Courtesy of tenminuterambles
Federico Fellini … Jean-Luc Godard … Michelangelo Antonioni … Orson Welles … Wes Anderson?
That’s the way the Criterion Collection seems to see indie director Wes Anderson. Criterion is known for their dedication to making films by the likes of Italian maestros Fellini and Antonioni, French New Wave auteurs like Godard and Alain Resnais and lesser known American films widely available to the masses. Some fans of the company see having a director’s film included in the collection as confirmation of their greatness.
However, few directors have their entire filmography included in the collection, but with the announcement today that his The Darjeeling Limited (2007) is being released in October, Anderson has moved the closest. Criterion oversaw the first (and only) DVD releases of The Royal Tennenbaums (2001) and The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004). Later, they got a chance to release Rushmore (1998) and Bottle Rocket (1996). If Fox is willing to give up Darjeeling, the possibility of The Fantastic Mr. Fox having a wacky C on its cover in a few years doesn’t seem too improbable. (Although, Criterion’s apparent distaste for animated films might be a roadblock – in their 24 years of existence, Criterion has only released one animated film – Akira on laserdisc.)
The question, though, is does Anderson deserve to have his films put on the same shelf as timeless classics like Fritz Lang’s M, Welles’ F For Fake or Godard’s Breathless? Personally, I don’t think so. The only one of his films I have is Tenenbaums, which, while it is a charming, funny film, I didn’t like it that much. I did see Darjeeling in 2007 and I remember liking it, but obviously not enough to buy it, since I never got Fox’s bare-bones DVD.
The reason why Criterion has bestowed the ‘favorite son’ label on Anderson is probably because he has declared a love for, and being influenced by, many of the films they’ve released on either DVD or laserdisc. During his commentary on Tenenbaums, Anderson name drops masterpieces like Welles’ The Magnificent Ambersons, which Criterion released back in the laserdisc days, among others.
What really irks me about all this is that there are so many other great films from the past that need great releases before Anderson’s modern dramadies. For example, during the same month that Darjeeling is released (this October), Criterion is releasing just their second Stanley Kubrick in the 12 years that they’ve been releasing DVDs, the incredible WWI drama Paths of Glory. Yes, I understand that Criterion needs to be able to guarantee that they will make money (after all, their first 2-disc set was Armageddon in 1998 and they did just release The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), but please…let’s wait a few more years before putting him in the same sentence as Fellini, Antonioni, Godard and Welles.
The fact that Peter Greenaway and Ken Russell still don’t have Criterion DVDs and Wes Anderson has five is shameful. Rumor has it that Anderson has a lifelong contract with Criterion, which he probably signed around the time of The Royal Tenenbaums, and I will concede that that film and Rushmore deserved it. Bet they’re thinking that contract is backfiring now.
Anderson’s work is a product of many film genres and elements that came before him. One of the things Criterion strives for is to educate people as well as entertain them. By Showing a contemporary director whose work is heavily linked to that of the past, you learn something without realizing it. I learned of Criterion through Anderson and Anderson has found about many great films through Criterion(albeit laserdisk era). Realize that Criterion is a business like anything else. Having director with a dedicated fan base such as his, well, helps.
They’re many other films we could argue whether or not are criterion worthy. Just because it says “criterion” on the case doesn’t mean it’s one of the greatest films. That’s not their mission. Their mission is to release “important” films. Their importance, however, varies in reasoning. There’s a reason they released the Rock and there’s a reason they released The Third Man….very different reasons though.
One more thing. Criterion has tried to obtain many films for years….but for legal reasons can’t. Keep that in mind. Honestly, I’m downright impressed with their work, dedication, and more than anything, their massive catalog of great films.