The Criterion Collection is known for plucking classic films from obscurity (films often lost or available only with terrible transfers) and transforming them into beautifully packaged (and colossally expensive) DVDs. The extras aren't just added studio advertisements but enlightening documentaries containing interviews with film historians and the films’ creators, often edited with direct input from the filmmakers. There are 3-disc editions of The Battle of Algiers and Bicycle Thieves, and FOUR disc sets for some of my personal favorites, Brazil and Seven Samurai that would take an entire day to process. They’re often stuffed with beautiful booklets, and the Criterion edition for Robert Altman’s Short Cuts includes all nine Carver short stories which inspired the film. I was looking over new Criterion releases this morning when I stumbled upon this gem –
-John Huston’s Wise Blood, which stars the super-creepy Brad Dourif. I’ve never seen the film (a well reviewed late-seventies piece, based off Flannery O’Connor’s first novel), but it’s the box art that really excited me. The artist is Josh Cochran, whose portfolio is just superb (you can find more his work, along with a post on the genesis of his Blood work at his personal site: www.johncochran.net). I love the composition and contrast for the cover, and obviously a lot people feel exactly as I do since most of the items for sale on his personal website are completely sold out.
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