The Last Metro on blu-ray is a pretty big surprise, as it wasn’t one of the upcoming releases on their original blu-ray list. A nice surprise though, even if it is one of the more mediocre films from Truffaut’s most mediocre period as a filmmaker.
Dodes’ka-den was announced as an upcoming release literally years ago, so it’s great to see it finally coming out, and with a brilliant cover no less.
I’d much rather see Paisan or Voyage to Italy than Il Generale della Rovere for a Rossellini release, but two Rossellini films getting the full Criterion treatment and one Eclipse box in the same period of time is pretty great.
I’ve only seen a couple of them (looks like a great month):
-the Rossellini is probably my favorite of his films (Vittorio De Sica as the excellent lead role)
-the Kurosawa is also among my personal favorites (his first color film and excellent character study, as usual) though maybe one of his most sentimental
The other great thing about Dodes’ka-den, from a historical perspective, is that it’s the film that led to Kurosawa’s suicide attempt. Hopefully that’ll be touched upon in the extras.
Anybody familiar with Shimizu?
I love the Last Metro, but is that supposed to be a remake of To Be or Not to Be? I saw To Be or Not to Be afterwards, and it’s pretty much an identical movie.
Very excited for the Last Metro, I think the criterion output in the last year has been astonishing, and lt looks like 2009 could be even better.
Allison
You’re right about to be or not to be, but i don’t think its an acknowledged remake- more like an homage..but thats essentially the same thing I guess. Mel Brooks remake is even closer to me, with some minor details added.
I have to say that I’m a little surprised that they are releasing two Rossellini films back to back. Nothing wrong with that. I love his films. Though, I would really love to get ahold of Voyage to Italy.
As for Truffaut, any film they release of his is welcomed.
I love Truffaut as much as the next guy, but with the exception of the continuation of his Doinel series, he tends to loose me during the 70’s and 80’s.
There’s rumors of a Late Truffaut Eclipse set, but I’d rather have seen something like Confidentially Yours, Day for Night, or The Green Room getting the full Criterion treatment with The Last Metro being an Eclipse. It’s obvious why Metro is getting the special treatment though, with the Oscar nomination and the team up of Deneuve & Depardieu.
The 400 Blows is in the list of Blu-Rays on the Criterion page, also slated for a late march release. I’ll probably have to get that when the time comes. The Last Metro is OK, but I don’t know if I need to see it again, so I’ll probably save my money there.
I’m dying for some Paris, Texas and Wings of Desire.
>Eclipse Series 15 – Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu
>Anybody familiar with Shimizu?
Criterion will really release a Shimizu collection? Do you know the titles? Can’t wait. This year Shochiku has begun to published his films. So far, they have released two boxsets:
1. http://www.yesasia.com/global/1010703820-0-0-0-en/info.html
2. http://www.yesasia.com/global/shimizu-hiroshi-collection-part-2-kodomo-no-shiki-four-seasons-of/1010909089-0-0-0-en/info.html
Eight films, I’ve seen them all, and it is true: he’s been a master. He preferred the open spaces and he had a great sense of cinema. His most famous film is Arigato-san, but my favorite is probably Kanzashi. Just two quotes:
“I can’t shoot films like Shimizu.”
- Yasujiro Ozu
“People like me and Ozu get films made by hard work, but Shimizu is a genius…”
- Kenji Mizoguchi
Man, you just sold me Shimizu pretty hard, these eclipse series are great.
The Eclipse Shimizu set is identical to the first Shochiku box, except about $100 cheaper and without the beautiful package design.
The films are…
Japanese Girl at the Harbor
Mr. Thank You
The Masseurs and a Woman
Ornamental Hairpin
It’s a huge release from Eclipse, probably the best yet. Kind of like slamming a giant gauntlet down on the table and rubbing in the fact that if you’re not Criterion, you’re not shit in American dvd distribution.
Shimizu is one of the great unheralded Japanese directors, JAPANESE GIRLS AT THE HARBOR and MR. THANK YOU are both masterpieces, I can’t wait for their general re-discovery on home video. I believe Michael Kerpan has written quite a bit on Shimizu online, as has Acquarello (www.filmref.com).
I can’t wait for the Shimizu Eclipse, I haven’t seen his films and now am extremely excited to get into them. Once again the Eclipse set is the only interesting release of the month.
i’ve never even heard of shimizu. man. criterion is better than a masters class in film history!
“Shimizu is one of the great unheralded Japanese directors, JAPANESE GIRLS AT THE HARBOR and MR. THANK YOU are both masterpieces, I can’t wait for their general re-discovery on home video. I believe Michael Kerpan has written quite a bit on Shimizu online, as has Acquarello (www.filmref.com).”
So have I!
Quite right Jake, so link us to it!
Forgive me for being the grammar geek, but shouldn’t it be March 2009 criteria…not criterions?
I’m looking forward to the Shimizu.
Where is the information on the Kurosawa release and the Eclipse box set posted? It’s not on www.criterion.com so I’m curious where this information is coming from as I’d like to look at these items as well.
Marko…it would be criteria if we weren’t explicitly referring to the “Criterion” Collection releases for March 2009.
Every month, I await word for a release of Bergman’s “Face to Face,” and every month, I am sorely disappointed.
Granted, other great titles will tide me over, but come on, Criterion! FtF isn’t even available on DVD—period!
Also, what is up with those “Breaking the Waves” rumors?
Xtrmntr, Did Criterion buy Face to Face from Paramount?
I’d love Criterion to get their hands on the rights to Vincent Ward’s work, particularly Vigil, The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey and Map of the Human Heart. That would make a great box set.
Allison, no, THE LAST METRO is not a remake of TO BE OR NOT TO BE. They’re only kind of similar in that they’re both about theatre professionals during Nazi occupations.
I’m glad that DODESKADEN is getting a release. Saw a very very bad print years ago in those long lost days of repertory cinemas in New York City. The color was terribly faded, it was almost unwatchable.
Guess we’ll finally see a nice print of DODESKADEN after a loooong wait. (DERZU UZALA should be next, right?) I’d love to see more late Truffaut, especially CONFIDENTIALLY YOURS.
So excited for Dodes’ka-den.
I already have a DVD of Danton (the British Second Sight edition), which has a decent transfer but with burned-in subtitles and no extras, so I’m tempted to double-dip.
Especially as Wajda’s interviews are usually lengthy, thoughtful affairs with lots of relevant information, and there’s a lot to discuss regarding this particular film – which I’d argue is at least as interesting as a snapshot of a particularly despairing Polish mindset at one of the bleaker periods in recent Polish history as it is a portrait of the French Revolution a couple of hundred years earlier.
JD Burt: Though, I would really love to get ahold of Voyage to Italy.
The BFI releases it under the title Journey to Italy, but it’s Region 2 PAL.
Iliveinfear
Criterion’s website has been having problems posting these, but here they are:
lI Generale della Rovere (Roberto Rossellini, 1959), Dodes’ka-den (Akira Kurosawa, 1970), The Last Metro (François Truffaut, 1980), The Last Metro [Blu-ray] (François Truffaut, 1980), Danton (Andrzej Wajda, 1983), Eclipse Series 15 – Travels with Hiroshi Shimizu
I haven’t seen any of these, but they all look great. It looks like a really strong month with some big time directors. Has anyone seen any of these?