Criterion Crazy: February 2024 Releases
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
Sometimes, the joy of the Criterion Collection comes not from the films you know inside and out but those waiting to be discovered by you. Today’s announcement for the upcoming February 2024 titles may not have a lot of obvious names that leap right out at you, but rest assured that this is quietly a strong lineup of films. We have two boxsets that certainly have their own audiences, a couple of underrated cuts from yesteryear, and your monthly 4K upgrade (and the selected film this time around does not disappoint). The overall theme this month is the unifying element between niche and genre: Criterion is not wanting to release crowd pleasers but titles that satisfy varying fanbases. I think it’s safe to say that they have almost every base covered this time around; outside of not announcing a contemporary title (which is kind of shocking, given the recent track record where one recent film has been released almost every month for almost two years), there’s a film here for almost every type of cinephile. Let’s dive right in.
The Favourite: Eric Rohmer’s Tales of the Four Seasons
French New Wave master Eric Rohmer is no stranger to the Criterion Collection, as the Six Moral Tales boxset remains one of the most beloved in the catalogue. Well, now he’s got four more films coming in the form of another boxset with Eric Rohmer’s Tales of the Four Seasons. The four films (A Tale of Springtime, A Tale of Summer, A Tale of Autumn, and A Tale of Winter) are championed nineties works from the late auteur that are remastered and are being released with some strong special features (primarily interviews and documentary footage) and two short films (Rohmer’s A Farmer in Montfaucon and The Kreutzer Sonata). So far, this boxset seems to only be released in Blu-ray, which is a tiny bit puzzling (I don’t instantly expect every new Criterion release to be in 4K, but there’s no DVD option for those that require it?), but otherwise, there’s nothing to complain about with this sublime release. If you are brand new to Rohmer, I do recommend the Six Moral Tales boxset before this one, but Eric Rohmer’s Tales of the Four Seasons is also worthy of being picked up by any (or all) cinephiles.
It’s Time to Kick Ass and Chew Bubblegum (and I’m All Out of Bubblegum): The Heroic Trio/Executioners
Holy bejeezus. I know Criterion has been stepping up on its martial arts film releases and they haven’t exactly been slouching in the past, but this is a killer boxset. Criterion certainly knows its audience by remastering these two action films starring Collection favourite Maggie Cheung (In the Mood for Love, Irma Vep, the World of Wong Kar Wai boxset), the rejuvenated action star Michelle Yeoh (recent Oscar winner for Everything Everywhere All at Once and star of films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Police Story 3: Supercop), and the late Hong Kong legend Anita Mui (Drunken Master II, Rumble in the Bronx, and House of Flying Daggers, to name a few). Both The Heroic Trio and its sequel, Executioners, are now available in 4K (!) and Blu-ray, and with stunning box art (it may be worth buying just for how the release looks). The only slight downside is that this boxset feels a little slim in the special features department, with just a couple of interviews and an essay attached (all still seem worthwhile, mind you, particularly critic Beatrice Loayza’s essay).
Under-Seen Choice: Nothing but a Man
It felt miraculous when Michael Roemer’s Nothing but a Man was given a second life in the day and age of preservation; since its induction into the National Film Registry in 1993, this release has been recognized as a pivotal moment in the American indie film circuit. Well, this film is about to get its dues once more and maybe more than ever before with this crucial Criterion release. The features are humble but intriguing, including various interviews, an introductory piece on the works of Roemer, and a Gene Seymour essay. Nothing but a Man will be available on both Blu-ray and DVD, and I think it makes for a great blind buy if you are interested in indie films from yesteryear: don’t sleep on what may be a new favourite of yours.
It’s Noir Time: The Roaring Twenties
The Criterion Collection is no stranger to films noir, so it was only a matter of time when Raoul Walsh’s The Roaring Twenties entered the catalogue. Starring genre favourites Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney, this crime classic comes with interviews, an audio commentary by film historian Lincoln Hurst (now this is interesting), and another one of Criterion’s classic essays (this time by Mark Asch). What I am happy to report is that this film is released in all three available formats (4K, Blu-ray, and DVD): the only new release this month to get such treatment. I think this is great news because any fans of crime flicks or films noir owe it to themselves to pick up The Roaring Twenties. If you want to discover either Bogart or Cagney, there may be stronger starting points (Casablanca, The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep, and In a Lonely Place for the former, and White Heat, The Public Enemy, and Angels with Dirty Faces for the latter), but any fans of either or will love when both stars team up in this gangster classic.
It’s Time to Upgrade: McCabe & Mrs. Miller
In my opinion, the best film released in this batch is Robert Altman’s McCabe & Mrs. Miller, but it also is already in the Criterion Collection. The good news is that it is now going to be available in luxurious 4K, and let me tell you that this film will floor you in this format. A beautiful, immersive western film that benefits from Altman’s signature directorial style (one that captures the flurry of life zipping past you), any fans of the genre must see this film; I would honestly place it in my list of the ten best western films of all time, and I would do so quite comfortably as well. If you love westerns and haven’t seen the film, you can get the Criterion version right away: it’s already available on Blu-ray and DVD, and the Barnes & Noble sale is currently ongoing so this could be a good opportunity to pick it up. If you are patient and can play the format, I think waiting out for what is sure to be a jaw-dropping 4K release may be worth your while. The 4K includes all of the plentiful features of releases past, including making-of footage, interviews, gallery stills, an essay by Nathaniel Rich, commentary, and more. I wish I could pick up this 4K release any sooner, folks.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Toronto Metropolitan University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.