By Bryan Reesman
MOST OF US ASSUME that when we see a
DVD or Blu-ray for sale it was put together by
the studio behind the theatrical release. We
have come to expect bonus features, perhaps
some commentary, outtakes, additional footage and the like. This is the reason those of us
who love the art continue to buy movies: for
the opportunity to delve more deeply into a
film and its production history.
With that singular goal in mind, one
company has spent the past three decades
elevating the home video release to another
level entirely. Not associated with a studio, but
with the kind of care and attention to detail
that stems from a deep and abiding passion
for film, this company has become the go-to
source and authority for film aficionados
around the world, while at the same time
establishing itself as a critical favorite of film
directors themselves. This company is the
Criterion Collection.
A collection for collectors
The Criterion Collection is the Rolls-Royce of home video companies. They painstakingly create archival-quality releases to
occupy permanent shelf space everywhere
from private collections to public libraries.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year,
Criterion has set a gold standard with their
restoration of cinematic classics from across
the globe: Fellini’s 8½, Chaplin’s The Great
Dictator and Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai among
them. The company has also worked with con-
temporary filmmakers, such as Wes Anderson,
Richard Linklater and Guillermo del Toro.
On top of presenting films uncut and in
their proper aspect ratio, Criterion tells a
story about each film through every aspect of
their elaborate packaging, from original new
covers to the special features included with
every release. The pioneering company published the first commentary track, the first
director commentary and numerous director’s cuts, among other distinctions.
View from the top
Recently, The Costco Connection was
offered the rare opportunity to visit Criterion’s
inner sanctum in Manhattan to learn how the
company creates its collectible editions.
Perched in his spacious office with a Park
Avenue South view, Criterion Collection
president Peter Becker exudes passion for the
company and its mission. For Becker, CEO
Jonathan Turell and their staff, video reissues
are not just about commerce—they are a personal obligation to preserve cinematic history.
“When people ask what are the criteria for
the Criterion Collection, we always say that we
want films to be exemplary films of their kind,”
says Becker, and, he explains, not just the
obscure art-house films, but also the block-
busters. “To try to pretend that blockbusters
aren’t important in the way that we think that
art films are important is just silly and snobby,”
Becker says. “Film is an art form, but it’s also a
commercial art form. It always has been.”
Criterion offers high-quality restorations
and excellent bonus features, many of them
historical in nature, including vintage docu-
mentaries, television or radio interviews, in-
depth liner notes from film experts, even
on-set footage. “It’s all original content that
has generally been commissioned or archival
content that has to be found,” explains Becker.
An example: two French television interviews from 1984 with Sterling Hayden, star of
The Killing, a 1956 film by Stanley Kubrick.
“Somebody had to go find [those interviews],
figure out how to get the French to let go of
[them], write a contract for it and put it on
there,” Becker notes.
“The goal is to put out films that are
worth watching again and again, and put
them out with supplements that will make
you want to watch them again and again.”
arts & entertainment
is
Criterionfor
Top-of-the-line presentation for film buffs
62 ;e Costco Connection JUNE 2014
MEDIA BAKERY