Let's Get Physical: Summer Criterion Sale at Barnes & Noble
- Julian Ramirez
- Jul 3
- 4 min read
Ah yes, it's that time of year that physical media fans relish and their wallets fear. Twice a year Barnes and Noble have a month long sale that puts the often lauded, occasionally sneered, Criterion Collection on sale! The typically $40-$50 releases (and much more if boxsets are your jam) get slashed in half and end up in a much more manageable $20-25 range (50% off for those who didn't catch that), letting watchers of fine films watch them in amazing quality with a bevy of features to boot.
Criterion Collection aims to curate an ever growing list of titles that they deem worthy (and available to license for physical release). There is always a conversation going on about whether their selections are diverse enough, if their encoding of the films and disc mastering is up to par with other big boutique labels. The answers here are complicated and often vary between releases. But like every company there are pros and cons and I tend to think that Criterion ends up come out ahead more often then not.
Below are a few recommendations from my collection mixed in with some releases that I am looking forward to possibly getting during the sale. While it's always best o buy from the label directly (they have multiple one day sales throughout the year), B&N is you next best bet! (no matter how low the Amazon and Walmart algorithms go...and they do go low.)
Sorcerer 4K
A reimagining of The Wages of Fear directed by master filmmaker William Friedken, scored by the fantastic Tangerine Dream, starring Roy Scheider, and honestly what more could you ask for?! This is one of those releases that best exemplifies Criterion's releases in practically every way. The film has been restored in 4K and in a different aspect ratio (1:85, formally 1:78), but apparently has some typical teal leaning color grading that has been running rampant in recent memory (although the previous Blu-ray had similar color timing). It comes with a Blu-ray copy for those still waiting to upgrade to 4K and an additional disc of special features including a full length documentary Friedkin Uncut and a handful of interviews likely including this conversation from 2015 between Friedkin and filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn that is as informative as it is uncomfortably entertaining.
This is a big one for me. In a career that is constantly getting masterpiece after masterpiece add to it, Punch Drunk Love is an interestingly high watermark for Paul Thomas Anderson. PDL is an beautiful film that is strange, funny, alien, loving, and above all else expertly made. The Blu-Ray is gorgeous as is and recommends that you watch the film at high brightness and extreme saturation, which I would be interested in seeing if it translates to a 4K Dobly Vision version of the film.
David Lynch's TV pilot turned early 21st century masterpiece is a must for film fans. It's a wonderful distillation of Lynch's most constant themes (women in trouble, duality, complex narrative structure, emotional extremes, guys in unique outfits says mysterious things, etc) sent through the most complex filter that, to Lynch, couldn't have been more simple. The film's logic relies on emotional resonance over direct narrative logic, making for a intense experience. Confusing as well, but only if you let it be.
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown Realistically, you should get any or all of Perdo Almodovar's films in the collection, but there is something special about his final movie of the 80s. I think a lot of analysis of the film's themes lose something in the translation, but this suicidal turned murderous portrayal of a woman scorned and all the speed bumps along the way is hilariously fun and looks utterly fabulous. The movie just screams 80s via Spain and is just marvelous to look at.
Jonathon Demme's wild ride is far more than it seems. Mild mannered Charlie Driggs (portrayed by Jeff Daniels) gets whisked away from his by the number life by Lulu (an amazing Melanie Griffith) and careens in to a sex filled journey into the south. As the film peels back layer after layer to expose more and more complexities, Something Wild becomes essential viewing. It's a journey of self discovery well past the point one ever thinks of having something new to discover. This is also Ray Liotta's second film and is so fully formed as his character it's honestly scary. Let's not forget the stellar soundtrack which is massive and eclectic as all get out.
I could go on and on but I'll leave you with a rap[id fire list of other titles you should be on the look out this Barnes and Noble 50% Criterion Collection Sale season!
Before Trilogy - Richard Linkater's first go at in-real-time film-making that eventually won him an Academy Award with Boyhood.
Blood Simple - The Coen Brothers' first film and by sheer coincidence, their first masterpiece.
Brazil 4K - Terry Gilliam's bureaucratic nightmare in 4K is a must!
Broadcast News - Prescient and a realistic look at complex adult relationships and the new industry by the incredible James L Brooks.
Crash - Cars, sex, and Cronenberg. Need i say more?
Godzilla vs. Biollante 4K - Easily one of the best Godzilla Movies
Le samouraï - The ultrimate cool, silent protaganist movie!
The Tree of Life - Terence Malick at the height of his "find the movie in the edit" film-making.
Thief 4K - A neo noir set in Chicago filmed by a young Michael Mann? Yes please.
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