Criterion Collection Announces Titles for December 2013

     

Release Date: 12.3.2013

     The Criterion Collection has announced its new releases for the month of December and what a group of films, just in time for Christmas. The big announcement is the first set of Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Project. A nine disc set of little known films, from around the world, that have been preserved by Scorsese's World Cinema Foundation. The set will include films that would otherwise not get the proper exposure due to there location, finances or quality of the film stock. The preservation is impressive and here are the films that will be included: Touki Bouki Senegal (1973), Redes Mexico (1936), A River Called Titas Bangladesh (1973), Dry Summer Turkey (1964), Trances Morocco (1981) and The Housemaid South Korea (1960). I am highly interested in seeking these films out. I will probably have to wait until the Criterion Collection/Barnes & Noble 50% off sale next year to buy it since it is priced at $99.96, but what a group of films. I have not seen, much less heard of some of these films and this will be a great film and cultural education on world  cinema.

Release Date: 12.10.2013

   
     The other big announcement is that of Robert Altman's classic 1975 opus Nashville. This is a quintessential film of the American filmmaking boom of the 70s. The film follows twenty-four different characters and ranges from politics to comedy, musical to drama. The first time I saw this film I was pretty enthralled by it and cannot wait to see how the blu-ray looks. There is something about 70s films that look beautiful on blu-ray. The film stars Keith Carradine, Karen Black, Ned Beatty, Lily Tomlin, Shelley Duvall, Michael Murphy and Henry Gibson, amongst many others. The film is a cornucopia of American life and culture. Great addition to the collection.

Releas Date: 12.3.2013

     Another new release and one that caught my eye, being that I really admire and enjoy smart thrillers, is the Italian film Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970) directed by Elio Petri. The film stars the powerful Gian Maria Volonte as a Roman police inspector who investigates a crime he committed. Sold right there. Another 70s film and I am hooked. The film won Best Foreign Language Film at the 1971 Academy Awards and was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay. I have not heard of this film before, but I am going to blind buy it and I am looking forward to seeing it.
   

Release Date: 12.10.2013

The final release for December, and the only upgrade from within the collection, is the documentary Grey Gardens from directors Albert & David Maysles, Ellen Hovde and Muffie Meyer. Living on the Hampton's, cousins of Jackie Onassis, big and little Edie Beale, mother-and-daughter and high society recluses. The documentary is considered a classic and examines the lives of the Beales, which also turned them into fashion icons. I have not seen this film, but need to. The Maysles brothers are legendary documentarians and the film is a cult classic.
     That is it for the month of December and I have listed the release dates under the cover art . Check out the criterion website and check out these films once they are released. A great set and I, most likely, will purchase all of these at some point. Enjoy.

Credits by criterion.com.