images from the film they could’ve used. The Med Hondo cover is great. The rest are thumbs ups from me.

It Was Just An Accident's image fits well with the tone of the film, but I agree with Zot! that the text layering is off-putting

Do the words on the Panahi cover represent the title of the film... or Criterion's cover art apology?

domino harvey wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 6:12 pm

Beloved Aunt wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 5:59 pm Love the Waters covers, they're great. High Art cover is the most instantly forgettable thing I've ever seen. Radha Mitchell doesn't look very happy about Ally Sheedy being on top of her, and the cover makes it look likes she's the star. Is this actually the case?

It’s a variation on the film’s key art. Sheedy is “the star” in sense of name recognition but Mitchell is the protagonist— all the posters had Sheedy hidden behind her hair

It's really hard to tell (I don't know if it will be visible in the Criterion), but the original image actually shows that Sheedy is also looking at the camera from behind her hair. I don't love the film, but the look of discontent from the two leads fits it's themes just fine. As some others have mentioned, I much preferred Laurel Canyon, but I think I just fell in love with Frances McDormand's character's house.

Beloved Aunt wrote: Mon Mar 16, 2026 5:59 pm Love the Waters covers, they're great. High Art cover is the most instantly forgettable thing I've ever seen. Radha Mitchell doesn't look very happy about Ally Sheedy being on top of her, and the cover makes it look likes she's the star. Is this actually the case?

As I recall, yes. So I guess that makes it a good cover?

No. Haha why would that make it a good cover?

Because it got across the main ideas of a film you hadn't seen? Which I'm assuming was part of the designer's brief.

For the record, I find the cover pretty dull, but then that's how I found the film as well.

Kinuyo Tanaka Directs
Monty Python's Life of Brian [4K]
Trouble in Paradise [4K]
Gilda [4K]
Point Blank [4K]
John Singleton's Hood Trilogy [4K] (Booklet)

I like the top 3

Hud and Cruel Story of Youth are the standouts to me here, I like the rest.

Big month for Skillman with his Hud and Alice covers.

Also interesting that Mike Mills gets cover art credit on his own box set.

Mike Mills?! Why that’s not a Eclipse Set? Tanaka, Lubitsch and Kiarostami are better suited for Eclipse and Mills got a special box set? Makes absolutely no sense.

I believe Mills began his career making cover art/inside artwork for albums, so it makes sense

Is Hud a WB or Paramount title?

The only cover I am not keen on is The Crying Game.

honoriofh wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 4:26 pm Mike Mills?! Why that’s not a Eclipse Set? Tanaka, Lubitsch and Kiarostami are better suited for Eclipse and Mills got a special box set? Makes absolutely no sense.

Can't have all those special features, commentaries on an Eclipse set. It's a pretty generously stacked set.

honoriofh wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 4:26 pm Mike Mills?! Why that’s not a Eclipse Set? Tanaka, Lubitsch and Kiarostami are better suited for Eclipse and Mills got a special box set? Makes absolutely no sense.

How does it not make sense? The Eclipse series is for titles that won't sell well on the mainline, which would explain why Tanaka, Lubitsch and Kiarostami releases, while the Mills box will make money (at least judging by all the exuberant comments that I've been seeing.

Finch wrote: Wed Apr 15, 2026 4:33 pm Is Hud a WB or Paramount title?

The only cover I am not keen on is The Crying Game.

Paramount.