It isn’t often that The Criterion Collection goes contemporary, and when they do, certain corners of the internet clutch their pearls, and cry in a cinematic rage (remember when Lena Dunham‘s “Tiny Furniture” dared to be granted a wacky C?). Well, we’re sure someone is going to fume that [insert random silent era director] isn’t getting a box set instead, but we’re pretty pleased that Noah Baumbach‘s big-hearted, sweet, observant and hilarious “Frances Ha” is coming to the collection.
Noah Baumbach’s film is the surprise highlight of the November slate and it’s bringing with it some pretty decent extras. Among them are conversations between Baumbach and his pal and filmmaking legend Peter Bogdanovich, and another between the film’s star and co-writer Greta Gerwig and actress/filmmaker Sarah Polley. We already laid out our 5 Reasons You Should Go See Noah Baumbach & Greta Gerwig’s ‘Frances Ha,’ so consider this the sixth. It is one of the year’s best films, and we’re glad the folks at Criterion recognize it too, and have brought another title from the filmmaker into the fold (they also issued his debut “Kicking & Screaming“).
Okay, so for those silent film fans, Criterion will serve them in November with Charlie Chaplin‘s classic “City Lights.” If you haven’t seen this comedy landmark already, well you have no excuse now, particularly as this comes stuff with a ton of extras including: a 2003 documentary on the film’s production, an excerpt from Chaplin’s 1915 short film “The Champion,”a boatload of archival footage, rehearsal material and much, much more. All that, and a crisp new transfer to boot.
Finally, for those of you who like box sets, Criterion has put together the staggering “Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman.” The set brings together twenty-five Zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973 in one place, for the first time. The titles had been available before on DVD, but not like this, with a brand new restorations, spruced up subtitles, a full length documentary to with it all and nice, fancy packaging.
Lastly, Yasujiro Ozu‘s classic,”The Wolverine“-influencing “Tokyo Story” goes Blu in November as well.