Criterion Crazy: November 2024 Releases
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
Wow. As if the announcement of CC40 wasn’t enough, the November slate for the upcoming Criterion Collection titles is absolutely stellar. We have six films, two of which are upgrades of iconic fifties Japanese motion pictures that are must-haves in any collection. The other four films, of which are all new to Criterion, are magnificent in their own right. Deciding which film should be my number one pick — excluding the 4K upgrades (as always) — was a challenge, but I feel satisfied with what I ended up with. This may be the strongest announcement of the year, and that’s excluding CC40 which in its own right is a mind boggling release (I won’t cover that at all here, since I’ve already written about it in depth, but just don’t forget that it exists when keeping this month in mind). This all feels strategic, given how November typically houses a sale (sometimes, it’s Barnes & Noble related) during this month. Either that, or Criterion wanted to make a big splash to end a year full of speculation as to the direction of the company after it was sold. Let’s dive into this incredible slate!
The Favourite: Scarface (1932)
I. Adore. This. Scarface. I’m likely going to lose my readership after stating this, but I believe this deeply in my heart: not only is Howard Hawks’ Scarface vastly superior to the more-popular Brian De Palma remake, the latter isn’t even a strong film by any means. For the two people who are still reading, the original Scarface — starring Paul Muni, who is one of the all time great actors — is a pre-code crime masterpiece which has inspired many filmmakers. Now that it’s over ninety years old, it makes sense to put such a brilliant film in the Criterion Collection (in fact, it should have been there sooner). You can get this visceral film either on Blu-ray, or… wait for it… 4K (!); my mind cannot wrap around what this shadowy, punishing film will be like on 4K. There aren’t too many special features outside of a few retrospective interviews, including a conversation involving… actor Bill Hader of all people (I’m a big fan and I recognize that he’s a major cinephile, but this still caught me off guard); there’s also the censored ending forced upon the film back in the thirties if you want to see the damage of censorship.
Best Newer Release: The Shape of Water (2017)
Director Guillermo del Toro is no stranger to the Criterion Collection, with a number of his films already accessioned, so it comes as no surprise that his Best Picture winning adult fairy tale, The Shape of Water, has found its way there as well. If you want to own this stunning film on 4K, that’s great news because that’s the only format available right now through Criterion (don’t forget that 4K releases come with Blu-ray as well); having said that, I guarantee that this film will be spellbinding and indescribable on 4K. There are many features about the making-of process (from the writing and production down to the special effects), plus an interview with del Toro and fellow director David Lowery (someone else who is proficient with making fables for mature audiences) which I’m sure will be a treat. Not everyone loves this film, but I will defend The Shape of Water to the ends of the Earth. I’m thrilled with this announcement and cannot wait to own it, myself.
Calling All Babs Fans: Funny Girl (1968)
While my least favourite of the six films presented here, Funny Girl is still a great film (just proving the calibre of works we have here), featuring an acting debut for the ages: Barbra Streissand as Fanny Brice in William Wyler’s showstopping musical drama. Experiencing Funny Girl in 4K is incentive enough (it’s also available on Blu-ray), but the few yet appropriate special features will have the biggest fans of the film wanting to pick it up again. They mainly feel geared towards Wyler as a director, with a documentary on his career, an interview with son David Wyler, and an essay about the director and the film. Outside of a deleted scene and archived materials, there’s also a brand new audio interview with the woman of the hour (of all hours) herself Babs Streissand that you can look forward to (as well as that adorable, colourful box art).
O’Neal Squared: Paper Moon (1973)
Peter Bogdanovich enters the collection again, this time with the cult classic Paper Moon, starring father-daughter duo Ryan and Tatum O’Neal (the latter broke the record for the youngest Academy Award winner ever). This Great Depression-era gem is available on 4K and Blu-ray (this is maybe when you notice that none of the new releases are available on DVD: a concept that we should maybe keep an eye on in case Criterion is phasing out the format entirely). There’s much to look forward to here, including a series of Bogdanovich-related footage and interviews, a making-of special on the film, and even portions of an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with the director and both actors. Of all of the films presented so far, if you are interested in blind buys, Paper Moon is the least niche of the four new releases and I feel like will be the easiest to place in any film lover’s library regardless of taste.
It’s Time to Upgrade: Seven Samurai (1954)
It’s Seven Samurai. On 4K. Do I need to say anything else? For those who I have to spell this out for, Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai may be one of the most picked up titles in Criterion history for good reason: the nearly-four-hour-epic revolutionized action and direction in film forever. Boasting the same cover art that Criterion fans have grown to adore over time and all of the features from before, this essential upgrade to 4K speaks for itself.
Let’s Keep Upgrading: Godzilla (1954)
With all of the attention the Godzilla franchise has garnered these recent years (especially after last year’s breathtaking Godzilla Minus One), it makes sense that the original Godzilla is getting upgraded to 4K (although I don’t think that every single film in that gargantuan Godzilla box set will undergo the same treatment any time soon). Maintaining all of the features from before, this Godzilla upgrade will likely look phenomenal; it remains the best film of the franchise, so I see no harm in enhancing your viewing experience of this disaster, monster classic.
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.