The Craigterion Collection

The past week has been a very Criterion week for me.

For those not in the know - The Criterion Collection is a fabulous company that acquires the rights to important/infamous films from around the world and releases them in super awesome DVD editions loaded with extras.

So why was the collection so prominent in my cerebellum?

(1) Last week Criterion announced that they would no longer be producing their spectacular 2-disc edition of Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece Ran. Like any self-respecting film geek I seized upon this as the perfect time to add that particular title to my collection before Amazon's back stock ran out.

(2) Today Criterion announced 3 new titles (Repulsion, Made in U.S.A. & 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her) that I am eagerly awaiting the release of in July.

So yes, a very Criterion week. The centerpiece of Criteriweek was me thinking of important/infamous films that are in need of the Criterion treatment. I came up with 5. This might be an ongoing series or it might just be this one time. We'll just have to see.

1. The Chelsea Girls

6 years before Deep Throat, this was the movie that built a bridge between the underground and the mainstream. High society people flocked "downtown" to get a little culture by watching Andy Warhol & Paul Morrissey's 3hr 15min, double projected epic! Criterion already has a history of releasing Paul Morrissey films (Flesh For Frankenstein & Blood For Dracula) so this should be right up their alley.

2. Johnny Guitar

Directed by Nicholas (Rebel Without A Cause) Ray, this film was worshiped by many of the men who went on to be known as La Nouvelle Vague. This is one weird little movie. Joan Crawford at her most butch and Sterling Hayden...well...being Sterling Hayden. 1954 audiences looking for a traditional western must have been thrown for quite a loop. Since Criterion has released more New Wave films than anyone else in the game, it would stand to reason that they would want to release one of the films that lead the way.

3. Crash (1996)

In a career spanning well over 30 years, David Cronenberg has produced more than his share of controversy. In the early days, that controversy was brought about through disturbing visuals. With Crash, it was the result of disturbing ideas. This essentially plotless film is the beautiful and frightening collision point between sex & violence. You'll never be able to look at a car accident the same way again.

4. Don't Look Now

Directed by Criterion favorite Nicolas Roeg, this mostly bloodless film is one of the creepiest and most beloved horror films of all time. A super-de-dooper edition already exists in the film's native England but here in Region 1 we are stuck with a lame "film only" edition. Come on! I demand a documentary on whether or not Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie were actually fucking!

5. Multiple Maniacs

Recently Criterion has started releasing hard to find black & white first films by respected auteurs (Gus Van Sant's Mala Noche, Allison Anders' Border Radio, etc.) so why not keep the ball rolling with John Waters' extremely hard to find first feature. It isn't fair that only a select few with the old VHS, have the privilege of watching Divine get violated by a giant lobster. Oh and did I mention David Lochary's miraculous moustache?

Wow this took a lot longer than expected. Maybe this WILL be a one-off thing.