Explanation of the true purpose of the criterion collection

Following the death of the legendary David Lynch, the timelines of social networks were flooded with tribute to the influential filmmaker, often using screenshots and gifs of his immaculate work. However, another image circulated with the same fervor: that of Pamela Anderson in the sacred terrain of the criterion closet with the subtitle “We love David Lynch”. Anderson had made his visit to the famous wardrobe as part of the awards campaign for “The Last Chorist”, a way for cinema lovers to admire (or judge) their cinematographic taste. (To record, Anderson has excellent taste.) In fact, innumerable creatives have arrived at CLOSET criterion since Guillermo del Toro was filmed for the first time making his selections in 2010, and many called him a “dream come true.”

When Criterion announced that it would celebrate its 40th anniversary by replicating the closet with a portable closet truck, cinephiles from all over the country began to plan their visits when the tour arrived in its cities of origin. Having a film in Criterion Collection is a great honor. Even so, there are some erroneous ideas about what is really criterion of collection, what it is in our culture and how decisions are made regarding the films that “enter”. Coming from an obsessive of physical media, consider this your history lesson of the intensive course and your guide for everything related to criterion.

Founded by Robert Stein, Aleen Stein and Joe Medjuck in 1984, Criterion is a pioneering company in domestic media distribution that focuses on restoring, preserving and publishing important film, classical and contemporary works, of all genres and around the world. The films that criterion distribute in physical media are considered part of the criterion collection, including their first days of laserdisc and DVDs exhausted. Criterion was really the first of its kind to include restorations and complementary special characteristics to promote the repetition of visualizations in their premieres, essentially providing buyers the best visualization experience that included the enjoyment of the film. and Cinematographic education For more than 40 years, criterion has worked together with filmmakers and cinema academics to achieve the best possible premiere of any title.

As for the films selected to be part of the collection, despite the accusations of “arthouse” or “snob” that are often thrown against criterion, the collection has a bit of everything. An intimate queer movie, in black and white and with a micropression as “Go Fish” coexists with a depravity exercise such as “Salò, or the 120 days of Sodom”, the French masterpiece of Chantal Akerman “Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai Du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles. ” , “and an explosive blockbuster as” Armageddon “by Michael Bay. But criterion has no white letter to obtain any title you want, including films that have already been released previously. The criteria is also at the mercy of the holders of the rights of the rights of the movie. Golden Princess Library of Hong Kong’s cinema, including “Hard”.

Cinema lovers often confuse the criterion collection with the National Registry of films of the Congress Library, the collection of films of the National Board for the Preservation of the United States films selected for their preservation for their historical, cultural and aesthetic contributions . The criterion is actually older That the National Film Registry, but while criterion restores and preserves films from around the world, the National Cinema Registry is dedicated exclusively to preserving cinema made in the United States without a distribution arm. It is also the reason why “Star Wars: Episode IV – a new hope” is in the National Film Registry, but it is not (and will never be) in the criterion collection, despite the cultural importance of the film and His undeniable influence on science fiction cinema.

“Star Wars” is one of Lucasfilm’s golden egg chickens, a Walt Disney Studios subsidiary, a notoriously protective company of its titles. When “Wall-E” was added to the criterion collection in 2022, it was a Mass treatment Because, at the time of this publication, only nine films owned by Walt Disney Studios or one of its subsidiaries have been added to the collection. So, if you ask why your favorite movie is not in the criterion collection, it is likely that criterion could not obtain the rights, that the filmmaker does not want his film to be part of the collection or that criterion does not want it. I feel that the movie fits.

Criterion still has a deep affinity for films even outside your collection, and the Channel Criterion Service often shows questionable taste films. Curious fact: last year, Johnny Knoxville was even celebrated both by criterion and the Academy Museum when Channel Criterion broadcast the “Jackass” films, and the exhibition of John Waters of the Academy had a section dedicated to ” To Dirty Shame “. None of the titles is officially part of Criterion Collection, but that does not make them less important.

That a film is part of Criterion Collection does not immediately mean that it is “better” than another, and not being in collection criterion does not mean that a movie is lower. In fact, there are numerous boutique distribution brands that also offer impressive restorations full of special features that can be home to some of your favorite films. Case in question: Back in 2014, Scream Factory (the terror branch of Shout! Factory) was able to restore images that were believed to be lost from “Nightbreed” by Clive Barker and publish the official assembly of the director almost a quarter of a century. After the movie arrived at theaters for the first time. For the fans of the terror around the world, it was an opportunity for us to finally see the film as always had to be experienced, and that would not have been possible without the tireless work of Scream Factory.

Vinegar Syndrome and its many sibling stamps, such as Mélusine and American Genre Film Archive (Agfa), have been equally invaluable in the preservation and rediscovery of the exploitation, forgotten film oddities and old movies for adults that would probably have been lost in time if It wasn’t like that. t for your archivists. Both “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” and “Little Darlings” got vs launches last year, finally ending their states “difficult to find.” And there are so many so Many other companies that offer criterion level versions that deserve their time and money. Arrow, Severin Films, Kino Lorber, Radiance, Umbrella, Synapse, Imprint, Eureka!, Diabolik and even branches of studies such as Warner Archives and Paramount Scares have helped keep the physical means alive and have guaranteed that all films receive the same tender And loving care. as collection of criteria. There is no official cinematographic canon and no brand should be considered a quality referee.

You like what you like. Cinema, now more than ever!