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Benjamin Buttons
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Tara
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Dec 30, 2008 11:53AM
I just saw the movie The Curious Case On Bejamin Buttons and absolutley loved it. It's a long movie but I didn't even notice. I don't buy many movies but will definatley add this to my collection when it comes out!
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I liked it didn't love it though. Cate Blanchett was awesome and so were the special effects.
I became absorbed in the movie but didn't love it. My fav was Tilda Swinton - she lit up the screen. Good acting in the film - but somehow the story did not satisy.
I talked about this in movies just watched. I thought the movie was way too long. It barely followed the book. I felt it turned Forrest Gumpish. The make up was fantastic but it just didn't do it for me.
I mentioned this in Movies Just Watched, too. Here's my review:A strange choice for director David Fincher. There’s no denying the visual impact of his best work, but there’s also no denying the emotional coldness either. SEVEN and FIGHT CLUB are two of the most famous examples of Bleak Chic, films that revel in their own status as Hip Cynical Bummers. ZODIAC upped the ante a good deal, combining Fincher’s trademark visual finesse with a group of characters that seemed to have some connection to reality. BENJAMIN BUTTON seems to offer Fincher the chance to join the Major Director Club, to move from Chilly Technician to Soulful Visionary. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON has all the heart and soul and passion and warmth of a three-hour press conference with Dick Cheney.
BENJAMIN BUTTON is the story of a man who ages in reverse. Born as a miniature version of an old man, an infant with gray hair and arthritis, he gradually gets younger as he gets older. He gets more limber, his hair gains color, and he basically becomes Brad Pitt (a mixed blessing, as it turns out). Benjamin’s journey from Youthful Old Age to Aged Youthfulness spans about 80 years from WWI to Hurricane Katrina, he witnesses assorted Big Events of the Century, and occasionally meets up with his One True Love Daisy, played by Cate Blanchett.
Comparisons with FORREST GUMP can’t be avoided, and BUTTON has GUMP’s screenwriter, one Eric Roth. GUMP and BUTTON are both set in a Louisiana where things like race and money are never issues. Benjamin’s youthful use of crutches to walk echoes Forrest’s “magic legs,” and the on-again off-again decade-hopping romance between Benjamin and Daisy is a replay of Forrest’s affair with the doomed Jenny. BUTTON has a strange symbolic hummingbird that implausibly shows up at strategic times, a la GUMP’s famous feather. Roth also tosses in elements of THE ENGLISH PATIENT, in a framing device showing Daisy on her deathbed having her daughter read Benjamin’s diary to her as Hurricane Katrina prepares to rage outside.
Think about it. A combination of FORREST GUMP and THE ENGLISH PATIENT.
Still with me? The movie aims hard at being a fantastic-type meditation on time, love and loss. All the signifiers of Hollywood’s version of Serious Cinema are there: luscious production values, cutting edge technology, Oscar-winning actors from abroad, distinguished literary pedigree, nearly three hour length and all that. The movie is a big fat piece of Oscar bait, perhaps the most blatant since the atrocious COLD MOUNTAIN. Fincher seems to have studied Anthony Minghella closely, as it happens: no film since Minghella’s passing shows his influence so thoroughly. There’s a total lack of passion and energy that the director of THE ENGLISH PATIENT and COLD MOUNTAIN would instantly recognize as his own, combined with that Mingellian Delusion Of Relevance that makes his films such agony to sit through. The film goes through its carefully orchestrated and arranged and computer generated paces, each narrative and technological cog clicking into place like the creation of the blind clockmaker in the film’s opening anecdote. Fincher, alas, is no visionary. He’s a mechanic, more interested in showing off his techno-toolbox than anything else.
The cutting edge technology is most particularly in evidence in the depiction of Benjamin’s reverse aging. They seem to have used a variety of actors of assorted sizes and added an aged version of Brad Pitt’s face to them where necessary. The results don’t really work terribly well, I don’t think, especially in the first half of the film where Pitt looks more like 70s singer/songwriter Paul Williams than anything else. Pitt doesn’t suffer alone. The process by which Cate Blanchett is made to look about 20 years younger than she is comes off like some hideous page out of Airbrushing For Beginners. These effects keep calling attention to themselves, at the expense of the characters and ultimately the film. It eventually settles down a bit, by the time that Pitt and Blanchett are supposed to be near the same age and can play their roles without techno-cosmetic assistance, when Fincher starts to load on the lingering closeups of Pitt’s astonishing beauty, but it is too little too late.
I’ll say it clearly, because nobody else will. At heart, the film’s biggest problem is right there on the poster and above the title. Brad Pitt’s alleged performance is a colossal bore, a great black hole that sucks the energy out of all that surrounds it. There’s a certain possible justification for some of it, I guess. Benjamin Button is after all a freak of nature. He is fully aware of his difference, and aware of how it might be seen by others, and a certain emotional reserve might be an interesting starting point for an actor to build a performance on. For Pitt, this reserve is the final destination, the beginning middle and end of his attempt at a performance. It isn’t just a matter of the digital tweaking to make him look older or younger. There’s just nothing there. His voice is a flat uninflected monotone. His eyes are unlit with any sign of life. Tens of millions of dollars worth of CGI aging technology and a battery of technicians can’t add life where Pitt doesn’t. Just watch what happens when the sublime Tilda Swinton appears onscreen with Pitt. She lights up the screen in a way that poor old Brad just can’t come near, and quite simply obliterates him. It could be argued that Swinton’s performance is also the one in the film least affected by CGI and latex, but it is more than that. She steals the film by sheer acting ability alone, showing more humanity in one single smile than the rest of the film is able to summon in its entirely indefensible three hour running time.
Life’s too short. Avoid this one. You’re not missing a thing.
What was funny about my film experience, was that as I was watching it and comparing it to Forrest Gump I was saying I know Tom is going to hate this movie, I can't wait to read his review. I think you were kind in the comparison to Gump.
Great review Tom! Thanks for taking the time to write an in-depth and honest review, making your points perfectly clear. I was going to skip this one anyway, even though Fincher's last film ZODIAC was very good. Wasn't this premise just explored by Francis Ford Coppola in YOUTH WITHOUT YOUTH? Tim Roth's performance is a bit standoffish and the film generally a bore. Here's a excerpt of my review which encapsulates my feelings precisely: "Coppola’s film is too concerned with exposition which grinds the plot to a halt, making this intelligent story a bit of a bore…like sitting through a philosophy lecture with a hangover." (C)
Tom - terrific review - putting into words much of what I was thinking. Tilda also captured me with her warmth - how could Benjamin think she was 'rather plain'! Special effects + celebrities + pseudo contemplation re meaning of life does not = good film.
This move was absolutely boring! Way too long at 160 mins and the irony is that it is based on a SHORT story...............!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I may have missed it but does anyone have a problem with Forrest Gump? I thought that it was basically a flawed moral tale...essentially elevating lack of ability/intelligence, etc. as something for which to strive.
i liked this movie. i've actually been thinking about it quite a bit since i saw it, but i'm not sure that's a good thing. i feel like i can't quite "get it." like, they at first had a purpose in mind, but then got lost in the telling of the story. as beautiful as i thought the telling was, it lacked something. i would really like to read the actual short story and then see the movie again. i'm sure fitzgerald goes deeper into the meaning and the "stuff" of the story, instead of just telling it beautifully.that being said, cate blanchett and tilda swinton have to be two of the best actresses in history. every time i see either of them in a film, i am blown away by the genuineness with which they can play their many versatile roles.
I really enjoyed this movie--a powerful story about love and loss that reminded me of FORREST GUMP...
Ed, if the movie should be seen it all, it should be seen on a big screen, I guess. The film is very well made, and the technical and design elements are most impressive. I can't imagine how BB will come off on video.
I saw Benjamin Button and it did absolutely nothing for me. I have read the reviews, after the fact, and seen what I was supposed to get, but didn't. It was too long. I didn't think that Brad Pitt or Cate Blanchett did anything terribly special. I found all the characters a little weak. If it weren't for the gimmick of the aging backwards, there wouldn't be anything to it. It is pretty to look at. And the visual effects were impressive. But I didn't get lost in it. I just kept waiting for something to happen. I wanted Benjamin to have a purpose, a reason for his special life. But it just left me kind of cold.
great review tom! and i think mixing forrest gump with english patient was perfect! i loved the movie forrest gump but i like elaine on seinfeld hated english patient! i felt like the end of the movie was a given. his life is in reverse...they meet in the middle....it doesn't work out.....problem is the 2 1/2 hours to tell that simple story left me not caring. i didn't feel any emotional connection with either character.
Forrest Gump + English Patient? Ugh, sounds terrible. I was going to see this tomorrow but now I probably won't. Thanks for the heads up
I just kept thinking of Blanchett's role as Hepburn in the Aviator - disappointing. While it was a fine way to spend a night with some girlfriends, I wouldn't watch it again. Perhaps, because of the excessive hype, I was just expecting too much.
For those of you thinking of seeing THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, you may have already seen it about 15 years ago. See the below clip:http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/1d76...
OMG I SO WANTED TO SEE THAT MOVIE HOW WAS IT?
My husband and I saw it the other night....I could tell he didn't like it as he fidgeted and got up twice during the movie....but didn't realize he would only give it a 1. I was surprised to find I would not like it as well as expected either. I would give it a strong 3 however. I am surprised at all the awards it has been nominated for. I loved Twila as well in this movie ande that particular part of the movie. If this movie gets any of the major awards I will be very disapointed in the Oscar system to say the least.
nice work, tom. while you were summing up pitt, i couldn't help but remember his performance in interview with a vampire - a role that also offered him some weight and meat, but he chose to dwell in sonambulism. this is basically why i avoided it - i couldn't bear to see great actors like blanchett and swinton urging him to do something and him not responding. what a drag that fincher went from zodiac, which i liked a lot, to this.
I really really liked this. I am surprised it was not well-received here. It wasn't the best movie I had ever seen, but certainly heart-felt and very sweet.
We can continue ranting about Blanchett's acting and Pitt's "so-called still acting" but let's not forget that being an actor or actress is not that simple or making a movie is not easy as well especially if it comes from a very well-known novel. I appreciate the movie as much as I appreciate the novel. In my opinion, I was not really looking at the actors who portray the role but the story itself which really touched me. This sums it up to a two-thumbs up movie.
I watched this thinking it would be rather boring, but I was surprised that I actually ended up liking it. Certainly, the cinematography is beautiful, but I also was caught up by the particulars of Button's life and the characters he meets. Not only is Swinton great in this, but I liked the tugboat captain as well. I always like Cate Blanchett, even when she's not given much to do (as is the case here). I would say for anyone who avoided this simply based on reviews, to give it a try - you never know what your own individual opinion will be. Again, a pleasant surprise.
Such a totes KEWL movie I love to look at Brad Pitt he's so HAWTT he makes me hungry if you know what I mean even when hes got all that makeup on and I reely liked the movies message about how you have to have a life even if your living backwards becuz if your living like you dont know whats coming your going to have a better time and if you think you know what yer going to get you dont like in a box of choclits you think you know but you have to look on the bottom of the box to see if your getting nuts or carmel or that trufel stuff see I always talk about fud when I talk about Brad Pitt he's so dreamy or do I mean creamy LOL!!!!
I quite enjoyed this film... didn't think I would but I did. It's a beautiful, haunting, sad movie, and Cate Blanchett is awesome, once again.
From what I've talked about with friends about this movie, folks either love it or hate it. I loved it. And I must admit I kept waiting for the "real" Brad Pitt to appear....and when the scene opened with him on the motorcycle, or was it when he visited her in the hospital, I can't remember which came first, I was like Ahhhh, there you are - LOL.
LOL!!! When watching Benjamin Button at the cinema, I heard that "ahhhh" when Brad emerged in all his true glory! All the women sighed (and probably the gay guys too). Especially that scene on the boat, wow! Made me laugh... :D
I just watched it tonight and although I thought it was kind of stretched out I still really enjoyed it.
I have avoided this thread for months.I wanted to see the movie myself before reading any of your comments.
One of my cousins gave this movie a left handed compliment. He doesnt generally like movies that arent action/adventure. He said he was going to his local cineplex to see another movie. He had some time to kill, so he snuck into Benjamin Button to see a few minutes before heading to the other movie. Besides, he had promissed his girlfriend they would see it together when she came back from her trip.
In anycase, he said the movie enthralled him to stay and see it through, all the while standing up, because there werent any empty seats.
I liked it more than Tom, but
I still felt the main characters lacked a certain spark to really generate the chemistry neccessary to carry a love affair through most of the 20th century.
I didnt really care that the make-up looked a bit off, this is a fantasy after all and we've already bought into the premise that Brad Pitt will age in reverse.
Yes I think I liked the female roles a lot better than Pitt's.
Coincidentally, my Netflix que had just sent me Cate Blanchette's Elizabeth/Golden Age. Not her best role either, but it clearly shows Ms. Blanchette has a wonderful range as an actress.
I think Benjamin Button is a good film, though not great. Its like looking at a picture of a beautiful meal, its pretty, but far from satisfying.
Its the kind of movie that makes you think about what you go through when you really love someone.
