You read my mind with OLDBOY. I think (well, mostly hope) these titles will also join the Criterion collection.
ZODIAC (2007) -IMO, Fincher’s masterpiece
SYMPATHY FOR LADY VENGEANCE (2005) – Dare I Say its as good as Oldboy?
FIGHT CLUB (1999) – Only because its one of the most obscure, original movies I’ve seen in a long time. Anything BUT mainstream
THE LIVES OF OTHERS (2006)
DOWNFALL (2004)
PUNCH DRUNK LOVE (2002)
THE PIANIST (2002)
REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (2000)
CHILDREN OF MEN (2006)
And even though alot of people would object, I’d LOVE to see some Tarantino films in the Criterion Collection, especially PULP FICTION and RESERVOIR DOGS, since some of the movies in the Criterion Collection like A BANDE APART influenced his work.
BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN…with commentary tracks by Ang Lee, Gustavo Santaolalla, Rodrigo Prieto, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Ash – I agree with you Zodiac deserves a spot in the collection, but I’ve got to admit the 2 disc director’s cut Paramount put out is one of the best non-Criterion releases I’ve ever seen. I’ve got the HD-DVD, which is gorgeous and plan on upgrading to the Blu-ray in January.
Now, my picks:
There Will Be Blood
Nobody Knows
Eastern Promises
The Darjeeling Limited
Pan’s Labyrinth
Woman Is The Future Of Man
And personally, I’d love to see Pineapple Express. I think hearing DGG’s side of the production would be really cool, as opposed to the endless improv outtakes we’ll probably get on the DVD/Blu-ray coming in January…not complaining, just saying I’d like to see a different perspective on that movie.
I would love to see Persepolis added to the Criterion fold. As I was watching it, I thought to myself several times that it was a perfect film for Criterion, especially if they could include the graphic novel as part of the package. The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada played out like a fine Cormac McCarthy novel and I would like to see that very underrated film get its due on the Criterion label. The Devil’s Rejects is, at least to my eyes, the definitive English-language horror film the decade and I would love to see it get the Criterion treatment. I also think that I’m Not There is an ideal candidate, even though I have to admit that the existing dvd is pretty damn exemplary.
I think most likely titles from directors, who are not known very well to the audiences, in terms of output on dvds or widespread theatrical releases. Wes Anderson, Cronenberg, Tarantino and directors like them are receiving wider publicity and theatrical releases. So I don’t expect the focus to be on them but rather on up and coming directors.
Some of my picks would be:
- Punch Drunk Love (Paul Thomas Andeson)
- Cache (Michael Haneke, surprisingly Criterion hasn’t released any of his films)
- Man Push Cart (Ramin Bahrani)
- Still Life (Jia Zhang Ke)
- Manufactured Landscapes (Jennifer Baichwal)
yeah… what’s the deal with criterion not releasing Hanekes films?
Strange Circus
Punch-Drunk Love
There will be blood
Mr. Vengeance
Obviously, love to see all of P.T’.’s filmography grace my Criterion shelf.
Haneke is a strange absentee.
As for The Darjeeling…. I thought it was a pathetic attempt to rehash Anderson’s overused (and now) unoriginal story he has been re-telling for over a decade now. It worked for Tenenbaums, it worked for Life Aquatic, but how many times can we see a bunch of spoiled rich kids ruin each others lives while dealing with their daddy issues?
“Brokeback Mountain” may be a good choice, given its importance, and that Criterion has introduced Ang Lee within the past year with their stellar release of “The Ice Storm”. Otherwise, the studio release of “There Will Be Blood” was pretty weak, I’d love to see that get a Criterion push.
13 Tzameti
Amores Perros
Ex Drummer
Hard Candy
Irréversible
Janghwa, Hongryeon
Taxidermia
All great titles that really “fit” into the Criterion Collection.
City of God
The Fall
Adaptation
Gomorrah would make for a great Criterion release, especially with all the author is going through avoiding the mob. His interview in The Guardian a few weeks ago was fascinating. Wendy and Lucy maybe… but I doubt it.
I really can’t think of much. Was Before Sunset in the past five years? I’ve always heard Linklater wanted a Criterion release of Before Sunrise/Before Sunset. I would love that. I would like to see Lars and the Real girl, but I don’t think that would happen. Once as well. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly maybe. Last year was a really good year for movies. This year sort of stinks.
City of God would be a great addition. The dvd release was pretty decent, but Criterion could really pack it. I second suggestions for Cache and The Lives of Others.
I would like to see some Errol Morris. How about starting back from Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control
Y Tu Mama Tambien?
An Almodovar series would also be appropriate. I would especially love to see All About My Mother.
Punch-Drunk Love and Oldboy are popular choices, but their releases were pretty great..
I wouldn’t be surprised if Criterion drew the Wes Anderson line at Darjeeling Limited. I thought it was enjoyable, but I does add much to Anderson’s output or Criterion’s collection?
Speaking of Errol Morris, I’d love for Criterion to get their hands on Mr. Death. I think that film is seriously overlooked among his rather amazing body of work.
Brick
If we’re just talking within the last five years, then a couple of these perhaps…
American Splendor
Oldboy
2046
Before Sunset (and Before Sunrise, for that matter)
Donnie Darko
Brokeback Mountain
The Science of Sleep
The Proposition
Children of Men
I think the Swedish film LET THE RIGHT ONE IN is a perfect fit for Criterion.
I feel same way about INLAND EMPIRE. I’m sure there are reasons for Lynch’s previous films not being included, but INLAND would be a nice start, as I think it shows a new direction for the artist.
And, I agree with you guys on BRICK, THE FALL, and THERE WILL BE BLOOD.
Number 6: Let the Right One In, from Criterion, on blu-ray and loaded with extras would be like manna from heaven. My favorite film of 2008, hands down.
But that’s wishful thinking.
What would please me most, and would be much more likely than most of the films listed so far, is if at some point they put out any of the great American independent films that have been released lately.
Movies like Ballast, Frownland, Yeast, or maybe a collection of Court 13 shorts (Glory at Sea, Death to the Tinman, and so on), none of these movies currently have distributors, and are owned by the filmmakers themselves. It’d also be great if they could release things like the work of Joe Swanberg or Andrew Bujalski, after puling them away from the tight grip of IFC.
The only downside to that would be the elimination of Benten Films, which would be a terrible thing.
There Will Be Blood, The Darjeeling Limited, Zodiac, Children of Men, 2046
Does Criterion release animated films? If so, I’d love to see Paprika or Tokyo Godfathers on their catalog (of anything by Satoshi Kon for that matter.)
There Will Be Blood, Magnolia, Brokeback Mountain, Reprise, Brick, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Last Life in the Universe
How about Ryan Fleck’s “Half Nelson”?
Zodiac
There Will Be Blood
Infernal Affairs
Quinceanera
The Dreamers (Bertolucci)
Half Nelson
Me and You and Everyone we Know (Miranda July)
The Virgin Suicides (Sofia Coppola)
Maybe Larry Clark collection, (Kids, Ken Park, Bully, Wassup Rockers)
The Sweet Hereafter (Atom Egoyan)
Swimming Pool
Maria Full of Grace
Pedro Almondovar! Viva Pedro! Every film from Pedro.
Ghost World
Elephant (Gus Van Sant)
Waking Life (Richard Linklater)
Probably more then five years, but….
I don’t think they’d be able to get them, but I’d love to see them do a Hirokazu Kore’eda film (Distance), or Apichatpong Weerasethaul (Syndromes or Mysterious Object), or Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Bright Future). Kino’s DVD of the Korean film Take Care Of My Cat looks great, but is far too bare bones, and it’s a great film, deserving of better treatment. John Sayles has not been his best over the last decade, but a Sayles film would also be a fine addition, especially considering his stature as an American independent.
The Fall
Brick
13 Iron
Me and You and Everyone we Know
Anatomy of Hell
The Fountain – magnificent film, with terrible DVD treatment.
There seems to be a consensus for ‘There Will Be Blood’ with which I am in total agreement.
Perhaps PTA was tipped and that’s why the features SUCK on the 2-Disc DVD.
Danny Boyle’s SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is pretty great.
bottomboy
aside from THE DARJEELING EXPRESS…
(i think, at this point, Wes Anderson, as long as his films aren’t put out by Warners or any of their subdivisions, will always be a sho-in)
i’m going to say…
LOST IN TRANSLATION
OLDBOY
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
will be getting the treatment…