Episode 213 – Criterion Collection Favorites of 2021

In our annual episode focusing on The Criterion Collection’s releases from the past year – and there’s a lot to celebrate – we’ve assembled the entire podcasting crew from CriterionCast to share our favorite releases of 2021. David Blakeslee from Criterion Reflections hosts this discussion, which also includes Trevor Berrett (Inside the Box), Aaron West and Jill Blake (Criterion Now), Josh Hornbeck (Criterion Channel Surfing), along with longtime contributors to the site Arik Devens, Jordan Essoe and Scott Nye.

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Episode Notes Arik’s List

• Favorite Cover/Packaging: Trances by Tawfiq Dawi/Hey Porter!
• Favorite Releases
  1. The Signifyin’ Works of Marlon Riggs
  2. Original Cast Album: “Company”
  3. The Parallax View

Jordan’s List

• Favorite Cover/Packaging: The Damned by George Pratt
• Favorite Releases
  1. Mirror
  2. Man Push Cart / Chop Shop
  3. The Incredible Shrinking Man

Scott’s List

• Favorite Cover/Packaging: Flowers of Shanghai by Victo Ngai
• Favorite Releases
  1. Mirror
  2. Citizen Kane
  3. Bringing Up Baby

Aaron’s List

• Favorite Cover/Packaging: Citizen Kane by Mike McQuade
• Favorite Releases
  1. The Signifyin’ Works of Marlon Riggs
  2. Original Cast Album: “Company”
  3. High Sierra

Jill’s List

• Favorite Cover/Packaging: Citizen Kane by Mike McQuade
• Favorite Releases
  1. Merrily We Go to Hell
  2. Nightmare Alley
  3. Bringing Up Baby

Josh’s List

• Favorite Cover/Packaging: Melvin Van Peebles: Essential Films by Emory Douglas/Slang Inc.
• Favorite Releases
  1. Mandabi
  2. Love & Basketball
  3. Minding the Gap

Trevor’s List

• Favorite Cover/Packaging: Céline and Julie Go Boating by Lauren Tamaki
• Favorite Releases
  1. The Ascent
  2. Memories of Murder
  3. Throw Down 

David’s List

• Favorite Cover/Packaging: Uncut Gems by Inez & Vanoodh
• Favorite Releases
  1. Mirror
  2. Céline and Julie Go Boating
  3. Three Films by Luis Buñuel

Episode Credits

• Arik Devens (Twitter / Website)
• Jordan Essoe (Twitter / Website)
• Scott Nye (Twitter / Website)
• Aaron West (Twitter)
• Jill Blake (Twitter / Website )
• Josh Hornbeck (Twitter / Website)
• Trevor Berrett (Twitter / Website)
• David Blakeslee (Twitter / Website)

Past Favorites of the Year Episodes

• Episode 212 – Criterion Collection Favorites of 2020
• Episode 202 – Criterion Collection Favorites of 2019
• Episode 195 – Criterion Collection Favorites of 2018
• Episode 189: Criterion Collection Favorites of 2017
• Episode 180: Criterion Collection Favorites of 2016
• Episode 167: Criterion Collection Favorites of 2015
• Episode 152: Our Favorite Criterion Collection Releases from 2014
• Episode 145: Our Favorite Criterion Collection Releases from 2013
• Episode 135: Favorite Criterion Collection Releases of 2012
• Episode 108: Our Favorite Criterion Collection Releases of 2011
• Episode 63.5: Top Criterion Collection Releases of 2010