Film_476w_benbutton

10 Films Upstaged By The Supplements

by Narrator

Created 07/03/12

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9 comments
★ 4

Some of these films are quite good, so this list is a testament to the strength of Criterion's supplements

  • Film_476w_benbutton_w160

    1.
    The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

    David Fincher

    The film, I feel, is Fincher's weakest by a country mile. However, Fincher's commentary and the exhaustive making-of documentary are worth the purchase.

  • Armeggedonw_w160

    2.
    Armageddon

    Michael Bay

    The film is a terrible, overlong, jingoistic mess, but the audio commentary is absolutely hilarious.

  • Film_597w_tiny_furniture_w160

    3.
    Tiny Furniture

    Lena Dunham

    Personally, I don't get all the hatred on various forum for this film. It's a quietly amusing indie film. However, the supplements best it, because they give a nice picture of a potential talent.

  • Film_548w_safeplace_w160

    4.
    A Safe Place

    Henry Jaglom

    This film is a mess, and Jaglom's attempts to explain it need to be seen.

  • Film_540w_darjeelinglimited_w160

    5.
    The Darjeeling Limited

    Wes Anderson

    The film is probably Anderson's weakest film to date (I still like it, though). However, the supplements are both informative (the commentary, the visual essay) and entertaining (Anderson's American Express commercial, "the Trophy Case").

  • Amy_w160

    6.
    Chasing Amy

    Kevin Smith

    The one reason I keep my Criterion DVD is because of the exclusive commentary. It's not included on the Blu-Ray, and it's one of the funniest tracks I've ever heard.

  • Film_338w_equinox_w160

    7.
    Equinox

    Jack Woods

    This could be one of my favorite packages in the Collection. The film itself is b-movie trash, but the supplements are a fascinating look at the very talented people behind it.

  • Film_410w_undervolcano_w160

    8.
    Under the Volcano

    John Huston

    Albert Finney's performance in the film itself is one of his best ever, but it's Disc 2 that makes this release special, with an hour-long documentary on the film and the Oscar-nominated doc Volcano, about the source material's author.

  • Film_515w_fugitivekind_w160

    9.
    The Fugitive Kind

    Sidney Lumet

    The film is not one of Lumet's best, but I love the interview with him on Disc 2, as well as the compilation of Tennessee Williams plays adapted for television.

  • Film_601t_letterneversent_w160

    10.
    Letter Never Sent

    Mikhail Kalatozov

    Of course, the film is an undiscovered classic, but the supplements are of another world. The commentary with Steven Soderbergh, Terrence Malick, and Steven Spielberg was something I thought I'd never see, and the appreciation by Armond White was surprisingly well-articulated.

9 comments

  • By Daniel-S
    July 04, 2012
    05:45 PM

    I'm surprised that F For Fake isn't on the list. I think that the documentary on Welles' unreleased projects and the audio from Howard Hughes' last interview make that a must have more than the film itself.
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  • By Drew Phillips
    July 05, 2012
    10:01 PM

    I'm sorry but I really really like a ton of these flicks. That being said, I think when talking about a set being upstaged by it's supplements, Beastie Boys anthology and Mr. Arkadin (love the movie but Jesus H. Christ is that sucker packed!)
    Reply

  • By Drew Phillips
    July 05, 2012
    10:03 PM

    Also, in regard to LNS; (dryly) Ha.
    Reply

  • By Craig J. Clark
    July 16, 2012
    04:21 PM

    Congratulations, you have just convinced me to give A SAFE PLACE's commentary a listen. Since that's the only dud in the BBS set, I was all set to give it a pass.
    Reply

  • By David MacDonald
    September 20, 2012
    01:22 PM

    Duuude, Chasing Amy's commentary is one of the best tracks ever! One of the main reasons I ever buy Kevin Smith's movie are for his commentaries. Terry Gilliam does awesome ones too.
    Reply

  • By MaxKath
    November 04, 2012
    03:03 PM

    I have to admit to a grudging respect for Armageddon. Yeah, it's a mess, but the fact that it really doesn't even try to ground itself in reality means it knows not to take itself too seriously. On the other hand the fact that it's so melodramatic seems to indicate that we should take this VERY seriously.
    Reply

  • By DavyWalker
    December 12, 2012
    08:33 PM

    Great list, although both films mentioned of Anderson and Fincher as the weakest, happen to be my favorites of each director haha To each their own.
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    • By DavyWalker
      December 12, 2012
      08:40 PM

      That being said, I do think Royal Tennenbaums is Anderson's best film. It's just that Darjeeling is my favorite.

  • By AndySunshine
    January 07, 2013
    11:42 PM

    It took me way too long to figure out that the Letter Never Sent part was a joke.
    Reply

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