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bainbridgezu wrote:What the fuck?

WTF indeed.... Oh really, instead let's have another Dunham film in the Collection. I guess there is not one person within Criterion fighting to get this title. ](*,)

I think folks should bombard Criterion's Facebook, Twitter and Mulvaney with a WTF is wrong with you guys.

Before we grab the pitchforks, keep in mind that this is all speculation on Dominik's part, apparently due to the fact that a film student couldn't get Criterion to support screenings of the film. Who knows what the real issue is regarding rights and other entanglements.

jindianajonz wrote:Before we grab the pitchforks, keep in mind that this is all speculation on Dominik's part, apparently due to the fact that a film student couldn't get Criterion to support screenings of the film. Who knows what the real issue is regarding rights and other entanglements.

Though the quote "He tried to get Criterion interested, and they weren’t" follows a passage about the film student and his screenings, the headline makes clear that Dominik was talking about Criterion releasing it on disc. The writer who interviewed Dominik would know what he meant better than essentially anyone else.

A filmmaker's information about whether Criterion is going to put out his film is likely more than speculation. Of course we can't know to a 100% certainty that Criterion rejected the film, but in the absence of evidence to the contrary I'm going to assume it's probably true. And they could always change their mind down the road.

Noiradelic wrote:Though the quote "He tried to get Criterion interested, and they weren’t" follows a passage about the film student and his screenings, the headline makes clear that Dominik was talking about Criterion releasing it on disc. The writer who interviewed Dominik would know what he meant better than essentially anyone else.

Yes, when has a headline ever been used to attract more attention to an article than the content warrants? (see: the phenomenon of clickbait)

The Playlist was in fact quoting from an interview conducted on a separate blog, Collider, which did not use such an attention-grabbing headline. The context of Dominik's quote seems to me to be an extrapolation based on the info he was given by this film student. And The Playlist clearly grabbed onto what they deemed the most salacious aspect of the interview and re-published it under a misleading headline.

Yeah, considering most of the The Playlist's output is inane lists sprinkled with some terrible reviews (and a broken website that doesn't let me scroll past the header most of the time) I'm pretty sure the headline is a stretch. I was at one of the screenings Dominik mentions and it was great but definitely a smaller, labor-of-love kinda event and I don't see why Criterion would have been interested in participating then.

Re: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Here to clear some things up. I started the Jesse James Revival and am the person Andrew is talking about in that interview. There is a bit of confusion and misinformation in there though.

We were initially only doing one big screening in New York with Andrew Q&Aing. Demand exceeded our expectations. That night sold out so a second night was added (with author Ron Hansen Q&Aing) which we also sold out. I decided to keep riding the momentum and see how far we could take it.

I set up a screening at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood with Andrew and Roger Deakins Q&Aing. We had some people involved in the making of the film in the audience that night and it went extremely well. That was a sell out plus we had to turn away a pretty large standby line at the door.

Throughout the process of all of these screenings the question of the director's cut of the film kept coming up and people in the audience were even asking "What about Criterion?"

Andrew had done an interview early in the publicity for the whole thing where he spoke about two alternate cuts of the film http://uproxx.com/hitfix/exclusive-andr ... alf-a-day/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Later on I did two screenings with Casey Affleck Q&Aing, one in Cambridge at the Brattle Theatre and one in Brooklyn at the Nitehawk Cinema.

All of these things went really well and everybody who participated on both the talent side and the exhibition side felt really good about how it went and everybody enjoyed the process.

In the middle of all of this, a friend put me in touch with somebody who worked at Criterion (not at the producer level). He offered to pass on a brief write-up to somebody at Criterion if he could outlining what we could bring to the table if they'd be willing to talk about doing a release.

He didn't make any promises that he could do that (nor should he have) but said he would if it felt appropriate (being an employee there obviously that's a touchy thing to be passing along a pitch).

I should add that I was doing this on behalf of the film and Andrew. Andrew was not involved in reaching out to Criterion.

I don't really know the guy so that pretty much went into the ether on me. It may or may not have crossed somebody's desk.

But the Criterion plea continually comes up from fans of the movie on Twitter and Facebook and these questions periodically get asked like at the end of this interview about Andrew's new movie (which is fantastic by the way).

It's something I've wanted to have a more concrete conversation with somebody at Criterion about now that they've released Warner Bros titles (which could have been an issue at the time, who knows).

I have no predestined expectations or want to appear presumptuous about them working with us, but since it keeps coming up I really would like to find out a way to speak to somebody who could hear me out so that I could outline more specifically what could make the release special, participants we could potentially bring, etc.

They curate their catalog carefully and I respect that so at the end of the day their decision is their decision.

If anyone knows how I could get a brief audience/phone call/cup of coffee with somebody at Criterion when I'm in New York next I would be grateful for the opportunity to finally have a real talk about possibly working together on a release.

Also, I am not, nor was I, a film student when we started this. I work in television.

To those of you enthusiastic about the film and its possible inclusion in the Criterion Collection I appreciate it and suggest you maybe do the ol' give Mulvaney a shout thing ;)

I hope that clears up some confusion. I just wanted to make it clear that we never actually had a conversation but would love to if at all possible.

If anyone else has a question to clear up feel free to email me at [email protected] or point anybody in that direction.

One last edit here: I am speaking only on behalf of myself here. Not Andrew Dominik, Casey Affleck, Roger Deakins, Ron Hansen, or any aforementioned people.

Best,
J

If Dominik is interested in getting an ultimate version of this film out why wouldn't he reach out to Criterion himself? I can't imagine that would be a difficult thing for someone like him to do. Especially in light of the Warner/Criterion deal, which would make it all the more possible that Criterion would take this on. Unless they don't want to. Which I doubt. What we can probably all agree on is that Warner will never spend the time and money to give this a proper release.

Given that they just put out The New World in three different cuts on a Warner license, this would seem to be a no-brainer to me. I know Dominik does not have nearly the profile of Malick, but if enough people make enough noise it still seems a definite possibility to me.

They'll get to it after the Fountain

I think both films are far from masterpieces, but Jesse James at least strikes me as a salvgeable film: the most interesting part of the film (everything post-Assassination) is clearly the part that got the scissors. I can believe there's a great film buried there.

The Fountain seemed to go off the rails the moment the budget got slashed and Pitt pulled out. I don't think a redux is fixing that fiasco.

domino harvey wrote:They'll get to it after the Fountain

I realize there's some snark there but since that was a Regency production, Fox might have the rights to it now.

domino harvey wrote:They'll get to it after the Fountain

That's probably a deserved burn on most of the above speculation/wishful thinking, but I don't see the problem with Criterion lending some muscle to a misfit toy like Jesse James. Personally I have no strong memories of the film, good or bad, or any particular personal investment in Criterion putting it out, but it would seem to have quite a following, and if the sales would help to underwrite other, riskier projects, why not?

FrauBlucher wrote:If Dominik is interested in getting an ultimate version of this film out why wouldn't he reach out to Criterion himself? I can't imagine that would be a difficult thing for someone like him to do. Especially in light of the Warner/Criterion deal, which would make it all the more possible that Criterion would take this on. Unless they don't want to. Which I doubt. What we can probably all agree on is that Warner will never spend the time and money to give this a proper release.

The only circumstance under which I could see Warner giving this a new release, would be to appease Ridley Scott who is helping produce the Blade Runner sequel as we speak. His company helped put out Jesse James as well, although I don't know how fond of it he is now because I'm sure he took as much a bath on it's box office as WB did.

Since they've been churning out the Warner titles rather quickly, with February having three and March having two, and then all sorts last year (they're up to 19 titles now), is there some sort of deadline they have to get these titles out by?

Does anyone really think Warner's not going to/hasn't already renewed a contract for more titles? I can't imagine they've done poorly, and it'd not shock me based on the rapid increase in Warner Archive releases if the sales have actually wildly exceeded expectations. I just think we're at the point where all the projects in some form of development under the initial deal are all wrapping up simultaneously.

I can't help but think that the initial list has increased since Kim Hendrickson said at the Wexner talks, "that a list of Warner titles have gone around the office."

I hope Death in Venice and The Damned find their way in to the collection at some point. Hard to see Criterion turning down an opportunity to release more Visconti, but I also know these are not among his most-loved films here and elsewhere.

I feel like Robin Hood seems likely at this point

movielocke wrote:I feel like Robin Hood seems likely at this point

Which one? If you're talking about the Errol Flynn one, I feel like it would be hard to beat the stacked existing Blu-ray that's still in print and available for less than $10. (That never stopped Criterion, though.)

Yes the Errol Flynn, they seem to be doing a decent amount of upgrading of LD WB titles, and that one seems like one they'd target.


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Werewolf by Night wrote:I hope Death in Venice and The Damned find their way in to the collection at some point. Hard to see Criterion turning down an opportunity to release more Visconti, but I also know these are not among his most-loved films here and elsewhere.

I second that. And also hope that Criterion picks up Antonioni's "The Passenger" from Sony.

cdnchris wrote:... is there some sort of deadline they have to get these [Warner] titles out by?

I suppose it's possible that prioritising their titles was part of the deal.

FrauBlucher wrote:I can't help but think that the initial list has increased since Kim Hendrickson said at the Wexner talks, "that a list of Warner titles have gone around the office."

I feel this way too, especially in light of the new partnership with Filmstruck.

ianungstad wrote:If there are deals with Warners and Fox coming into play, Dreams (Akira Kurosawa) seems likely and I suppose we'll get Darjeelling Limited.

I asked Mulvaney about the licensing deal with Warner Bros. Vague but promising? .

ianungstad wrote:Hi, a few days ago Kim Hendrickson spoke at the Wexner Center in Columbus and apparently said that you guys had a few titles from WB in the works? Will we see any of these titles in the 2009 schedule or will they start to roll out in 2010? I also wonder if the films licensed from WB will focus on the silent era? I know that silent films have been one of WB's weaknesses.

Thanks for any tidbits you could provide.

Jon Mulvaney wrote:Hi there,
These deals can take quite a while to finalize, and I don't have any specific information to share at this point. Feel free to check back, and thanks for your e-mail!

Best,
Jon Mulvaney

Holy Shit, can't believe it's been this long.

After skimming through this thread, it's interesting how certain titles that were thought to be out of reach for Criterion have ended up with them. At one point there was much handringing over Barcelona.

There was never a mention of 2001: A Space Odyssey , which I found interesting (Lolita and Barry Lyndon were the titles most discussed and ask for). Warner released the bluray 2007, with never an Anniversary edition or money grab reissue which WB are prone to do. Being a Criterion LD, this would be a big release for CC. But could see all three end up with Criterion releases.

With 5 titles already announced 2017 this could be quite a year for the Warner/Criterion deal.

I *think* Criterion would go after Barry Lyndon given all the aspect ratio hoopla if they were to go after one of the already-released WB Kubricks. No matter what, it'd be a huge seller regardless. I would hope Criterion will be careful with doing double-dips of WB releases, though, considering there's still so much more that's not been released that's just screaming for it.