Criterion‘s latest batch of title announcements has got me all excited, as they tend to do every month. But you might be surprised to learn that I’m not a big fan of the marquee release of this current bunch. I love me some Fincher, as I’m sure loyal readers are well aware, but I’ve never cared for his 1997 film The Game. Something about the ludicrous nature of the plot and the day-glo fluorescent production design just keeps me at arms length. Could be I just don’t like the story or design of it, huh? That could be the “something”. Also, it could be Michael Douglas just beeng too Michael Douglas-y. So, knowing of my dislike of The Game you might not be terribly surprised to learn that it’s the announcement of the release of not one, but two Carné films on Blu that has gotten my blood pumping this month. Both Children of Paradise and Les Visiteurs du Soir will be released on September 18th, a week after the Blu-ray upgrade of De Sica‘s exceptional Umberto D., originally released on Criterion DVD in 2003. Finally, Paul Bartel‘s Eating Raoul, a film that sports a cover and title that haunted me through the ’80s via a busted up VHS that lingered, unrented on my local shop’s shelves, joins the collection on September 25th. To this day, I’ve yet to brave the film but I think it might finally be time…
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