The Bi-Curious Case of Benjamin Button

[lazarus]

See what I did there?

Opened today.

I'm a bit of a wreck. I wasn't bawling in the theatre or anything, but I just came out with a light head and heavy heart. Pretty draining, and yet there are enough moments of levity and beauty to keep it aloft.

I could have done without the hummingbird crap (shades of Forrest Gump's floating feather?), but the speech to Julia Ormond's character was rather inspirational. So in a film about loss, death, regret, missed opportunities, etc. there's some hope to take with you, and the notion that you can always start over as there are no rules to the game.

Blanchett was phenomenal. It didn't seem like she was doing too much, but she really takes over from a POV perspective in the final movement of the film, and when you stack that alongside her work as the worldly, selfish younger Daisy, and as the bedridden old woman, it's rather staggering what she's done.

Pitt certainly plays a more passive character, but is what he does here any less of an achievement than Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump, minus the silly accent? Pitt's best performances are ones where he's allowed to use his eyes and expressions to react, and I thought he did all he had to do to carry the story.

Fantastic all around. Fincher for president.

 

[joyfulgirl]

On my weekend agenda.

 

[anitram]

On my weekend agenda.

Same!

 

[No spoken words]

Same!

Ditto.

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

i wanted to see it tonight but was outvoted. i will be seeing it saturday though, even if i go alone.

 

[Lancemc]

Yeah, I'll see it some time in the next week.

 

[GirlsAloudFan]

Benjamin Button is buying a ticket to see me in the theater some time in the next week.

 

[U2Fanatic4ever]

i really want to see this.. thanks laz for the review..

 

[corianderstem]

I will go see it, assuming the snow goes away and the coming rain/melting snow doesn't flood me out.

 

[lazarus]

Looks like the film did pretty well at the box office yesterday. If word of mouth is good, which it looks like it will be, this could get big. I can see ads like "See it with your grandparents" or something. A lot of cross-generational appeal.

 

[No spoken words]

Looks like the film did pretty well at the box office yesterday. If word of mouth is good, which it looks like it will be, this could get big. I can see ads like "See it with your grandparents" or something. A lot of cross-generational appeal.

Should be seeing it in two hours.

 

[anitram]

Should be seeing it in two hours.

5 for me.

 

[corianderstem]

I wasn't bawling in the theatre or anything,

Lies.

 

[LMP]

Caught it today and loved it. 3rd fave of the year behind The Dark Knight and Synecdoche, New York.

I think that Benji and Synecdoche make an interesting pair in that they both address life, death, and the human experience, but from completely different perspectives. I'd like to watch them back-to-back when they hit DVD to really see this through, but if you've seen both, what do you think?

 

[No spoken words]

I saw it as well and also loved it.

I am not as macho as Laz, so I of course did cry, but did not quite bawl. A few moments got me, early, middle and late, but the one that got me the most for some reason was the quick shot of Blanchett walking down the street with a barely walking Benjamin, having to hold his hand. I am welling up as I type this now, honestly, I'm not sure why.

Anyway, seeing Milk, Slumdog and now this in a week has been a great stretch.

 

[LMP]

That is an excellent stretch.

I got a little emotional throughout, too. Mostly when he left home at around 17, really struck a chord with me.

The hummingbird was a little feather-esque, but I still bought everything that happened in this film over Forrest Gump, even if this film has a more outlandish premise. The sentimentality here works and never feels forced, but isn't as detached or cold as you'd expect from Fincher, which is why it works.

If someone like Spielberg or Zemeckis got a hold of this, we'd see an even bigger dip into the schmaltz. Also, an alien/robot/Blue Fairy would've come and sat Daisy down and told her exactly why Benjamin aged backwards. Probably. I don't know.

 

[Lancemc]

Every pointless jab at A.I. is like a pin stuck into my own heart.

 

[LMP]

It's one of my favorite Spielberg movies up until the last 30-45 minutes.

 

[lazarus]

Caught it today and loved it. 3rd fave of the year behind The Dark Knight and Synecdoche, New York.

I think that Benji and Synecdoche make an interesting pair in that they both address life, death, and the human experience, but from completely different perspectives. I'd like to watch them back-to-back when they hit DVD to really see this through, but if you've seen both, what do you think?

Good to hear. Those three films are jockeying for position, along with Che. I felt that Kaufman's film was more interesting and original, but it did go a bit off the rails. I thought it was his best screenplay to date, but as a film I liked Eternal Sunshine more. Does that make sense?

A bit how I feel about Button. It's maybe not as profound or unique as what Synecdoche had to say, but it was done with better craft, and the images are always going to trump words for me when it comes to cinema.

Lies.

I'm not above it, believe me, but I went to see the film alone and was a tad claustrophobic as strangers both took the empty seats on either side of me. I don't know why I failed to heed my lesson of always taking an aisle seat when by myself. Lump in the throat, definitely, but no waterworks, unless you count pissing my pants.

I am welling up as I type this now, honestly, I'm not sure why.

Please don't review any porn here.

Yes, that was a great image, but the film was filled with so many it's hard to remember just one. I wish that and the close-ups of Benjamin and Daisy swimming weren't in the trailer.

Every pointless jab at A.I. is like a pin stuck into my own heart.

Voodoo doll this shit, people!

 

[LMP]

Good to hear. Those three films are jockeying for position, along with Che. I felt that Kaufman's film was more interesting and original, but it did go a bit off the rails. I thought it was his best screenplay to date, but as a film I liked Eternal Sunshine more. Does that make sense?

A bit how I feel about Button. It's maybe not as profound or unique as what Synecdoche had to say, but it was done with better craft, and the images are always going to trump words for me when it comes to cinema.

I haven't been able to get Synecdoche out of my mind since I saw it a few weeks back, and I loved the sheer ambition of it, but yeah, it's all over the place. I see what you mean about Eternal Sunshine though.

What I love the most about Fincher is his absolute attention to detail. If it's in that time period, it's not like a movie from the time period, it's the fucking time period. Benji and Zodiac are terrific examples of this.

 

[No spoken words]

Please don't review any porn here.

Yes, that was a great image, but the film was filled with so many it's hard to remember just one. I wish that and the close-ups of Benjamin and Daisy swimming weren't in the trailer.



Voodoo doll this shit, people!

Agreed, there were a lot of great images. I'm not at all sure why that struck me/stuck with me.

Also, you idiot. You have to take an aisle seat if alone. I love being in the center and all, but just am not comfortable sitting next to two strangers for three hours.

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

Also, you idiot. You have to take an aisle seat if alone. I love being in the center and all, but just am not comfortable sitting next to two strangers for three hours.

what.

 

[anitram]

Heartbreaking and beautiful.

I just loved it.

 

[Dalton]

Loved it.

I believe the highest praise I can give it is: at only one point (one handed motorcycle riding scene) did I think "hey there's Brad Pitt". Great story.

 

[joyfulgirl]

I liked it but not nearly as much as the rest of you.

 

[BonosBaby12]

Plan on seeing it soon. Helps to see that the reviews on it are good so far

 

[lazarus]

I'm really feeling an urge to see this again now, and wasn't sure before how long I'd wait. Not sure if it's because I want to share it with someone else, or because I liked it so much.

I do feel a responsibility to see the other winter releases that I haven't yet, though. Like Milk, Slumdog (staring to resent it already, must do this soon), The Wrestler, Doubt, etc.

 

[corianderstem]

I haven't been to a movie in the theaters since The Dark Knight. I think tomorrow morning will be a perfect time to go and see this. Pre-noon for the bargain $6.00 price. WHOOT.

 

[No spoken words]

I think that I'll take a break from the movie theater for today and tomorrow, then see The Wrestler or Frost/Nixon on Monday.

 

[corianderstem]

You should have told them "You should totally go - it's hilarious."