Usually, when a feature is deleted, it’s because the licensing has expired, that is, it’s licensed for one use, but not for the second, which has to be negotiated anew. If the copyright holders want more money, or just don’t want it used, then that’s it. The person to ask is not so much Criterion, as the original creator and/or rights holder.
Well, I’m biased. I’m an Ang Lee fan, and I love westerns. What I particularly liked about this film was the rhythms of the speech, which are not quite nineteenth century authentic, but only because we would find their way of speaking unbearable, overly sentimental, and (in a word) false. But Schamus has created a lingo that gives the impression of people who, because they are from a different time and place, think differently, and therefore speak differently. Almost all historical films, one way or another, give the view a wink towards their contemporary reality, they let us know that our own time and place is the one doing the viewing, they judging. This one doesn’t, almost alone in films in my experience; and the special dialogue rhythms enforce that sense of difference and distance. A remarkable film.
Judging by some of the negative comments, I think quite a lot of people simply failed to really see this film, even while they were watching it; they were expecting something else and didn’t know how to register what they really saw. An action film, maybe; or an “Ang Lee” film (no such thing; almost every new film is a new genre, a new departure for unexplored territory). And Memofromturner is correct; very little has been done in the way of Civil War films. Red Badge of Courage; Glory; Ride With the Devil; Andersonville; and of course, the perfectly awful Gods and Generals. Let’s hope “Assassination” is next too.
Blu-Ran! over 3 years ago
Usually, when a feature is deleted, it’s because the licensing has expired, that is, it’s licensed for one use, but not for the second, which has to be negotiated anew. If the copyright holders want more money, or just don’t want it used, then that’s it. The person to ask is not so much Criterion, as the original creator and/or rights holder.
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Ride With The Devil - Forgotten Masterpiece about 2 years ago
Well, I’m biased. I’m an Ang Lee fan, and I love westerns. What I particularly liked about this film was the rhythms of the speech, which are not quite nineteenth century authentic, but only because we would find their way of speaking unbearable, overly sentimental, and (in a word) false. But Schamus has created a lingo that gives the impression of people who, because they are from a different time and place, think differently, and therefore speak differently. Almost all historical films, one way or another, give the view a wink towards their contemporary reality, they let us know that our own time and place is the one doing the viewing, they judging. This one doesn’t, almost alone in films in my experience; and the special dialogue rhythms enforce that sense of difference and distance. A remarkable film.
Judging by some of the negative comments, I think quite a lot of people simply failed to really see this film, even while they were watching it; they were expecting something else and didn’t know how to register what they really saw. An action film, maybe; or an “Ang Lee” film (no such thing; almost every new film is a new genre, a new departure for unexplored territory). And Memofromturner is correct; very little has been done in the way of Civil War films. Red Badge of Courage; Glory; Ride With the Devil; Andersonville; and of course, the perfectly awful Gods and Generals. Let’s hope “Assassination” is next too.
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