I did a list of what I considered to be (at the time) the Top Ten Heist Films back in March of ’08 and it Criterion is set to release a pair of films from said list in January.
The first is Michael Mann‘s first feature film, Thief (1/14) starring James Caan as an ex-con safecracker who gets caught up with a local gangster and a diamond heist that gets him in over his head. Included is an audio commentary featuring Mann and Caan, which I believe is available on the already released DVD, along with new interviews with Mann, Caan and Johannes Schmoelling of the band Tangerine Dream, which contributed the film’s much-talked-about soundtrack.
Next is a film I recently stumped you guys on with my inaugural “Can You Guess All the Movies?” post, that being Jules Dassin‘s Rififi (1/14) centering on a crew of four ex-cons planning a Paris heist. Drenched in wonderful black-and-white cinematography this is one that should look amazing on this Blu-ray upgrade.
Of the selection of new titles, the only other one I’ve seen (and enjoy) is Akira Kurosawa‘s Throne of Blood (1/7), which is his take on Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” featuring Toshiro Mifune. It too is a Blu-ray upgrade from the previously released DVD.
Additional titles being released include a new entry into Criterion’s Eclipse series with three films from the late career of Satyajit Ray, Stanley Kramer‘s It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1/21), Aki Kaurismäki‘s La vie de bohème (1/21) and Terence Davies‘ The Long Day Closes (1/28).
You can get more info on each release at Criterion’s site right here.
