Criterion Collected
Criterion Collected
ESN.fm
A show telling the story of the legendary film and special features curation done by The Criterion Collection, going all the way back to 1984.
From Graduating to Flunking
In the third installment of our ongoing series on the films and career of Yasujiro Ozu, we find a filmmaker in transition, with Ozu finding elements of his voice and themes that will persist over the following three decades. Part 3 in Ozu Seasons, an ongoing series
Mar 22, 2020
33 min
Absurdity and Despair, with Oscar Isaac
Self-described "Cheknov and Shakespeare fan" Oscar Isaac on the distinctly different personalities of the directors he's worked with, mostly focusing on his work with the Coen Brothers for new-to-the-Collection Inside Llewyn Davis.
Feb 7, 2016
20 min
Bonsai Chia Pet
This Is Spinal Tap is probably the most-selected OOP title on filmmakers' Criterion Top Ten lists. The 1994 Laserdisc (1998 DVD) features the only out-of-character commentary track ever recorded by the headline trio. Featured here: excerpts from that track, as well as a mournful recounting of the now-fifteen-years-out-of-print features that really "lick [the] love pump" for fans.
Sep 30, 2015
11 min
The Edge of Regret
In the second installment of our ongoing series on the films and career of Yasujiro Ozu, we blaze through his first eight films (seven of which are competely lost) as we watch a Japanese slacker who loves American movies find his voice. Ozu Seasons Part 2
Apr 24, 2015
20 min
Ozu Seasons
Roger Ebert's voice introduces us to a new, "seasonal" (in more than one sense) series focusing on Yasujiro Ozu. Ozu Seasons Part 1
Apr 16, 2015
11 min
Fight to Free the World
When you ask someone the name their favorite Charles Chaplin film, I've found that it generally is not The Great Dictator (1940). Popularity be damned, it may be his most culturally significant and important. This is a taste of why, especially in the WikiLeaks Era of the Information Age, I think you should make time for it.
Mar 4, 2015
8 min
Sean Connery's Penis
We look at the "Banned Bond" commentaries from the Laserdisc Era of Criterion, using clips from the Dr. No track as context for why they're important and unique. Listen to them on their own or synced up with the movies. The long-out-of-print and never-to-be-reissued commentaries for Dr. No, From Russia With Love, and Goldfinger were posted on 21 December 2014.
Jan 8, 2015
9 min
Goldfinger (1964) Commentary
The commentary track on Criterion's 1991 laserdisc for Goldfinger so angered producer Albert Broccoli that he had it recalled from sale and reissued, without the offending track. The same went for the commentaries on Dr. No and From Russia With Love that were released both a few months before Goldfinger.
Dec 22, 2014
1 hr 50 min
From Russia With Love (1963) Commentary
The commentary track on Criterion's 1991 laserdisc for From Russia With Love so angered producer Albert Broccoli that he had it recalled from sale and reissued, without the offending track. The same went for the commentaries on Dr. No and Goldfinger that were released both a few months before and a few months after From Russia With Love, respectively.
Dec 22, 2014
1 hr 55 min
Dr. No (1962) Commentary
The commentary track on Criterion's 1991 laserdisc for Dr. No so angered producer Albert Broccoli that he had it recalled from sale and reissued, without the offending track. The same went for the commentaries on From Russia With Love and Goldfinger that were released in the months following Dr. No.
Dec 22, 2014
1 hr 50 min
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