Criterion Crazy: March 2024 Releases
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
It’s the end of the 2023 year, but we are already nearing the end of the first quarter of 2024 regarding Criterion Collection releases. Today we’ve been gifted the five titles that make up the March 2024 lineup and — while I certainly have nothing negative to say about these five films — the releases seem a bit scattershot. We have a couple of contemporary favourites (both from 2022, actually), and the retro titles aren’t obvious picks in the minds of many, I’m sure. While I can definitely imagine that each specific title has its audience rooting for its inclusion in the collection (in fact, the film I selected as the best of the five was one I had a hunch would be accessioned at some point), I don’t feel like any of these titles are the bonafide staples that Criterion fans as a collective have been itching for; perhaps this is a good thing, as it will get collectors into films they may not be too familiar with. The other thing is that the sole “upgrade” of the month (since it feels like it’s become a routine practice to take existing titles and release them as 4K remasters) only reaches Blu-Ray status in quality. Again, none of these films are bad (in fact, I’d argue that they’re all great in their own right), but I’d recommend that these are blind buys for A) the most seasoned cinephiles, and B) those who collect pretty much every Criterion release. I’ll detail what each film offers, and you can take it from there.
The Favourite: All the Beauty and the Bloodshed
Already one of the greatest documentary films of the twenty-first century (and perhaps of all time), Laura Poitras’ gut-wrenching All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is a title that I just had a feeling would become a Criterion release at some point. This past-and-present observation of Nan Goldin’s pursuit of art, defence against peril, and attack on the Sackler family due to the opioid crisis, is a masterful film, but I also don’t think it’s for the faint of heart. Available in Blu-Ray and DVD options, this release of All the Beauty and the Bloodshed doesn’t have too many features outside of interviews with Poitras, an additional piece with Goldin, and an essay by activist Sarah Schulman, but it’s one of those instances where the limited features still play a big role in the bigger picture (considering the journalistic, academic nature of the film and what these features promise). Despite how intense and visceral this film is, I do think All the Beauty and the Bloodshed is a documentary masterwork.
(Other) Best Newer Release: Saint Omer
I’m digging this recent reevaluation of what a courtroom drama can be (see Anatomy of a Fall, for instance), and Saint Omer deserves to be a part of that conversation. Having said that, this film is as bare-bones as a courtroom film can be and places you in the jury panel to hear out the bulk of an entire testimony (in what feels like real-time), and this most certainly won’t be for everybody. If you want one of the riskier, rawer, pure takes on the genre in recent memory, Alice Diop’s breakthrough film will give you an experience unlike any other. The film comes in Blu-Ray and DVD formats, and contains a myriad of features involving Diop detailing the film. If you want to see what a feature film through the eyes of an established documentarian feels like, Saint Omer can be a fascinating purchase for you. In that same breath, maybe check out the film first before buying it, as I do know that this certainly was everyone’s cup of tea last year (but it was mine, as I placed it in my top ten films of 2022).
Nicole Kidman Returns: To Die For
Likely the highlight of the announcement for many, Gus Van Sant’s black comedy, cult classic, To Die For, is now a part of the collection. Star Nicole Kidman is starting to make a few appearances in the collection now after what feels like an eternity of negligence (The Others was just added this year as well); perhaps we can get a Birth or Rabbit Hole down the road. The film comes in both Blu-Ray and 4K formats with a couple of features, including audio commentary, deleted scenes, and an essay by critic Jessica Kiang. While a great film, other Van Sant titles may be better starting places for those unfamiliar with the director, like My Own Private Idaho (which is a staple of the collection) and Drugstore Cowboy (which sadly isn’t), but those who know what they’re getting into — be they fans of the director, dark comedies, satires, or Kidman’s more out-there works — will choose wisely when they pick up To Die For. On a random note, this marks the sole 4K release of this announcement, all films considered.
Under-Seen Choice: The Runner
If you are a fan of Iranian cinema, then step right up and catch Amir Naderi’s under-watched opus, The Runner. Despite this being arguably the quietest release of the five, The Runner carries the most heft here. Firstly, it is debatably the film that required the preservation and restoration the most, given its limited accessibility and the lack of awareness surrounding it. Then there are the features with a bit of an extra something, including interviews with Naderi, an essay from critic Ehsan Khoshbakht, and — get this — the featurette Waiting (so you’re actually getting two films for the price of one here). There are other Iranian films that those wanting to discover the nation’s cinema can start with (say, A Separation, Taste of Cherry, Children of Heaven, Close-Up), but those that want something more can pick up The Runner: what is sure to be another tremendous film for your collection.
It’s Time to Upgrade (Sort Of): All That Money Can Buy/The Devil and Daniel Webster
Believe it or not, this film is already in the collection. If you look up its alternative title — The Devil and Daniel Webster — you’ll find a DVD copy that is so old that it bears the early Criterion Collection banner logo on its top. Now, you can buy the film on Blu-Ray (note: not 4K) with much better cover art and under the title All That Money Can Buy. The new release has all of the features from before (and, believe it or not, there are quite a few, from a reading on the source material short story by none other than Alec Baldwin, radio adaptations of the short story, and more) as well as some additional ones (footage on how the restoration was done, a comparison piece on an early version of the film versus the final release, et cetera). This release comes somewhat out of left field considering what old releases fans have been clamouring for upgrades for, but it’s a fascinating film with a lot of extras to boot. Don’t count this one out: a lot of work went into making the Criterion renaissance of this film special for good reason.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson 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.