Über die Mai-Veröffentlichungen des New Yorker Labels Criterion habe ich erst vor ein paar Tagen berichtet. Allerdings hat sich jetzt herausgestellt, daß die Liste noch nicht ganz vollständig war, denn David Finchers “Der seltsame Fall des Benjamin Button / The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” [USA 2008] mit Brad Pitt und Cate Blanchett wird ebenfalls das “Wacky C”-Logo tragen. Zumindest wird dies bei der Doppel-DVD und der 2-Disc-Blu-ray der Fall sein, auf der Einzel-DVD wird nur das Logo des Rechteinhabers Paramount zu sehen sein. Dies ist nicht das erste Mal, daß Criterion derart eng und offensichtlich mit einem anderen Label zusammenarbeitet, denn bereits die DVD zu Wes Andersons “Die Tiefseetaucher / The Live Aquatic with Steve Zissou” wurde vom Rechteinhaber Buena Vista vertrieben, wies aber das Criterion-Logo und Cover-Artwork auf.

Dies ist der dritte David Fincher-Film, der innerhalb der Criterion Collection erscheint. “Sieben / Se7en” und “The Game” waren damals als Criterion-LaserDiscs erhältlich. Im Criterion Forum wird bereits darüber diskutiert, ob “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” überhaupt einer Criterion-Veröffentlichung würdig sei. Trotz der überwiegend positiven Kritiken, der 13 Oscar-Nominierungen und der drei Oscar-Gewinne gehen die Meinungen eher in die Richtung, er sei es nicht. Da muß ich mich anschließen.

Wie bereits gemeldet, erscheint die 150 Millionen Dollar-Produktion hierzulande am 29. Mai 2009 auf DVD und Blu-ray, allerdings bei Warner Bros..

Die Pressemitteilung:

Groundbreaking Winner of Three Academy Awards® Makes Home Entertainment Debut

BRAD PITT STARS IN DIRECTOR DAVID FINCHER’S SWEEPING EPIC NAMED BY OVER 150 CRITICS AS ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
One of the Year’s Most Critically-Acclaimed Films Arrives May 5, 2009 On Two-Disc Special Edition DVD and Two-Disc Blu-ray Brimming with Over Three Hours of Fascinating Special Features

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – A thrilling adventure and captivating story of one man’s unusual and enchanted life, director David Fincher’s Academy Award®-winning film THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON debuts as a two-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray on May 5, 2009 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Called “a monumental achievement” that “must be experienced” (Rex Reed, New York Observer), the film stars Academy Award nominee Brad Pitt who “does his best work ever” (Lou Lumenick, New York Post) and Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett who “is simply dazzling” (Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal) in an exhilarating adventure that takes viewers on a breathtaking journey filled with romance and redemption. Nominated for 13 Academy Awards and winner for Best Visual Effects, Art Direction and Makeup, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON also stars Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson (Hustle & Flow), Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton) and Julia Ormond (Legends of the Fall)) in a grand tale of a not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys and romance of life and what lasts beyond time.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON two-disc DVD and two-disc Blu-ray boast over three hours of enthralling special features including interviews with stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with behind-the-scenes footage of their astonishing on-screen transformations, an in-depth documentary revealing the unusual journey of the film itself including the secrets of its award-winning visual effects and an exploration of the groundbreaking computer wizardry that brought the magical world of Benjamin Button to life.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON DVD & Blu-ray

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON two-disc and single-disc DVD are presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with Dolby Digital English 5.1 Surround, French 5.1 Surround and Spanish 5.1 Surround and English, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio™, French 5.1 Dolby Digital and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles. The two-disc Criterion Edition DVD and two-disc Criterion Blu-ray include the following special features:

• The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button—four-part documentary:
  • Academy Award-nominated director David Fincher introduces the surprising beginnings of what would become an epic masterpiece including the casting of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, the decision to change the location of the story to New Orleans and more.
  • Follow the production from day one including the challenges of aging Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, designing over five thousand costumes and creating the animatronic baby.
  • Explore the incredible visual effects techniques created specifically for the film that allowed Brad Pitt to play the title character at virtually every age. Also includes a visit to the scoring stage with composer Alexandre Desplat.
  • Walk the red carpet at the film’s premiere in New Orleans, with final thoughts from cast and crew.
• Audio Commentary by director David Fincher

There is also a single-disc DVD presentation that includes the feature film.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Street Date: May 5, 2009
Pricing: $29.99 U.S./$36.99 Canada (Single-Disc DVD)
$39.99 U.S./$45.99 Canada (Two-Disc Criterion DVD)
$39.99 U.S./$45.99 Canada (Two-Disc Criterion Blu-ray)
Runtime: 165 minutes
U.S. Rating: PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking
Canadian Rating: PG for mature theme and coarse language