Ryan’s Criterion Link Collection: Friday, December 12th 2014

Your daily digest of Criterion-related links.

NEWS

Check out the cover for the upcoming book from Matt Zoller Seitz on Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel (a companion piece to his recent book, The Wes Anderson Collection)

The Wes Anderson Collection: The Grand Budapest Hotel stays true to the first book with its meticulous design that captures the spirit of Anderson’s films. Together they complement one another to offer the definitive word on Anderson’s filmography. One volume is not complete without the other.

Steve James’ Roger Ebert documentary, Life Itself, is coming to Blu-ray next year

In an early announcement to retailers, Magnolia is preparing to bring ‘Life Itself’ to Blu-ray on February 17… Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Interview with Director Steve James, AXS TV: A look at Life Itself, and Deleted Scenes.

Jafar Panahi has won an award from the MPA in Australia

Panahi won for his project “Flower” (Goul”) about a man who needs to kill his disabled son to bring peace to a family. It will be directed by his son Panar Panahi.

REVIEWS

For Slant, Clayton Dillard reviews The Night Porter

The Criterion Collection’s new 2K transfer of Liliana Cavani’s The Night Porter is a pristine offering of a film that devastates through its shockingly precise attunement to the lingering traumas of human-borne catastrophe.

And over at High-Def Digest, Joshua Zyber reviews Criterion’s recent Blu-ray for La Dolce Vita

Fellini’s ‘La dolce vita’ is one of my favorite films of all time, and has been among the top “holy grails” I’ve awaited on Blu-ray since the format started. More than that, I really needed a perfect presentation for the movie. As high as my expectations were, I think Criterion has met them. This Blu-ray has a flawless video transfer and some mostly interesting bonus features. For any film lover who isn’t afraid of classic or foreign cinema (in black-and-white, no less!), this disc comes very highly recommended.

INTERESTING

Today is Yasujiro Ozu’s birthday (and the anniversary of his death)

Check out this Japanese poster for Pierrot Le Fou

And pick up this Grand Budapest Hotel print.

NOW AVAILABLE TO STREAM

On Netflix