My Reaction to the Janus Contemporaries Announcement (May 12, 2023)

[@heartofcinema3454]

I saw Godland two weeks ago. Magnificently shot and powerfully rendered.

[@DaisukeBeppu]

Thank you for letting me know. I look forward to watching it.

[@Stealthborn]

This is quite the announcement! I recall seeing these on the Criterion Channel and it is nice that we get to see some new films come in along with offering DVD and Blu-Ray options. This reminds me of certain series that Criterion did with the Merchant and Ivory Collection (now OOP) and the Eclipse Series (no announcement of that for some time). Considering that these are on the channel itself, I ought to check them out! I also wouldn't be surprised if Criterion covers these too at some point which seems highly likely!

[@christianshobbiblog1816]

When I first read this I got very excited and I haven’t lost much of that since. I hope this will allow for a longer exposure in the public sphere for these wonderful films. Opens up a lot more voices to the world of cinema which is always a positive in my book

[@Jared_Wignall]

I hadn’t heard about this until this video, so this is pretty cool to hear about. Thanks for the video Daisuke, I hope you’re doing well and are having a great day. Take care!

[@DaisukeBeppu]

Much appreciated my friend!

[@ambaryastudios1807]

I saw this announcement on Facebook today. Very curious about what the packaging will look like. P.S. Can’t wait for the Pasolini set! Cheers from Wisconsin!

[@DaisukeBeppu]

Thank you so much for this! Yes, I am also very curious to see how it turns out. And also, yes, I too am very excited for the Pasolini set!

[@felixbronkhorst1674]

Will be interesting to see if this has any influence on the future release selection for the Criterion Collection. Very interesting.

[@84paratize]

Yes, I'm hoping it means the CC will focus more on older films from now on.

[@DaisukeBeppu]

Yes, that is a very good point.

[@Sude1089]

This is rather interesting news indeed, my friend. If Criterion is involved in the physical media release of a film, you know you are in for a treat. How Criterion is a part of keeping the love for cinema alive is a major reason I love them so much! It is so cool to hear this news from you and I will need to research these films further when I have the chance. Also, random question because your shirt reminded me I wanted to ask you. Which production studio, such as Universal Studios, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Paramount, etc. is your favorite to look at before a movie plays? Personally when I see Touchstone Pictures magical light travel across the bottom of the screen before reaching the blue circle is a guaranteed seal of quality, but I also love the classic Disney logo of the light traveling over the castle or the roaring tiger of MGM and of course the spinning Globe of Universal Studios.. Many more to list and I especially love when the film score begins even as these logos are presented! Hope that is a cool film related thing for you to think about at least! Hope you are well my friend and I cannot wait for your thoughts on the next Criterion announcement in the next few days!! Cheers!!

[@BadGuyRants]

While it’s nice to get modern films on high quality Blu-ray, Janus has become the unofficial brand for art house cinema. Almost half of the recent Sight & Sound top 100 list was films they owned. Bit troubling.

[@84paratize]

Troubling? why?

[@DaisukeBeppu]

Thank you so much for this! So, I suppose I would respond very gently by saying that, yes, I see what you mean regarding the position of Janus Films. And I would say that actually this seems reflective of Janus Films' position in terms of so-called "art house" releases in North America since around the '60s. So, to see this reflected in physical media seems consistent with that history. Also, I would say that it is not a sense of "owning" the film per se, but rather I think to have acquired the rights to distribute the film within certain designated territories. Now, regarding your point about the Sight & Sound list, it might be an interesting kind of sociological study about how the choices were made. In other words, did people make choices because of films they saw that were made available to them by Janus? Or was the affinity for the film already there, regardless of Janus? Or perhaps maybe was the liking of the film in part or in whole BECAUSE of the Janus affiliation? I think that yes there could be said to be a kind of reputation and prestige that is associated with the name, and so perhaps that could be the reason. But that would be speculation on my part, and I do not think that is necessarily and automatically a negative aspect, though I might understand if others think otherwise. In any event, thank you so much for taking the time to comment my friend, and cheers!