If you're going to see it (and I suggest that you do) take the time and invest in a theater experience. Benjamin Button makes gorgeous use of digital format and although the story isn't new the point of view is. Screenwriter Eric Roth made a name for himself with Forest Gump, which is unfortunately a little too similar to Benjamin Button, but he also wrote Munich and his scripts are moving in a very romantic way. This is life as magical realism.
Don't worry too much about the romance between Cate Blanchet (radiant as always) and Brad Pitt. It's difficult to see Benjamin Button as anyone other that Pitt, which has less to do with his acting than it does with his persona. I think the stardom that we have afforded him is hurting how we watch him. He is aptly cast, beautiful and adoring but he simply cannot escape his household name. I would recommend that he disappear from the public eye, just for a bit, so that we may view him in a different light. That said, the lifelong bond between Daisy and Benjamin is a necessary element, but it doesn't carry the film and it doesn't need to. The first few acts are mesmerizing, and they refrain from romantic pandering. Movie posters and trailers made us think that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is about something it's not, and this time I didn't mind. Love is an easy ploy, and if it gets people into the theater to see this film, I am more than satisfied.
Keep in mind that this film is based on the idea of F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story, not it's plot synopsis. What David Fincher found fascinating was the ennui. The same goes for the film; it's overall effect is terribly emotional, but the performances (while strong) are only part of a much bigger picture. In this version, it's the film that steals the show.
Don't worry too much about the romance between Cate Blanchet (radiant as always) and Brad Pitt. It's difficult to see Benjamin Button as anyone other that Pitt, which has less to do with his acting than it does with his persona. I think the stardom that we have afforded him is hurting how we watch him. He is aptly cast, beautiful and adoring but he simply cannot escape his household name. I would recommend that he disappear from the public eye, just for a bit, so that we may view him in a different light. That said, the lifelong bond between Daisy and Benjamin is a necessary element, but it doesn't carry the film and it doesn't need to. The first few acts are mesmerizing, and they refrain from romantic pandering. Movie posters and trailers made us think that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is about something it's not, and this time I didn't mind. Love is an easy ploy, and if it gets people into the theater to see this film, I am more than satisfied.
Keep in mind that this film is based on the idea of F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story, not it's plot synopsis. What David Fincher found fascinating was the ennui. The same goes for the film; it's overall effect is terribly emotional, but the performances (while strong) are only part of a much bigger picture. In this version, it's the film that steals the show.
2 comments:
ah, see... other bolggers have been saying that this movie is based off the book... making me think entirely off the book.I will now have a better expectation of the movie, and hopefully not be disappointed based off of the reviews:http://www.everhype.com/?utm_source=bc
If you don't already, start listening to Scene Unseen (it's a great companion to Filmspotting). You can podcast it for free through Itunes or from their website http://www.sceneunseenpodcast.com/.
In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button episode Chris talks about his sneak preview experience, in which Fincher and Pitt were present. Apparently Fincher never even read the book himself, and Eric Roth based the film on the concept of the short story.
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