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'¡Alambrista!' Announced and Detailed for Blu-ray

Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: Criterion, Disc Announcements (all tags)

Robert M. Young's acclaimed 1977 drama will make a run for the Blu-ray border in April.

In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion has revealed '¡Alambrista!' will arrive on Blu-ray on April 17.

Vivid and spare where other films about illegal immigration might sentimentalize, Young’s take on the subject is equal parts intimate character study and gripping road movie, a political work that never loses sight of the complex man at its center.

The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements include: New audio commentary featuring director Robert M. Young and coproducer Michael Hausman; New interview with actor Edward James Olmos; Children of the Fields, a 1973 short documentary by Young - Accompanied by a new interview with the director; Trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by film historian Charles Ramírez-Berg.

Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95.

You can find the latest specs for '¡Alambrista!' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 17.

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Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
¡Alambrista! (Blu-ray)

Take 'A Hollis Frampton Odyssey' on Blu-ray

Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 11:00 AM ET
Tags: Criterion, Disc Announcements (all tags)

A collection of twenty-four short films from the acclaimed director is coming to Blu-ray in April.

In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion is prepping 'A Hollis Frampton Odyssey' is coming to Blu-ray on April 9.

Icon of the American avant-garde Hollis Frampton made rigorous, audacious, brainy, and downright thrilling films, leaving behind a body of work that remains unparalleled.

DISC ONE:

Early Films:
Manual of Arms (1966 • 17 minutes • Black & White • Silent)
Process Red (1966 • 3 minutes, 30 seconds • Color • Silent)
Maxwell’s Demon (1968 • 4 minutes • Color/Black & White • Silent)
Surface Tension (1968 • 9 minutes, 30 seconds • Color • Monaural)
Carrots & Peas (1969 • 5 minutes • Color • Monaural)
Lemon (1969 • 5 minutes • Color • Silent)
Zorns Lemma (1970 • 60 minutes • Color • Monaural)

DISC TWO:

Films from Hapax Legomena
(nostalgia) (1971 • 36 minutes • Black & White • Monaural)
Poetic Justice (1972 • 31 minutes, 30 seconds • Black & White • Silent)
Critical Mass (1971 • 25 minutes, 30 seconds • Black & White • Monaural)

Films from Magellan
The Birth of Magellan: Cadenza I (1977–1980 • 6 minutes • Color • Monaural)
Pans 0–4 and 697–700 (1974 • 1-minute each • Color • Silent)
INGENIVM NOBIS IPSA PVELLA FECIT, Part I (1975 • 5 minutes • Color • Silent)
Magellan: At the Gates of Death, Part I: The Red Gate I, 0 (1976 • 4 minutes, 20 seconds • Color • Silent)
Winter Solstice (1974 • 33 minutes • Color • Silent)
Gloria! (1979 • 9 minutes, 30 seconds • Color • Monaural)

The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements include: Audio commentary and remarks by filmmaker Hollis Frampton on selected works; Excerpted interview with Frampton from 1978; A Lecture, a performance piece by Frampton, recorded in 1968 with the voice of artist Michael Snow Gallery of works from Frampton’s xerographic series By Any Other Name; and a booklet with an introduction by film critic Ed Halter and essays and capsules on the films by Frampton scholars Ken Eisenstein, Bruce Jenkins, and Michael Zryd.

Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95.

You can find the latest specs for 'A Hollis Frampton Odyssey' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 9.

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Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
A Hollis Frampton Odyssey (Blu-ray)

'Late Spring' Announced for Blu-ray

Wed Jan 18, 2012 at 09:00 AM ET
Tags: Criterion, Disc Announcements (all tags)

Yasujiro Ozu's 1949 drama is getting the Criterion Blu-ray treatment in April.

In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection will release 'Late Spring' on Blu-ray on April 17.

One of the most powerful of the family portraits by Yasujiro Ozu, 'Late Spring' tells the story of a widowed father who feels compelled to marry off his beloved only daughter.

The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements include: Audio commentary by Richard Peña, program director of New York’s Film Society of Lincoln Center; Tokyo-ga (1985), filmmaker Wim Wenders’s ninety-two-minute documentary about director Yasujiro Ozu; and a booklet featuring essays by critic Michael Atkinson and Japanese-film historian Donald Richie.

Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95.

You can find the latest specs for 'Late Spring' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 17.

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Late Spring (Blu-ray)

'Harold and Maude' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray

Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 03:00 PM ET
Tags: Criterion, Disc Announcements (all tags)

The classic 1971 May/December rom-com from Director Hal Ashby is in the works for Blu-ray in April.

In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection says 'Harold and Maude' will arrive on Blu-ray on April 17.

With the idiosyncratic American fable 'Harold and Maude,' countercultural director Hal Ashby fashioned what would become the cult classic of its era.

The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, uncompressed mono soundtrack (plus a remastered stereo track), and supplements include: Audio commentary by Hal Ashby biographer Nick Dawson and producer Charles B. Mulvehill; Illustrated audio excerpts of seminars by Ashby and writer-producer Colin Higgins; New interview with songwriter Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens); and a booklet featuring an essay by critic Michael Wood; a 1971 New York Times profile of star Ruth Gordon; and excerpted transcripts of two interviews, one from 1997 with star Bud Cort and director of photography John Alonzo and one from 2001 with executive producer Mildred Lewis.

Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95.

You can find the latest specs for 'Harold and Maude' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 17.

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Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Harold and Maude (Blu-ray)

'The Organizer' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray

Tue Jan 17, 2012 at 11:00 AM ET
Tags: Criterion, Disc Announcements (all tags)

Mario Monicelli's 1963 drama is planned for an April Blu-ray release.

In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection says 'The Organizer' is coming to Blu-ray on April 24.

This historical drama by Mario Monicelli is a beautiful and moving ode to the power of the people, brimming with humor and honesty.

The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p transfer, uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements include: Introduction by director Mario Monicelli from 2006, Trailer, and an essay by film critic J. Hoberman.

Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $29.95.

You can find the latest specs for 'The Organizer' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 24.

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The Organizer (Blu-ray)

HDD Deal of the Week: Save Forty-six Percent on 5 Criterion Blu-ray Favorites at Amazon!

Sun Dec 25, 2011 at 11:13 AM ET
Tags: Criterion, Amazon, HD Deals (all tags)

Amazon is serving up a selection of five Criterion Blu-rays for nearly fifty percent off in their Gold Box deal this week!

'12 Angry Men' - A behind-closed-doors look at the American legal system as riveting as it is spare, the iconic adaptation of Reginald Rose’s teleplay stars Henry Fonda as the initially dissenting member of a jury of white men ready to pass judgment on a Puerto Rican teenager charged with murdering his father.

'Carlos,' directed by Olivier Assayas, is an epic, intensely detailed account of the life of the infamous international terrorist Ilich Ramírez Sanchez—also known as Carlos the Jackal.

'The Killing' - Stanley Kubrick’s account of an ambitious racetrack robbery is one of Hollywood’s tautest, twistiest noirs.

Considered one of the greatest films ever made, 'The Rules of the Game' (La règle du jeu), by Jean Renoir, is a scathing critique of corrupt French society cloaked in a comedy of manners.

Lastly, in this poetic and atmospheric horror fable, set in a village in war-torn medieval Japan, a malevolent spirit has been ripping out the throats of itinerant samurai. From the director of 'Onibaba,' 'Kuroneko' ('Black Cat') is a spectacularly eerie twilight tale.

Each Blu-ray is $21.49 with the exception of 'Carlos' which is $26.99.

Click here to check out the offer available now through December 31.

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Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
12 Angry Men (1957) (Blu-ray)
Kuroneko (Blu-ray)
Carlos (2010) (Blu-ray)
The Killing (Blu-ray)
The Rules of the Game (1939) (Blu-ray)

'A Night to Remember' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray

Wed Dec 21, 2011 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: Criterion, Disc Announcements (all tags)

Roy Ward Baker's 1958 dramatization of the sinking of the Titanic will hit Blu-ray in March.

In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion says 'A Night to Remember' will be released on Blu-ray on March 27.

On April 14, 1912, just before midnight, the unsinkable Titanic struck an iceberg. In less than three hours, it had plunged to the bottom of the sea, taking with it more than 1,500 of its 2,200 passengers. 'A Night to Remember' is cinema’s finest dramatization of this monumental catastrophe.

The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p digital transfer, an uncompressed mono soundtrack, and supplements include: Audio commentary by Don Lynch and Ken Marschall, author and illustrator of Titanic: An Illustrated History; The Making of A Night to Remember, a sixty-minute documentary from 1993 featuring William MacQuitty's rare behind-the-scenes footage; Archival interview with Titanic survivor Eva Hart; En natt att minas, a forty-five-minute Swedish documentary from 1962 featuring interviews with Titanic survivors; Trailer; and a booklet featuring an essay by film critic Michael Sragow.

Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95.

You can find the latest specs for 'A Night to Remember' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 27.

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Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
A Night to Remember (Blu-ray)

Blu-ray Enters 'The War Room'

Tue Dec 20, 2011 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: Criterion, Disc Announcements (all tags)

The acclaimed political film from D. A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus goes Criterion in March.

In an early announcement to retailers, the Criterion Collection has set 'The War Room' for Blu-ray on March 20.

The 1992 presidential election was a triumph not only for Bill Clinton but also for the new breed of strategists who guided him to the White House. 'The War Room' is a vivid document of a political moment whose truths (“It’s the economy, stupid!”) still ring in our ears.

The Blu-ray will feature a 1080p digital transfer, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 soundtrack, and supplements include: Return of the War Room, a 2008 documentary in which advisers James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, and Paul Begala and others reflect on the effect the Clinton war room had on the way campaigns are run; Making The War Room, a conversation between the filmmakers about the difficulties of shooting in the campaign's fast-paced environment; Panel discussion hosted by the William J. Clinton Foundation and featuring Carville, Clinton adviser Vernon Jordan, journalist Ron Brownstein, and surprise guest Bill Clinton; Interview with strategist Stanley Greenberg on the increasing importance of polling; and a booklet featuring an essay by writer Louis Menand.

Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95.

You can find the latest specs for 'The War Room' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 20.

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Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
The War Room (Blu-ray)

'Johnny English' Blu-ray Detailed

Tue Dec 20, 2011 at 11:00 AM ET
Tags: Criterion, Disc Announcements (all tags)

The 2003 spy spoof starring Rowan Atkinson ('Mr. Bean') suiting up on Blu-ray in February has now been fully detailed.

As previously reported, Universal is preparing 'Johnny English' for Blu-ray on February 28.

He knows no fear. He knows no danger. He knows... nothing! When the priceless Crown Jewels are stolen, bumbling Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) is the last remaining British spy and the only one who can solve the crime. His prime suspects: a sinister business man (John Malkovich) and a beautiful woman (Natalie Imbruglia) with a mysterious interest in Johnny's top-secret mission. Can the clueless super spy save the day without denting the nation's pride... or his Aston Martin?

The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: The Making of Johnny English featurette, deleted scenes, character profiles, Spy Tips feature, and Observation Test feature.

Suggested list price for the Blu-ray will be is $19.98.

You can find the latest specs for 'Johnny English' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 28.

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Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Johnny English (Blu-ray)

'David Lean Directs Noël Coward' Announced for Blu-ray

Mon Dec 19, 2011 at 03:00 PM ET
Tags: Criterion, Disc Announcements (all tags)

A boxed set of four 1940s films from David Lean is planned for Blu-ray this spring.

In an early announcement to retailers, Criterion will be bringing 'David Lean Directs Noël Coward' to Blu-ray on March 27.

In the 1940s, the wit of playwright Noël Coward and the craft of filmmaker David Lean melded harmoniously in one of cinema’s greatest writer-director collaborations. With the wartime military drama sensation 'In Which We Serve,' Coward and Lean (along with producing partners Ronald Neame and Anthony Havelock-Allan) embarked on a series of literate, socially engaged, and enormously entertaining pictures that ranged from domestic epic ('This Happy Breed') to whimsical comedy ('Blithe Spirit') to poignant romance ('Brief Encounter'). These films created a lasting testament to Coward’s artistic legacy and introduced Lean’s visionary talents to the world.

The 4-disc Blu-ray set will feature 1080p video, uncompressed mono soundtracks, and supplements include: Audio commentary on Brief Encounter by film historian Bruce Eder; New interviews with Noël Coward scholar Barry Day on all of the films; Interview with cinematographer-screenwriter-producer Ronald Neame from 2010; Short documentaries from 2000 on the making of In Which We Serve and Brief Encounter; David Lean: A Self Portrait - a 1971 television documentary on Lean's career; Episode of the British television series The Southbank Show from 1992 on the life and career of Coward; Audio recording of a 1969 conversation between Richard Attenborough and Coward at London's National Film Theatre; Trailers; and a booklet featuring essays by Ian Christie, Terrence Rafferty, Farran Nehne, Geoffrey O'Brien, and Kevin Brownlow.

Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $99.95.

You can find the latest specs for 'David Lean Directs Noël Coward' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 27.

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Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
David Lean Directs Noël Coward (Blu-ray)


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