The Criterion Collection
Sneak Peeks
Oct 28, 2019 — With his fifth feature, the coal-mining saga Matewan, independent filmmaker John Sayles gathered an impressive group of collaborators—among them cinematographer Haskell Wexler and actors James Earl Jones, Chris Cooper, and Will Oldham—to make a drama on a subject that had...
Oct 29, 2019 — Matewan opens in the pitch-black darkness of a West Virginia coal mine. A miner lights the carbide lamp on his helmet. The small open flame he wears provides the only flicker of light in this cramped space next to a...
The director and cowriter of WALL·E shares why Paper Moon and Local Hero speak to his heart, reminisces about the privilege of collaborating with Albert Brooks, and talks about why Matewan is an essential film for everyone to see.
During the production of our release of Matewan, the first Sayles film in the collection, the director paid us a visit and talked about some of his formative moviegoing experiences.
Sep 30, 2014 — Singer-songwriter and occasional film actor Will Oldham has released eighteen albums, appeared in such films as Matewan (1987), Junebug (2005), Old Joy (2006), and Wendy and Lucy (2008), and teamed with David Byrne to compose the score for This Must...
Features
Jan 5, 2016 — The late Haskell Wexler wore many hats—he was an independent, impassioned documentarian; a commercial Hollywood cinematographer; a political and social activist; an institutional (even union) contrarian. He was also an exemplar of how to live.
The Daily
Jun 9, 2026 — The screenwriter, director, and novelist will take an active part in all ten screenings in a TIFF Cinematheque series.
The Daily
Sep 10, 2024 — A commanding presence on the stage and on movie and television screens, Jones could perform wonders with that voice.
Essays
Jan 16, 2024 — Drawing on the influence of a wide range of genres, John Sayles creates a densely layered narrative that unfolds across two timelines and explores the long-hidden secrets of a small border town in Texas.
The Daily
Dec 22, 2023 — An appreciation of Raúl Ruiz, a chat with Maggie Renzi and John Sayles, and a holiday lightning round.