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Why does Criterion want nothing to do with Greenaway?


Anyone slightly vexed by this? The_Black_Rider? Anyone have any insights?
Drowning by Numbers, Prospero's Books, and Baby of Macon (why not?) are both deserving of big, plush Criterion special editions. Is it a question of taste? They released the I Am Curious movies for god's sake.

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Not to mention the obvious films that should be inducted: "A ZED AND TWO NOUGHTS" and "THE COOK THE THIEF HIS WIFE & HER LOVER".

NOW INTRODUCING: Yo, *beep* that *beep* name!
-"Brooklyn Zoo" - ODB

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Hell, if criterion can release crap from Wes Anderson; they have low credibility to overlook Greenaway's work. He's possibly one of the most original directors working today. Maybe Kino, or Anchor Bay will release more of his stuff. Anchor Bay just released 2 awesome box sets of Mario Bava and Alejandro Jodorowsky. Now I only wish they'd release a 5 disk box set of Greenaway films. That would be awesome! (Now it's only a daydream of mine)

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What's so bad about Wes Anderson's films if you don't mind me asking? Hell, if they can release "ARMAGEDDON", they can release *beep* anything! I have a lot of these daydreams myself actually. A Godard boxset with a newly remastered "WEEK-END" and "PIERROT LE FOU" as well as the previously released "CONTEMPT", "BAND OF OUTSIDERS" and (coming soon) "BREATHLESS". I'd go absolutely nuts over that.

NOW INTRODUCING: Yo, *beep* that *beep* name!
-"Brooklyn Zoo" - ODB

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I did enjoy "Rushmore" and "Bottle Rocket". Altough they have a colorful style, Wes Anderson films have very snotty, rich unlikable main characters except for in Bottle Rocket. You can't identify with any of the characters or feel any sympathy for them. Maybe if you make over $100,000 a year you might be able to sympathize with the Tenenbaums or Steve Zizzou. It seems that Wes Anderson and many other independent directors grew up in rich households so that's all they can write about. Maybe it's cause I'm a poor working class janitor. Another example "Igby Goes Down", not Wes Anderson but has the same uperclass snob humor. It's hard to identify with. I like Peter Greenaway films because they are different they have sophisticated characters, but they're likable. And he does criticize the upperclass often, such as in "The Cook, the theif his wife and her lover", "The Baby of Macon" and "8 1/2 women". Of course it's hard to compare since his films are more surrealist, dark comedies. In the "Draughtman's Contract" they're are many snotty characters; but Greenaway makes them so unlikable that I still can enjoy the film. Plus the gorgeous beauty of his films keeps me glued to the screen. Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like a dick. I just get frustrated when Criterion overlooks so many films by well established directors, but Wes Anderson's flicks get a direct to Criterion release as soon as they come out on DVD. I forgot about "Armageddon", I wonder who Micheal Bay had to sleep with to get a Criterion release for that. Hell, I forgot that Criterion also released "the Blob". A Godard boxset like that would be awesome. I just recently saw "Pierrot la Fou", it was amazing. I know Citerion is re-releasing "Breathless" and "Pierre La Fou" soon. I also like Godard and Bunuel a lot because they criticize the upperclass and status quo. "Weekend" is one of my favorite films. Maybe if the characters in Wes Anderson films were to meet the same fate as the characters in Godard's "Weekend" or in Bunuel's "The Discreet Charm of the Borgeoius" I'd enjoy his films more.

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THE BLOB was a landmark for its decade and for horror movies. I'd say it belongs in there. Now, one that I don't agree with is "EQUINOX". I mean, can you really put that with SATYRICON and VIRIDIANA? I like your opinions on the Bunuel and Godard flicks, and yes, it would be entertaining if some of the characters were killed. But I find myself sympathizing with the characters because they're really these shallow people and they know it, but they just don't seem to be able to do anything. I like Anderson's flicks mostly for the dialogue though. He's a great writer.

NOW INTRODUCING: Yo, *beep* that *beep* name!
-"Brooklyn Zoo" - ODB

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I've never seen "Equinox" looks like it could be a guilty pleasure. I really like "Sweet Movie", many people were shocked that Criterion released it due to it's subject matter. I hope I didn't sound to opiniated in my post. I re-read what I wrote and man I sound like a cranky Bastard. I guess it was the heat wave on that day or something. Anyways almost all of Greenaway's films have gone out of print in the US. "The Cook, (Anchor Bay) ..............., "A Zed and Two Noughts" (Wellspring), "Draughtman's Contract" (Fox Lorber; ther're print was very faded. I'm glad I bought thehis movie when when I did. Now many go for over $50 on ebay. I payed less then $20 a couple years back. The Region 2 PAL DVD's I here are better quality. "The Drowning by Numbers" Australian DVD is not bad, but could use an improvement. "The Baby of Macon" Aussie DVD looks like it was taken from a vhs.

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LOL, I love opinionated people as long as they have good taste. You, sir, have good taste. (With the exception of the Wes Anderson comments, :) LOL!) I'm gonna check out SWEET MOVIE again soon, I used to love it. And if Criterion released more controversial flicks, I'd love them. Bunuel just can't contain all the outrage they need.

NOW INTRODUCING: Yo, *beep* that *beep* name!
-"Brooklyn Zoo" - ODB

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I feel kind of bad. Wes Anderson is probably a nice guy. And all the mean comments I made about his films. I still enjoyed "Bottle Rocket" and "Rushmore". Anyways, I love Criterion, but when I purchase a Criterion release it means I usually go without gas money or my monthly supply of Ramen noodles. Especially "the Battle of Algiers", such a fantastic release, but costed about $50. At least our local library carries many Criterion releases, so it saves me money. I'd still be willing to go without my canned noodle soup and Dollar Store water, for a nice Criterion release of any of Greenaway's films.

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i find it amusing that you singled out wes anderson in your post. not because i disagree with you, but because, as far as i'm concerned, wes anderson's style is a complete rip off of peter greenaway's. the dry sense of humor, the colors, the perfectly framed shots, the placement of musical cues, the close-ups of books and photographs, etc. etc. etc... (there's nothing that will convince me that anderson didn't watch the opening credit sequence of "a zed and two noughts" over and over again as a teenager. everything he's ever done is there in that 3 1/2 minute segment.)

unfortunately, the one thing that anderson didn't steal from greenaway was the multi-textual story-telling.

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Wow. Somebody really, really resents the 1%.

I'd tell you to seek therapy, but your therapist would probably make twice your salary, and therefore must be a d**k.

Kidding aside, I've never understood the need to relate to every damn character in a film. Do I need to relate to the pedophile in Happiness (1998)? I've never had dirty thoughts about children. I surely can't relate to Scarface. I've never even seen cocaine, nor have I been a prominent druglord. I've never been tortured, or tortured others, so I guess I can't enjoy Salo either. Can't enjoy Shawshank, never been to prison. You get my point.

I really think this has less to do with who you can relate to, but rather what walks of life you enjoy sh***ing all over. If I were a white supremacist, I suppose I wouldn't really enjoy Do The Right Thing.

Oh wait, I ****ing hate Spike Lee...

:)

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Especially "Prospero's Books". It is so beautiful and bizarre, what the hell is taking Miramax so long to release a DVD? I think they still have the rights to it. I don't even think there's a region 2 DVD of "Prospero's Books"

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Why does Criterion want nothing to do with Greenaway?


I think it would be a mistake to assume Criterion "wants nothing to do with Greenaway". Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps Greenaway wants nothing to do with Criterion, perhaps there are logistic and legalities that are beyond your comprehension. Releasing any film on DVD is not an easy process, especially if the company issuing said DVD does not own the rights to the film.
Criterion has an exclusive distribution deal with Janus films (hence all the Bergman, Kurosawa, Fellini etc...) as well as one with Wes Anderson. To procure the rights as a third party distributor is not an easy 1-2-3 task, if the film was an independent feature (as I believe Greenaway's films are) there can be dozens of investors that own a piece of the film, now at one point they would have signed off on distribution rights to see the film released (and to make sure they got a return on their investment), but any subsequent release of the film sometimes requires an insane amount of negotiating and legal mumbo jumbo that is far beyond most people's (including mine) comprehension.
So all I'm saying is don't take it so damn personal if Criterion doesn't release a film you hold near and dear to your heart, it's not a snub or an oversight, but rather a cold hard reality of the business

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i gotta say though, if they had the ability to release Drowning by Numbers, The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover, The Baby of Macon, and Prospero's Books, I'd be so happy. Still, the dvds i own of The Pillow Book and A Zed and Two Noughts are good enough.

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>Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps Greenaway wants nothing to do with Criterion, perhaps there are logistic and legalities that are beyond your comprehension.

It had occurred to me actually. What have you got against question marks?

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[deleted]

From what I've heard, John Mulvaney has confirmed that Criterion does have plans to release The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover. However, no official release date has been released yet. I've sent them an email asking for further details, but I got no response. Perhaps one of you might have better luck.

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Yeah they released Wes Anderson films, which I feel some of you may be hating on because indie films that get big are ALWAYS hated on more than they deserve... However, the real piece of crap Critereon has is House of Games. What a sorry ass film that was. All the Greenaway's should be inducted if that movie was, jesus christ.

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I agree with a previous poster - it's possible the reverse may be true. He's his own man, is Greenaway, and he may not feel that having his work released on the Great God Criterion validates his films, or gives them more worth.

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A new DVD of Drowning By Numbers is due for UK release on 18 March 2012. Studio unknown.

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My money's on Lionsgate/Channel 4.

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I hope it's not just a UK release of the (Australian?) Kaleidoscope/Film 4 issue which is acceptable at best. This beautiful enigma deserves a high-quality, widescreen edition. There's nothing for pre-order on Amazon yet...

Btw, my source was the BBC Radio 4 Film Programme. It included an revealing interview with Juliet Stevenson, who recalled the hardships of filming in cold, windy Suffolk, and Greenaway's strangely dismissive attitude to his own script, once filming commenced. It should be available on BBC IPlayer for a few days yet.

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Well, one month on and ... nothing. Someone got it wrong! Still waiting...

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the German Arthaus DVD looks really nice. I just watched it for the second time, and some of the shots are just gorgeous. it's in the proper 1.66:1 aspect ratio, meaning it is the exact width it should be


She gave me a smile so sweet you could have poured it on your pancakes.

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