We’re over here, mate!
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Aboslutely not. Except, of course, for that ravishing garden scene in which Cate Blanchett dances silently for Benjamin. But the Criterion treatment for that one scene? I think not.
Only time will tell. But it does prove that David Fincher can do period movies. I think it’s as important as Danny Boyle doing Slumdog Millionaire. You may not love the movie but it will give the director more work.
I haven’t seen Benjamin Button yet, but, that aside, does it occur to anyone that the Criterion Collection needs to make money, too, like any other business?
I didn’t like that movie at all. I got bored and for the characters, I disliked Cate Blanchett’s rol; it wasn’t believable at all. Let’s not even mention Brad Pitt. He was just average and quite boring. No, it doesnt deserve the Criterion treatment in my very humble opinion.
I think it’s up to Criterion to decide what films are ‘worthy’ of the treatment. This film is important for the advances in CGI alone. I particularly liked the scene with the u-boat. Breathtaking.
Also, to all those claiming this is a Forrest Gump ‘rip-off’: you know both screenplays were written by the same guy, right? Eric Roth?
No.
Samurai, yeah it was written by the same guy…and it later came out that he pretty much just took his first screenplay and redid it. Even Ebert on his site said there would probably actually be booing had Roth won for best Adapted screenplay. He took the lazy route and took his own formula and changed it up a little bit.
As for the movie, I think it’s great that Criterion is able to do movies that are coming right out. They’re doing it with Revanche too. And if movies like Armageddon count, then why not this?
I completely agree with you Dorothee. The Criterion specifically says in its mission statement that they don’t want to be “Snobbish” when it comes to selecting films. Go through the list and look at all the ones I’m sure you’d consider “unworthy” of the Criterion treatment, Equinox, Robocop, The Rock, Armageddon, actually go through the list and see if it shouldn’t be up there.
Why do we have three threads about the same damn thing?
No. This is another film that comes out simply to grab the Academy’s attention in hopes of winning some Oscars. I’m disappointed Criterion would praise that.
you have to be kidding me
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It’s bad enough stuff like this keeps getting started, at least let it die.
OK NO MORE!!! I DON’T WANT TO BE REMINDED OF THIS ATROCITY ANY LONGER!!! THE HORROR!!!!! THE HORROR!!!! EXTERMINATE THE BRUTES!!
but seriously, criterion was high when they had this idea.
I’m a rare Button defender I guess. I liked it better than Slumdog, Milk, etc, although it didn’t approach top films of the year like The Wrestler and Waltz With Bashir. I’m glad its getting the Criterion treatment because while its not perfect there are some great individual scenes in there (dancing scene, car crash sequence), and has one of the most epic lines I’ve heard in quite some time (SPOILERS: when button is a baby, Blanchett says something to the effect of “I saw him look at me and for a moment I saw a hint of recognition. Then he was gone.” END SPOILERS). Say what you will about Oscar-bait movies but at least its not a biopic (Milk, Ray), period drama (too many to count) WW2 drama (The Reader), or some “true story” BS (Pursuit of Happiness, the upcoming Soloist).
http://www.theauteurs.com/topics/1798/comments
Is it really that hard to click a link? Seriously, let the thread die!
It’s a good movie but not great. It will disappear over the years like so many pretenders before.
Fucking snobs.
No, it’s not…other Fincher films would be better but really…outside of the $$$ that’s going to be created from the sales of this title, I don’t see any possible reason it was included.
IS “BENJAMIN BUTTON” WORTHY OF BEING IN THE COLLECTION?
NO!
If $$$ is the reason for its Criterion treatment, then it’s still not worth it. A Criterion release of “17 Again” or “Hannah Montana the Movie” would’ve made more money.
Lord God no. I would never put myself through that 3 hour Gucci commercial again. Disgusting.
Who cares? Criterion is a DVD company. Not an elite social club.
its hard to say, because i dont think everything in the collection is that great, and i am sure many people liked the movie.
all i know is that it wont make it to my shelf
People have been awfully harsh on “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, and while I do not think it is deserving of the Criterion label, I also do not think it has deserved the backlash it has faced since its release. I found the film to be an effective, serene mood piece. It is a powerful film in a quiet way, and in spite of the obvious fact that it contains little commentary and life and death and the passage of time. Did it deserve a best picture nomination? I don’t think so, myself, but I do consider it among the better films of 2008.
That said, if Armageddon is deserving of the Criterion label, well…
P.S. if the Criterion committee wants to preserve a great film from 2008 that will otherwise be forgotten, I suggest “Synecdoche, New York”.
I’m with Justin Marble – I really enjoyed it. I don’t think it was an Oscar/money-spinner. Does a film have to be foreign or low-budget to be considered original? Are ‘mainstream’ actors such as Brad and Cate instantly a desperate plan to get more nominations or are they casted for their talent? Eric Roth wrote both the screenplays, sure, and while Benjamin Button and Forrest Gump are similar characters in their outlook on life, that could be said of many heroes of cinema history. I mean, we could argue that Wes Anderson writes the same characters time and time again (don’t get me wrong, I love the guy). Besides, who are we to say what gets in or not? I agree with Rory O’Rear, it’s not a social club.
I’m with Justin Marble – I really enjoyed it. I don’t think it was an Oscar/money-spinner. Does a film have to be foreign or low-budget to be considered original? Are ‘mainstream’ actors such as Brad and Cate instantly a desperate plan to get more nominations or are they casted for their talent? Eric Roth wrote both the screenplays, sure, and while Benjamin Button and Forrest Gump are similar characters in their outlook on life, that could be said of many heroes of cinema history. I mean, we could argue that Wes Anderson writes the same characters time and time again (don’t get me wrong, I love the guy). Besides, who are we to say what gets in or not? I agree with Rory O’Rear, it’s not a social club.
I’m with Justin Marble – I really enjoyed it. I don’t think it was an Oscar/money-spinner. Does a film have to be foreign or low-budget to be considered original? Are ‘mainstream’ actors such as Brad and Cate instantly a desperate plan to get more nominations or are they casted for their talent? Eric Roth wrote both the screenplays, sure, and while Benjamin Button and Forrest Gump are similar characters in their outlook on life, that could be said of many heroes of cinema history. I mean, we could argue that Wes Anderson writes the same characters time and time again (don’t get me wrong, I love the guy). Besides, who are we to say what gets in or not? I agree with Rory O’Rear, it’s not a social club.
This is a fucking joke right! If any film this year deserves that prominence it is “The Wrestler”. Brad Pitt hasn’t performed to a forever standard since….I can’t remember him having a timeless role.
i love this film
bottomboy
i watched Benjamin Button when it came out and frankly, no offense to Criterion but…
it wasn’t anything special…
if anything, to me, it was just another over-hyped Hollywood flick with a slightly interesting though far-from-spectacular story…
(as well as being…ahem…a ripoff of Forrest Gump)
(though, because it was written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it predates Forrest Gump…basically, they’re the same film is what i’m getting at)
so, is “Benjamin Button” truly deserving of having the Criterion treatment…
or, should we list it under the “questionable additions” category alongside “The Rock” and “Armageddon”?