The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Put simply, this is a gorgeous movie.
“Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward.” - Søren Aaby Kierkegaard
Wonderful acting all around, terrific cinematography, intriguing story…it has all the necessary elements for something genius. Thankfully, David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac) puts it all together into a stirring, sweeping love story based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story about a boy who is born old and ages backward physically.
David Fincher + Brad Pitt = Awesome. (See also: Fight Club, Se7en)
Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett are both absolutely brilliant as Benjamin and Daisy and Taraji P. Henson breathes life into Benjamin’s adopted mother Queenie. Also featured is Tilda Swinton, who I still don’t like very much, but she does a fine job here. I’d have preferred someone else, but whatever.
Set against the backdrop of current-day Hurricane Katrina and told through Benjamin’s diary as read by Daisy’s daughter (Julia Ormond), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button stretches from Benjamin’s birth in 1918 as an old man through his death as a baby.
I don’t really want to give a lot away. I will just urge you to see this film. Understand that it’s 2 hours and 48 minutes, but I wouldn’t cut a single moment. (I felt the same way about the 3-hour long Australia.)
I hope that everyone involved gets the recognition that they deserve, although it’s a shame that Blanchett did not garner a Globe nomination for her performance. She is stunning. The fact that Angelina Jolie was nominated over her is a traveshamockery. All Angelina Jolie did all movie was torturedly say, “I want my son back!” while Cate Blanchett showed every emotion in the spectrum.
My only quibble with the movie would be the sound editing. There were times during the flick that I wanted to be able to hear better, but all I got were mumbles. I’m sure that there were instances where Fincher intended that, but the scenes with Captain Mike were sometimes difficult to understand with the combination of a thick accent and the less than stellar sound.
Despite the sound, I recommend this wholeheartedly to anyone who lives and loves.
12 Comments to “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Jake
well, now i want to see it. i didn’t want to originally. i thought the trailer made the movie look very boring, but after the reviews and nominations, i think we will be checking this one out soon. i still hate cate blanchett. i’ve never been able to stand her. but i hate tilda swinton even more than her. out of all the movies out in the theater right now (we’ve only seen twilight), how would you rank the ones you’ve seen? kelly and i are going to the movies soon, but we wanna see a good one.
- 10:23 am on 01 02, 2009
Shane
1. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Australia
3. Marley & Me
4. Yes Man
5. Four Christmases
I also very much want to see Slumdog Millionaire, Valkyrie and Seven Pounds. Also looking forward to seeing Revolutionary Road when it comes out.
- 11:01 am on 01 02, 2009
Erin
I liked it a lot – reminded Mr. Perfect & I both of Big Fish.
- 11:51 am on 01 02, 2009
Cara
Thanks for the review – I’ve heard some mixed reviews (namely that it’s too long) but I want to see it since it is getting good Oscar buzz.
Jake – I am so glad I’m not the only one who can’t stand Blanchett nor Swinton.
- 1:07 pm on 01 02, 2009
Alli
I thought it was one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever seen. If embracing the moments of life and those that experience them with us don’t leave you enjoying a movie – then this one isn’t for you. But if you can sit outside the fish bowl of these people and observe their life for a couple hours – you will be joyfully rewarded.
I too will echo the disappointment and anger of a missing nomination for Cate Blanchett. She was completely brilliant in this movie. It is one of the largest oversights since Baz Luhrmann for Moulin Rouge. I am hoping the Oscars will take note, all though with the Globes and SAG nominations already out – it isn’t looking good for her.
Jake – my list would read in the same order as Shane’s above. We will watch our niece if you guys want to hit up a couple of movies!
- 5:33 pm on 01 02, 2009
A Guy
I don’t watch too many movies these days. I prefer reading. Seeing these great reviews (others I have read say it is about 45 minutes too long), I’ll either watch it or read the short story.
Thanks for the review.
- 6:44 pm on 01 02, 2009
blady02
This movie was boring restless and sad! If you want to see a entertaining happy movie with a real actor and actress see Marley and Me. Jennifer is so real and charming and gorgeous. Brad screwed up when he left her for skanky freak! Bypass Jolie and Pitt movies they are a waste of our hard earned money and need to be brought down to size. No one cares about their elated selves anymore. They have lost the true meaning of entertainment in their egotistical worlds!
- 7:16 pm on 01 02, 2009
Shane
Erin: I could see the comparison, but I think I liked this one more.
Cara: Tilda Swinton can play one role – The White Witch. Everything else seems awkward. And Cate Blanchett is genius in this one. It doesn’t matter what you think of her.
Alli: Well said my love.
A Guy: Seeing the movie made me want to read the short story.
blady02: For dog lovers like my wife and I, Marley & Me is anything but happy. It’s entertaining, but it’s not something I need to see again soon. As far as the rest of your comments go…the same could be said about a lot of folks in Hollywood. I don’t have to like their off-screen actions to appreciate their work.
- 9:12 pm on 01 02, 2009
Travis
This is a great short story from an author I cannot normally stand (F. Scott Fitzgerald), I would suggest it to anyone. Chrissy and I are going to see it soon, and based on the reviews, I am looking forward to it even more. I am a true fan of David Fincher for his artistic vision, and I have long wanted to see him try an adaption. Well, this is a very challenging short story to conceptualize, and I am convinced he did well. I agree with the sentiment that David Fincher+Brad Pitt=Awesome
- 7:32 am on 01 08, 2009
Travis
I will caution readers that the short story was pretty agressively rewrittenfor the screenplay, or ‘hollywooded’. The premise is there, but much of the original story is not. It has been romanticized a bit.
- 7:38 am on 01 08, 2009
coffee
it was a little weird to see an old version of Brad Pitt’s face pasted onto a kid’s body, but i guess that’s why they call it a “curious case”
- 9:51 pm on 01 18, 2009
Pinky
This movie was good, but I don’t know that it deserved the slew of Oscar nominations it received.
- 3:51 pm on 01 27, 2009
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