The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Forest Gump companion movie.

If you're the mood for a Forest Gump kind of movie, then this film will be perfect for you.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is penned by Forest Gump scribe Eric Roth and it shows. This film has exactly the same feel and sentiment as the Robert Zemeckis directed movie. The story is comes across in exactly the same way with the explanation heavy voice-over and the main character, Benjamin, literally in the eye of the storm of some of the most significant events of the 20th century.

Pitt and Blanchett are ideally cast. They breeze through the material. But it's more about good casting than it is career defing performances from these two. There is unanimous talent from all of the supporting cast too.

Benjamin Button is an obvious break away for director David Fincher, someone who has formed a near flawless career with some much darker material. My personal hope is that this is his 'one for the studio' film that would give him further license to carry on making films like Zodiac, Se7en and The Game. Though he's created yet another outstanding film with Bejamin Button, I feel there are a few other directors who would have made near enough the same film with this material... Oh well, at least it wasn't made by Ron Howard...

Yeah, it's ok...

It's long and I had a numb bottom by the end of it. That's the thing that stayed with me after leaving the cinema, above all else.

The film itself is ok. Brad and Kate are good, but not particularly stretched by their roles - the CGI does most of that. The story is pretty predictable after the initial exposition. I found it a little annoying the extent to which the film makers tried to yank at the audience's heart strings throughout - the comparison to Forrest Gump has been made and it's that level of saccharine sweetness that you get here: something incredibly happy happens, then something incredibly sad happens, then something incredibly happy happens... The poor characters must be emotionally exhausted. You just want something average to happen to them e.g. Brad goes out to buy a sandwich and nothing good or bad happens, other than that the sandwich is satisfactory. Worth a watch, if you've already been to see Slumdog Millionaire and Milk and are at a loose end.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Two acting greats, brilliantly cast around predictable plot

I wasn't that excited to see this movie but there wasn't anything better on at my local cinema. The trailer suggested a bizarre but predictable plot, and it's length - over 2.5 hrs - put me off too. My wife and sister-in-law felt the same. But we all were pleasantly surprised by a beautifully executed movie.

The plot is as simple as the trailer and one line synopsis suggests. Boy (who happens to be aging in reverse) meets girl (who ages normally). Or, in a little more detail (but no spoilers), little girl meets 'old man'; at some point they 'equilibriate'; then old lady deals with.... but I won't give anything away.

However, several things were surprisingly delightful. The CGI/make-up, for one thing, is absolutely unbelievable. We were all stunned at how convincing the aging/youthing processes were on all the actors affected.

Now, you might regard Brad Pitt as perfect just the way he is, without wanting to see him go thru the seven ages of man. But his performance at each age is terrific and we are reminded once again (Fight Club, Twelve Monkeys etc) how he is not just a pretty face. Kate Blanchette likewise is absolutely captivating. And their on-screen chemistry (or make-up, or whatever it is) was tear-jerking. This movie is not Fight Club or Elizabeth but that's not to denigrate it or the lead performances. The supporting cast are great too - particularly Julia Ormond and the 'black mama' (not sure who she is).

If you're looking for a twist, or a Dorian Gray-like quasi thriller/horror, this is not your movie. If you're looking for some romantic drama, and don't mind a touch of the unusual, this is your movie. Or if you just want some traditional escapism with a simple story, beautifully told and tellingly acted, watch this film.

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Too long with nothing to say (spoilers in 3rd paragraph)

Particularly considering the number of positive reviews, you'll see the movie anyway but don't be taken in! It is not as good as the hype would have you believe.

Without the gimmick of Brad's character growing younger, this would be a story about two people who drift in and out of each others lives and have a love affair in their forties. In fact, even with the gimmick, that's all it amounts too. That Brad's character is born old and grows young just makes it weird - it doesn't add anything to the narrative (it actually hinders it as I've tried to explain below). Normal people are born, live, fall in (and out of) love and lose loved ones along the way before they die. So does Benjamin. His condition does not give him any unique insight which would make the gimmick worthy. Maybe I'm in a cynical mood but it just seems a means to drum up interest in a conventional, even dull, tale about two people which - the casting of Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett notwithstanding - noone would otherwise be particularly interested in seeing.

If the producers wanted an effective weepie, they should have heightened the sense of heartache that Benjamin and Daisy supposedly have to suffer. The gimmick actually makes it difficult for the producers to convey that these are soulmates dealt a cruel blow by a quirk of nature. For the sake of taste, they couldn't be together when the physical age gap was decades (and - big problem - why would a girl be attracted to an apparent 70+ year old even if it is Brad Pitt?? We have to take it on faith that there is some mystic connection). They have, then, only about 15ish years in which to conduct a normal relationship. They spend the vast majority of their lives apart and having love affairs with others so the fact that they're supposed to be soulmates does not ring true. Okay, it's sad that they can't be together as Benjamin gets younger but it's not like they couldn't have forseen what was going to happen so why have the baby?

The film just doesn't have anything to say in it's overlong 2.5 hours and in an attempt to make up for it, it finshes off with some weak guff about people being what they are. Yeah, so what? Every character in every film - in fact every person in the world - is what they are.

There are better life affirming and/ or weepie films out there - when you've seen this one, don't say I didn't warn you...

And the Oscar goes to.....the most pointless movie of all time!

I cannot believe this dreary drivel got 3 Oscars! It wasn't for acting but in all fairness this is the kind of film you subject insomniacs to to get some sleep!!!There was nothing at all interesting about Benjamin character, despite the story coming from Fitzgerald warped little mind, some stories(like this one) don't need to be written and certainly not made into a movie. Sticking Cate,Tilda and Brad in the movie (no matter how good looking or good an actors they might be) surprisingly didn't create an miracles, as there is only so much an actor can do. The trailer was a bore, but if you're looking for the full blown out intense boredom treatment then by all means watch the movie till the end. It didn't help that the pace was slow and pedantic and so self indulgent it made me cringe!So what if Benjamin is aging backwards, the truth is you can't base a movie on that alone! Seriously,give this overhyped Hollywood

nonsense of a movie a huge miss. It has no message, it has no point, the characters in the movie are dull and lacklustre and watching this was less joyful for me than watching the most boring documentary ever.Life's too short to watch cringworthy films like this.AVOID!!!

Benjamin Button

Okay name one film the Brad Pitt has starred as the led character that is any good… come on … I can hear you thinking … No… that was Bruce Willis in Twelve Monkeys.. come on… Thelma and Louise… no not the lead character!... Face it Brad Pitt has never led a good movie: ......Meet Joe Black?

It’s time for people to buy the poster and stop putting this idiot on film!

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The Curious case of Benjamin Button

A film I wasn't especially keen on seeing if I'm honest, but on a whim decided to toddle along and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Davie Fincher's magical fantasy. It's the simplistic, yet fantastical tale of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) a man who once born, basically ages backwards. A visual, and emotional feast that draws you in from almost the very first minute, as Benjamin's tale is told by Caroline (Julia Ormond) the daughter of Daisy (Cate Blanchett) who is the love of Benjamin's life, as she reads his diary to her mother whilst keeping a vigil at her death bed. Benjamin's life takes several twists and turns as his peculiar ageing process takes it's toll in one way or another . However it's his love for Daisy that is pivotal to the whole film, and somehow that one element justifies his very curious and often solitary existence. It a film that speaks volumes about age and how we as a society deal with that eternally frustrating subject , and with some very sensitive and graceful direction from Fincher, coupled with some realistic and believable performances from both Pitt and Blanchett, this movie captivates on so many levels. It's by far the best thing Pitt has done for many a year, following on from his almost 'comedic ' turn in Troy, and both the visual effects, and make up are just amazing to look at , with Blanchett looking physically stunning for the most part. You really need to watch this film with an open mind as it sets life out on a chopping board and disects it into several pieces, leaving you both frustrated yet strangely satisfied at the same time as we try to make sense of Benjamin's existence. At almost three hours it's not for the faint hearted, but I didn't feel it dragged too much as it's intrigue carries you along , helped in no small way by Pitt's hypnotic narration, and Alexandre Desplat's poetic and atmospheric score. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, its pace is gentle, with the odd flash of childlike humour, and you have to have imagination by the bucketful, but it's technical excellence, and moments of real beauty and tenderness will make the experience rewarding for some, but possibly not for the cynics among us. ................In a word..............Magical.

[Highly rated reviewer]

A travesty this didn't win more at the Oscars

I could write for hours about this film; dissecting every scene, telling you why you will love it so much. Essentially though, without wanting to give too much away, this film is one of the best I have seen in a very long time.

The art direction is stunning, as well as the make-up, costumes and specials effects, and the film earned well-deserved Oscars in these categories.But the film is so much more than a technical breakthrough: David Fincher, the director of dark, violent films such as 'Fight Club' and 'Zodiac', has turned his hand to a romantic epic that tells a love story spanning generations, and his dark, slightly twisted world-view has turned the genre on its head. Every scene is shot through with beauty and wonder; the film plays with genre conventions but never falls into the realms of cliche. It can be remarkably upbeat, and yet melancholic; funny and tragic, moving and life-affirming.

Put simply, this film is about LIFE: its highs and lows, joys and tragedies, and everything in between. It's nearly three hours long but the time just flies by, much like Benjamin Button's life, it seems. But by the end, you may just have learned a valuable lesson or two about your own life; never before have I left a cinema with such a sense of joy and optimism about life and all its wonder and possibilties.

If you see one film this year, make it this one. Expect to cry, and expect to laugh; but most of all, expect to be astounded and amazed.

[Highly rated reviewer]

dull

Did I miss something? This film was too long and there was not enough to keep me interested. The CGI is great but once seen is enough. A waste of great acting talent - irritatingly sentimental and indulgent. Disappointing.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Truly Enchanting

Director Dave Fincher (Fight Club, Seven, Panic Room, Alien 3, numerous pop videos) directs a a truly enchanting bitter sweet love story. The central actors Cate Blanchett & Brad Pitt put in sterling performances, with other notable performances by Taraji P Henson and Tilda Swinson. It is very easy to get swept up in the warmth of this bitter sweet love story which plays 80 years out over 2 1/2 hours.

The film contains lots of magical touches, laugh out loud moments, tear in the eye moments and an overwhelming sense of warmness which give this film a timeless quality. This movie deserves all the awards to be heaped on it, with special praise going to makeup and the special effects team which subtly enhance the story without being gimmicky.

If you liked the following you might like the Curious Case of Benjamin Button:

* Chocolat (Lasse Hallström 2000)

* Fried Green Tomatoes (Jon Avnet1992)

* Forrest Gump (Robert Zemeckis (1994)