Criterion Crazy: April 2025 Releases
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
Just when you get a decent-to-lukewarm announcement from Criterion, they come back with a whopper of an announcement. The Criterion Collection just dropped a total of seven (!) titles, two being existing films in the collection being upgraded to 4K (and a return from one of the most beloved Criterion-affiliated releases ever). There are two films attached to a contemporaneously adored director, a double-pack by an international titan of yesteryear, and one of the great directorial debuts of the nineties. Needless to say, this announcement is a super strong one by Criterion: one where — in my opinion — you cannot go wrong with picking up any of these following works. Let’s explore them.
The Favourite: Two Films by Claude Berri (1986)
This double-feature by the French great Claude Berri consists of Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring: two works that are intended to be watched as one for the best results (they also happen to be the two best films in Berri’s illustrious career). These stunning works are available on 4K and Blu-ray. This set has one of the fewest amount of features of any Criterion release I’ve ever seen, but what it lacks in quantity (which feels like a farce anyway, considering that you are getting two feature films) it makes up for in quality. You’ve got two separate full-on documentaries: one about Berri’s career (which is great for those who are picking up this set as a blind-buy and want to learn more about him and his works), and one about both of these feature films in particular. There’s also a classic Criterion essay, this time by film scholar Sue Harris. If you are a seasoned cinephile who is looking for a next great fix, this box set will certainly rise to the occasion.
Best Newer Release: Anora (2024)
I thought it was a bit silly and premature when Criterion fanatics were predicting that Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or winning, smash hit, Anora, would not just be in the Criterion Collection, but that it would be in the next announcement. Well, consider me an idiot for being so wrong, then. One of 2024’s greatest films is getting the Criterion treatment with style. Not only is it available in all Criterion formats (4K, Blu-ray, and DVD, but, really, you either experience the best-looking Baker film in 4K, or you go pure Baker style with the lowest resolution and pick up the DVD), but it’s stacked with features. You’ve got two audio commentaries, a slew of interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and a discussion between star Mikey Madison and an actor-stripper, Lindsey Normington, which will further cement Anora as a film that made its biggest splash amongst sex workers.
More Sean Baker, You Say?: Prince of Broadway (2008)
Now, this is more or less what I was expecting when it was rumoured that Sean Baker was going to have a film in the Criterion Collection (the joke’s on us, he instantly has two now). Prince of Broadway, one of Baker’s earliest works (shot entirely on a portable video camera), has been remastered and touched up via Baker’s supervision (for those who want to complain about Anora being too recent to be considered an act of preservation: here’s what you wanted). Available only on Blu-ray (it’s likely next to impossible to get the proper 4K treatment now, given how the film was made, but that doesn’t explain the lack of availability on DVD, especially when Anora has that option), Prince of Broadway has a few extras to keep in mind. There are two audio commentaries, multiple documentaries about this film, and — something we shockingly don’t get enough with Criterion features — a look at how the film was restored (now that is interesting).
Art Cinema Done Right: Basquiat (1996)
Having Julian Schnabel in the collection makes perfect sense, and that includes his astonishing debut feature film, the tremendous biopic Basquiat (obviously about artist Jean-Michel Basquiat). With a star-forming turn by Jeffrey Wright as Basquiat and an immense cast (David Bowie as Andy Warhol, the very man he wrote a song about in his heyday, for instance), Basquiat is a must-watch for any art fans (cinematic or other). Available in 4K and Blu-ray (believe me, you’ll want the 4K of most Schnabel releases), this release includes archival interviews and promotional materials, a brand-new audio commentary, and a modern reflection on the film by Wright. If you have never seen a Schnabel film before, this is a good place to start (although Before Night Falls, At Eternity’s Gate, and — easily his masterpiece — The Diving Bell and the Butterfly must come next on your to-watch list should Basquiat fare well).
It’s Time to Upgrade: Some Like It Hot (1959)
Do I need to say much? It’s Billy Wilder’s Some Like it Hot. On 4K. One of the great comedies of the fifties (one mustn’t forget how audaciously dark this film gets at times, however; it is a film involving criminals and witnesses on the run, after all), Some Like it Hot is still considered a hilarious opus by many (although the cross-dressing element of the film may not be seen as well-handled by viewers in this day and age, so do keep that in mind if you haven’t seen this film before and feel like it may bother you in this respect). Nonetheless, this is a highly influential and revered comedy. Go get it on 4K.
Let’s Keep Upgrading: Ugetsu (1953)
Do I need to say much? It’s Kenji Mizoguchi’s Ugetsu. On 4K. One of the most purchased films of the Criterion Collection (as well as a staple of Japanese and fifties cinema), Ugetsu is a must for any lover of cinema. Considering how important the ghostly cinematography is, it only makes sense to watch Ugetsu in the highest resolution available (this feels like a no-brainer purchase for those who have 4K capable setups).
Surprise, Mother-Fucker, it’s: Chunking Express (1994)
Time to get personal. The most expensive film (note: singular film, not a box set of any kind) that I have ever purchased was an out-of-print copy of Wong Kar-wai’s Chungking Express for around eighty five dollars. There was a time when this film was no longer in the collection and was actually hard to get in any reasonable, legal capacity. Of course, the brilliant Wong Kar-wai boxset came out a few years ago (believe me, as one of the biggest fans of this auteur, you’d better believe I own this already), and that was the first return of Chungking Express in the Collection (mind you, the colour grading of these re-releases has received mixed results despite them being the choice of the director, since the colours have been toned down and feel more realistic and less like a surreal wonderland, and at least the original version I still retain looks as vibrant as most Wong Kar-wai fans prefer). With all of that in mind, Chungking Express is now back as a stand-alone release, and available in Blu-ray and (!!!!!!) 4K.
Now, it appears that this copy will likely have the same transfer and restoration work that the boxset possesses, but I think Chungking Express — in any capacity — should be celebrated in 4K. Considering all of the above, I’d recommend those who have the original release to keep it (at least as an artifact, if not to appreciate the version of the film we all grew up with) whilst also imploring you to seek out one of the great cinematic fever dreams on 4K (I also own In the Mood for Love’s original copy, in the boxset, and separately as the upscaled 4K release, and I find different reasons to appreciate each version; I’m sure many Wong Kar-wai fans are the same, especially since aesthetics are crucial to his films). For those who don’t want to buy every single copy under the sun, at least you know what your options are, now.
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.