With sensible film buffs dreading the inky arrival of the forthcoming 4K Casablanca Bluray (11.8), it’s worth reminding ourselves that for years Criterion has been the father of the shadows-and-ink aesthetic. The Criterion tech guys never met a mineshaft they didn’t like, a shadow that didn’t brighten their day. Here’s a 2017 tribute piece to … Read more
When it comes to older black-and-white films, Criterion has shown a tendency to make them appear darker and inkier than in previous home-video manifestations (Rebecca, His Girl Friday, Only Angels Have Wings). Will they dim the lights for their restored, 4K-scanned Bluray of George Cukor’s The Philadelphia Story (due on 11.7), or will they surprise … Read more
From the same “Roberts Peaked in Serpico, Pelham” comment thread, also posted this morning… HE reply: To have spoken the plain, unfettered truth about the many, many missteps of the Criterion Collection…my God, who else has had the stones and sand to do this with? Over the years HE has righteously exposed (a) all … Read more
Three days ago Criterion laid off 16 staffers, or roughly 20% of its 80-person workforce. Peter Becker called it a “reorganization” brought about by new “challenges and opportunities.” What he meant is that Criterion income has been shrinking and they have no choice but to cut back on expenses. The home-video world is changing. Physical … Read more
Almost every time the Criterion guys deliver a Bluray remastering (4K or 2K) of a classic film, they make it look darker and inkier than in previous home video manifestations (Rebecca, His Girl Friday, Only Angels Have Wings). Look at the difference between their Rebecca Bluray and previous versions. And my review of their Friday … Read more
“Is this an aviation film directed by Howard Hawks or what? Yes, much of it takes place after dark but this is also a film with a certain merriment and esprit de service and drinks and songs on the piano. Why so inky? “I lost patience after a while and turned the brightness all the … Read more
Criterion’s just-released Bluray of Howard Hawks‘ His Girl Friday (’40) is a slight disappointment, I’m afraid. It looks reasonably decent — strong blacks, nice detail here and there, good monaural sound — but I didn’t get a satisfying Bluray “bump” feeling, which is what Hollywood Elsewhere always requires from Blurays of classic films. An HE … Read more
…that producers of Criterion Closet videos have traditionally kept the hands and arms of assistants or friends or whomever this woman might be…friendly hands and arms aren’t allowed to intrude upon Criterion Closet videos…period and finito. Secondly, Cavett’s praise of Criterion’s Only Angels Have Wings Bluray is mistaken or under-informed or something, as I pointed … Read more
I haven’t seen the forthcoming 4K Casablanca Bluray (WHE, 11.8) but to go by the DVD Beaver screen captures it just looks darker, which is what 4K versions of classic films often provide…inkier, buried in shadow. Compare the stills of the 4K version vs. the old 2007 Bluray — details you could see with the … Read more
If you know anything about Criterion Blurays of late 1930s Cary Grant films, you know that the results tend to be (a) smothered in billions upon billions of digital grainstorm mosquitoes and (b) are a little too much on the dark and inky side. I’m not saying the forthcoming Bringing Up Baby Bluray (7.6.21) will … Read more
N.Y. Times critics A.O. Scott and Manohla Dargis are celebrating His Girl Friday in their latest Coronavirus Viewing Party piece. Partly, they write, because this 1940 Howard Hawks film explores “the glories and outrages of a subject that is especially dear to both of us — journalism,” but mostly because Rosalind Russell‘s Hildy Johnson is … Read more
Two nights ago I watched the new Criterion Bluray of Alan Pakula‘s Klute (’71). For me this fascinating noir has always been a 50/50 thing — half about Jane Fonda‘s brave, naked, brilliantly anxious performance as Bree Daniels, a brittle, self-isolating call girl in a cold, predatory city save for the steady, somewhat doleful presence … Read more