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Bookmark this pageThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Director: David Fincher
Movie review
From Time Out London
The investigative scope and emotional weight of David Fincher’s ‘Zodiac’ surprised those of us who accused him of valuing style over substance. But in ‘Benjamin Button’, the director assumes a greater challenge: an epic, melancholic romance that employs a multi-generational cast and groundbreaking visual effects. It’s a testament to Fincher’s skill as a storyteller that the film actually works, albeit sporadically.The script was adapted from a F Scott Fitzgerald story about a man who ages in reverse. Newborn geriatric Benjamin (Brad Pitt) is abandoned on the steps of an old folks’ home and raised by kindly nurse Queenie (Taraji P Henson). As a septuagenarian on crutches he meets love of his life Daisy (Cate Blanchett); in middle age he woos and wins her; as a young man their life together begins to fall apart.The screenplay was written by ‘Forrest Gump’ scribe Eric Roth, and it shows: much of ‘Button’ takes place in a Southern fantasia populated by brassy women and sassy black folks, all of whom pepper their conversation with enough homespun homilies to fill a Reader’s Digest almanac. But thankfully this is Fincher’s movie, not Roth’s, and his exacting eye for bravura visual spectacle carries the picture.
At times infuriatingly banal, at others unexpectedly powerful, this is shameless Oscar bait that transcends hokey scripting thanks to a combination of sheer craft and some remarkable performances, notably Tilda Swinton, whose brief, poignant turn crystallises the film’s timeless themes of love, loss and regret.
Author: Tom Huddleston
Time Out London Issue 2007, 5 - 11 Feb, 2009
User reviews of this film
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- linda.self said...
- Posted on Feb 25 2009 09:27 I found this film dark and depressing and the concept of the dying woman croaking out the story all the way through was unnecessary and annoying. There photography was sometimes brilliant and some of the acting was good but, overall, I left the cinema feeling depressed and wondering why I had gone in the first place. A waste of time and money
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- roomi said...
- Posted on Feb 23 2009 06:13 Loved the film. Didnt feel the time. Was swept by the story telling and the world it created. Yes the old lady's voice over was a bit incomprehensible ...and the device of the woman on the death bed recounting her life a bit too hollywoodish.......but still wonderful storytelling, fin e performances and a film that pulls you in by its heart-the pathos of the man who wants to turn back time to bring his dead son back and the sadness of a mismatched love which despite its sheer improbability still hits you in the gut.
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- MaxJ said...
- Posted on Feb 22 2009 17:44 this is completely terrible, if you want to hear a croaky old women lie go for it. 5 quid wasted.
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- pj said...
- Posted on Feb 22 2009 12:33 BORING.Five of us went to see it aged from 9 to 84 and we all hated it. The film was dark, the old lady mumbled her words.The idea was good but half of it was only in it to make the film longer as things happened with no follow up and we couldnt understand why some scenes were in it.ONE OF THE WORST FILMS ANY OF US HAS SEEN.
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- Sandie said...
- Posted on Feb 21 2009 18:12 Brilliant, one of the best films iv seen, fab for all those Brad fans out there:-) Must see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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- lilly said...
- Posted on Feb 21 2009 16:56 this movie was brilliant !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant belive anyone would say is is not good lol
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- Chelseaaaa said...
- Posted on Feb 21 2009 12:33 Crapppp >:(:@
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- Misha said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2009 23:17 The film was really good one of the best films i have seen and i am 14 by the way
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- Doosh said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2009 19:26 This film is brilliant. Best film i have ever seen!
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- martin said...
- Posted on Feb 20 2009 18:39 I'm bored already
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- Victoria said...
- Posted on Feb 19 2009 20:37 Hi i am going to see this film tomorrow. Do you think my little bro, who is 9 would like it. Has it got a sad ending?
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- Callum said...
- Posted on Feb 19 2009 16:13 Wearily boring, charmless, pointless... I suppose it's trying to do a Forest Gump, but where's the story to snare our interest?
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- Georgia said...
- Posted on Feb 18 2009 22:18 I absoulutly LOVED this film! I am glad it got as many oscar's as it did. Ignore the people who didnt like it, they obviously dont know acting! It is very long film maybe just a tiny bit to long. But it still was brilliant how it came to have an idea of life going backwards. It is very CLEVER! It is an enjoyable, funny, sad, brilliant film. I would recommend this to anyone. I can't believe some people walked out of the cinema! Brad Pitt was just AMAZING! One of the best films I have seen him act in. It is amazing how they turned him into an old man with all the make-up, and also how he acted as an old man. He acted well as a kid too. Go see this MOVIE! You will LOVE IT!
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- raven77 said...
- Posted on Feb 18 2009 11:58 LOL at Hogel and Popsicle I must say that i agree with them! I love drama and romance, but this was WAY TOO LONG.. and Cate Blanchet's voice as an old lady was so freakin annoying I couldn't even get into the movie... I don't understand what's so great about it?
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- Georgia. said...
- Posted on Feb 18 2009 08:38 I abosulutly LOVED it. I is a brilliant film! I would recommend you to see this film. It was very long film but I still enjoyed it. I think it is more for the adults than the kids, but it really depends what films you like. Brad Pitt is brilliant how he plays an old man and when he is younger. It has a good story line to the film. Go and see this film! You will love it.
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Cast & crew
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P Henson, Jared Harris, Jason Flemyng, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Elias Koteas full cast
Rated: 12A
Duration: 166 mins
UK Release: Feb 6 2009
US Release: Dec 25 2008
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