The Criterion Collection announced its slate of new film restorations that will be circulated throughout the month of June as home entertainment packaged media product offerings (in various configurations, depending on the title in question).
Leading the parade (and, of course, this is always a subjective opinion) is auteur filmmaker John Waters’ 1973 iconic masterpiece, Pink Flamingos, starring Divine as Babs Johnson, an angel of delight in hiding — a trailer park refugee — who takes on the evil Connie and Raymond Marble (played by Waters’ regulars, Mink Stole and David Lochary) in a fight to the death.
Call Pink Flamingos a black comedy, or a film statement on the outcast and different, or a drama with deep cultural meaning … call it what you will, but you must include “independent” and/or “masterpiece” in speaking of both of this film’s content and its merits as an arthouse treasure.
This is a new 4K digital restoration supervised by writer/director John Waters and it will be available on June 28 as a Blu-ray only release.
Bonus features include two vintage commentary options from Waters, deleted scenes, an alternate take, on-set footage, a newly-prepared video session featuring Waters and fellow filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, plus John Waters takes us on a tour of the Baltimore filming locations.
Another Blu-ray-only release arrives on June 7. This would be a new 4K film restoration of the filmmaking team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s 1951 Oscar-nominated (Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design) bittersweet musical-fantasy, The Tales of Hoffman.
Framed around a trio of flashback tales about lost love — which takes place in a tavern — writer Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann (Robert Rounseville — Carousel) tells those within earshot of his love affairs that have all ended badly. The irony is that a fourth, and perhaps the most important romantic opportunity of them all, is lost as he drinks his way through the stories.
Bonus features are a vintage commentary with Martin Scorsese and film critic Bruce Eder, the short film titled The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and more.
Also to be found on the June release calendar from Criterion is the June 14 Blu-ray and DVD debut of writer/director Ekwa Msangi’s film festival favorite, Farewell Amor. The ARR is 550 days and the limited theatrical showcase pulled in $4,689.
June 21 sees the 4K Ultra HD/2 Blu-ray Combo Pack release of director Gordon Parks’ Shaft, starring Richard Roundtree. As a bonus, the 1972 sequel, also teaming filmmaker Gordon Parks and Richard Roundtree, Shaft’s Big Score, is included here. A double-disc Blu-ray edition will also be available on June 21.
Rounding out the June selects are Rogue (DVD and Blu-ray editions on June 21 and Worst Person in the World (DVD, Blu-ray; June 28).
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