Having recently seen “Before Midnight” in theatres last weekend. I wanted to go back and re watch all of these movies all over again. Never before have I been so interested in just two people talking, then I am with these movies. Now in the most recent one Jesse and Celine do talk with more people than just each other, but it’s the conversation the two actors have together that gives it a great dramatic boost. These characters talk about the things I do talk about and the things I want to talk about. Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke have such great chemistry on screen I’m surprised they didn’t hook up for real. As I was thinking about these movies I became convinced that Criterion should make a special edition of all three. It would come in a 3 disk Blue Ray set with each movie having its own special features. Here is what I would like to see for each title in this set.
Before Sunrise.
Commentary with Director Richard Linklatter, and Writer Kim Krizan
Commentary with Ethan Hawke, And Julie Delpy with moderator Richard Linklatter
Behind the scenes footage and Outtakes.
The scene from “Waking Life” that features both characters. In both animated and non animated forms.(Optinal Commentary from Hawke, Delpy, and Linklatter)
Audition Videos
Interviews with Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke, Richard Linklatter, Kim Krizan and Editor Sandra Adair
A tour of Vienna that highlights all the places that were in the movie.
Before Sunset.
Commentary with Richard Linklatter, Julie Delpy, and Ethan Hawke
An interview with Linklatter, Delpy and Hawke about how this got to be made and why so long for a sequel.
A video tour by Julie Delpy highlighting all of the places that were used in the film.
A live performance from Julie Delpy performing a song from the soundtrack(not the waltz one)
Rehearsal footage including Outtakes.
Interview with Linklatter, and Editor Sandra Adair about how this was made to look like a full afternoon in just under 90 minutes.
Before Midnight
Commentary with Richard Linklatter and Sandra Adair
Commentary with Ethan Hawke, and Julie Delpy
A video tour with Ethan Hawke highlighting all of the spots in Greece that were used in the film
The Alamo Draft House PSA ad.
Delpy, Hawke, and Linklatter discuss the screenwriting process.
Outtakes from the car scene(If any)
This is what I would love to see but I’m sure the folks over at Criterion would make something just as good if not better. I just hope that this gives them a spark to start making it.
Oh, that would be the ultimate Criterion set and the features you want…. I would be absolutely down for that. Oh, and don’t forget the booklet that would feature various essays about the film such. Essays on each film by different writers and one essay about the trilogy… unless a fourth one might be coming 9 years later.
The Ultimate set would include Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke coming to my place to discuss this movie and well anything else. A booklet would be cool for the Criterion edition. I like the essay idea, Thanks for reading
Lets get that idea on Kickstarter!!!! Julie and Ethan at casa de Vern!
Joel. I love your Criterion Ideas. Creature from Black Lagoon and Escape from Fort Bravo would be great additions. Yes would love to have Julie and Ethan come to my place, but I would be too star struck to talk
I somehow doubt that. BTW you still need to approve the 2nd comment I think…
Amazing idea. I would buy this immediately.
Thanks Eric . I hope something like this would get made too
Okay, so, this is brilliant. If Criterion took your advice and actually made this happen, it would be a monumental success. Seriously, great work here. Dare to dream…
Coming from a filmmaker. This is a huge compliment. Thank you Alex
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That would be an amazing collection. I’m totally on board.
Ahh thank you. Yeah it would be really sweet if they did this. It’s one of my favorite trilogies of all time
My own Criterion Wishlist:
First re-releases:
1. Hoop Dreams (do another transfer by not scanning it to film, because it wasn’t shot on film and I beleive the only time it has been showed on film originally would have been on festival screenings)
2. Heavens Gate (re-release it in all possible lengths thats available and get Cimini on board. He more or less forced to them to not include the Final Cut doc. in the original set. So make him pay-up for that by appearing a lot.)
3. Andrey Rublev (This might be the biggest need of a film to go to proper mainstream blu-ray. Also Include the shorter russian cut that Tarkovsky actually approved while still living in Russia.)
Films that need to be on here before the Sunrise trilogy and “random Wes Anderson movie” that still not isn’t on here:
1. Das Versprechen http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111613/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_14 (By far the best film taking place around the Berlin Wall while it was up. This is a serious recommendation for you Vern. You’ll cry your eyes out…)
2. Escape from Fort Bravo (really underrated Western that was way before its time and is in dire need of a new improved transfer, ufortunately not to many pepople still alive from the production)
3. Creature from the Black Lagoon (just because at least in Sweden the recent blu-ray is a botched up full framed version of it eventhough the packaging states it to be in Widescreen. Would love to see what Criterion could cook up with a transfer to modern 3D as well.
Great list. I have never any of these flicks, but I want to especially Hoop Dreams and Creature from Black Lagoon