Age-Defying Formula Reviewed: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Grave Error: Pitt’s reverse-aging is the only interesting thing about his character.
There’s something creepy about seeing an elderly man huddle beneath a candlelit tablecloth tent with a little girl—even if you know that the tiny geezer is actually no older than she. And therein lies the dividing factor of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, director David Fincher’s apparent up-with-people atonement for films such as Zodiac and Fight Club: You either accept that you can’t relate to the big-picture troubles of Benjamin (Brad Pitt), a man who ages backward, and try to feel his story anyway, or, well, you tune out about halfway through its two hours and 39 minutes of sweeping strings and circle-of-life lessons. Stretching the central idea from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story, usually spot-on scripter Eric Roth goes all Forrest Gump on it to an insulin-testing degree. With the similarly epic and semi-fantastical Gump, you had an endearing character who was easy to cheer for; here, Pitt’s Benjamin is colorless, gawping, and passive as he de-ages from his wrinkled, early-20th-century childhood at a New Orleans nursing home (his horrified father left him on its steps) to his out-seeing-the-world phase (working on a tugboat and experiencing war, women, and death) to his re-babyhood while actually knockin’ on heaven’s door (a spell that, for all its oddness, is actually quite touching). Wrapped in not one but two flaccid narrations—Benjamin’s aw-shucks telling of his immediate story is bookended and punctuated, quite irritatingly, by useless present-day scenes of his love, Daisy (Cate Blanchett), dying and nearly incomprehensible in a Katrina-whipped hospital—the film whips its grand themes of love, death, and the passage of time hard, but the most remarkable magic comes courtesy of the cast’s makeup rather than the script’s dramatic arcs. (And Pitt as a horny 20-something with a gray, greasy combover is not exactly a technical achievement to be celebrated.) Amid mostly forced greeting-card-wisdoms—such as “We’re meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?”—there is a handful of truly thought-provoking and poetic scenes, including the period when Benjamin and Daisy “meet in the middle,” outer-age-wise, and can finally, and gorgeously, fall in love. Audience members who like their films drawl’d and endless may be entranced. But for a more efficient, less syrupy life-is-precious message, there’s always Fight Club.
Comments
11:42 pm
Let me get this straight, seeing an "old geezer" underneath the table with a little girl bothers you, but the fact that the older form of daisy had sex with a younger form of Benjamin, and a much younger version is fine?
Your review is really bad, almost resentful, its like something out of this story personally offended you and you are pretty much ripping it on that basis.
Its a movie, get over it.
Next thing you are gonna say is that, aging backwards is not possible and therefore the movie is bad based on that.
11:12 am
I just saw "Button" last night and your review is spot on. It was a trite and mawkish with a gimmicky concept. Brad Pitts' performance was lethargic. I am stunned that this movie is being given any Oscar consideration.
11:53 am
The skilled and extremely difficult effort needed in portraying a young body with an old/aging person inside was missed by Pitt in this way. The story was moving, at some points brought tears (a tiny toddler holding the hand of the woman he had been in love with)----but Pitt got it backwards, in my humble opinion: As he became younger physically, he forgot that he was actually aging and already genuinely world-weary, which should have showed in his expression, despite the youthful hair and body. Thus, his eyes should not have been (as they were) young and awe-struck with youthful amazement as he aged backwards. They should have been wise and world-weary, i.e., aged. I think the acting job was better than I've seen Pitt do before, but it would have taken an Olivier to portray that young man's body containing a very old man beset with his singular "disease. Despite this oversight,something that is clearly only my opinion, the movie was a tear-jerker and poignant, just a little too long........
4:05 pm
I think you've written a very poor review, you have forgotten to mention many of the things that made this movie so brilliant. For instance, the cinametography was breathtaking, and the performances of the supporting cast were incredible, even Pitt did an incredible job, you stated that he was "colorless, gawping, and passive" I'm sorry but this clearly goes to show that you know nothing about acting, or the way chemistry works on film. It was on purpose that Brad Pitt was passive, because the story wasn't about Benjamin Button at all, the story was about the people he came into contact with along the way, which, by the way, is something very difficult for an actor to do, especially one as charismatic as Brad Pitt. If you are going to critize him for something can you at least do it for something he didn't do well. For instance, his accent faulted more than a few times during the movie. Or maybe criticize the fact that the little boy playing Brad Pitt at the end didn't have a Southern accent at all. My point is, criticise where they are called for, it really appears that you didn't look at this film very deeply at all, and missed much of the beauty contained in it. And as for the scene when Pitt is a "geezer" as you so put it, underneath the table cloth. I can't understand how a person with any kind of life experience could find that creepy. They're about 8 years old, neither of them were thinking in an even remotelly sexual manner, it was actually a very moving part of the film, showing the innocents of both children, aswell the natural bond shared by children. I don't agree with your review, and I think that The Curious case of Benjamin Button was one of the best movies I've seen in some time. Your review has seriously made me re-think the credibility of Rotten Tomatoes
12:21 am
Brad Pitt will forever remain a pretty boy and nothing more.
5:27 am
I agree with the reviewer. I was let down by the older (young looking) Benjamin. I feel the writers let us down by not developing the "old man in a young body" line...instead they chose the easier route of basically shutting him up much too soon. And yet they couldn't find a young actor who resembled Brad Pitt?!!? (It's not as though a whole lot of acting was required of that young actor!!). I felt cheated.
12:09 pm
This review is exactly right except the reviewer didn't fully relate how painful and boring this movie was to watch. I should have known because this is the same director that took a pulitzer prize winning book and turned it into total shit.
2:58 am
"Have I told you I was stuck by lightning seven times" was the sad excuse for humor? The recounting of the accident in Paris was tedious. A good film maker can take an unusual premise and guide us through it. This film just does not work. What a sad waste of time and resources. I love movies and this one is so disappointing.
3:25 pm
Your review will prevent me from ever taking your reviews seriously. You should find other work.
6:25 pm
I really resented this movie -- it was a complete waste of my time. Blanchett and Pitt had little chemistry and it was an over the top (we're going for the Oscar!) production on what should have been a limited art house film. The technology, sure, sure, it was there, and oh how neat, but really, who cares if you don't even like the characters? The old woman telling the story was as lame as could be; it was so obvious that Titanic and Forrest Gump - two great films - were inspiration to this one, but my how poorly it was executed.
I thought it would never end and wish I'd have walked out with my afternoon still ahead of me.
2:00 am
This review sucks. And the people who didn't like this movie are miserable. They think that every movie has to be a piece of "art". By art they mean a tragically boring story that needs to be watched three times to understand it . Their movies..no FILMS have to TEACH them an IMPORTANT life lesson so that they can leave the theater and say "oh yes, i'm going to go live my life right now based on this wonderful film". Don't get me wrong, I'm sick of shitty knee-jerk movies (Marley & Me??? "Oh look a Dog..ooh dogs are cute"). But to scoff at Ben Button is ridiculous, especially considering 95% of the movies that aren't only shown in NY and LA are just commercialized garbage. Somebody who doesn't spend all day in a cafe, reading the kind of shitty poetry that never rhymes, and enjoying the smell of their own assholes would actually enjoy this movie. People who have lives outside of dissecting purposely ambiguous "art" and just want something that's entertaining after they go out to dinner (but not so cliche, commercialized, and slack-jawed as "Twilight") would really like this movie. A miserable person who is so full of themselves they'd love nothing more than to escape the confines of their own "simple" humanity would write this review.
5:20 am
Wow, I agree 100% with the commenter Jake. Jake you are so spot on as to who the people are that don't like this movie.
As for you Tricia Olszewski, you are one of the worst movie critics I have ever read, my brother wrote for rotten tomatoes before he passed away and he could review circles around you back when he was writing for his high school paper. The first sentence of your review lets us know that you have no idea what you are talking about and frankly, your review is offensive. I easily related to Benjamins troubles because this movie is about emotion, feelings...things which you obviously lack. So there, in the first paragraph, you come across as incompetent and completely incorrect. I will never read anything you write again for fear of wasting my precious time on your dribble.
8:03 am
Jake,Kristina-If not liking an obvious,heavy-handed,go for an Oscar,third rate Forrest Gump knock-off (not to mention the waste of three hours) somehow qualifies you as being "miserable" then sign me up for Zooloft. Kristina,you wasted three hours of your "precious" life watching dribble. Jake your obviously not a deep thinker so why hate?
Considering the manufatured "Oscar" buzz and the obligatory Oprah kiss Brads' ass schmoozefest this movie was a complete letdown and a waste of some very nice cinematography along with some very expensive CGI.
I don't know what was more annoying, the endless parade of random characters-which unlike the far superior Gump you just couldn't give two shits about-or the GQ photo montages- see Brad coming up out of the water,see Brad riding a vintage motorcycle,see Brad modeling classic suits etc. ad nauseating.
Instead of taking shots at Tricia do yourself a favor and go see some truly inspiring ORIGINAL film making like Slumdog Millionaire. Heck, I even enjoyed the problematic Will Smith Oscar hype vehicle Seven Pounds more than I did B Button. And that's saying something.
9:46 am
I dont understand how anyone could like this movie. It was the most boring, drawn out, self absorbed piece of trash I've seen in a long time. Pitt was an emotionless husk throughout and none of the supporting cast were worth their screentime (except his surrogate mother). The entire focal of point of th movie (Pitt aging backwards) was wasted and this movie would have been identical if he would have aged normally. Honestly, what did that gimmick even have to do with the story? Why do the old person memory thing anyway? The Notebook, Titanic, and Gump all did the old person recount thing much better. How come nobody cared that he was aging in reverse? Shouldnt that have been of some interest to doctors, scientists, and cosmetic companies? Even the characters in the film didnt care, like it was perfectly normal or something. It wasn't even consistent in its own methodolgy. When he was young he wasnt old man wise, so when he was old why did he regress back to a child state? And why/how exactly did his physical body shrink all the way down to an infants? He wasnt born a full grown man. What pissed me off the most though was his abandoning of his family. Just because he was going to get younger is no excuse to run out on your wife and child when he could have spent another 20 years with them easily. All the while he "wishes" he could have been there. Why the hell wasn't he there? He was capable enough to travel the world. Other than the cinematography this movie is terrible.
2:15 pm
I don't have anything great to add, I've never given thought provoking reviews but I will do my best all the same.
First of all, I think it is funny that people either loved or hated this movie. Some had mixed but most seemed to be in the extremes.
I personally loved this movie. To me, this movie was not to be taken seriously, that is, it was more fairy tale like but with comments on the human condition which has many little stories but not always the completions many might like.
I admit that I was teary during much of the movie, at the small triumphs of characters and their downfalls as well. I think trying to make a story about something that is physically impossible but is interesting to muse about, is a difficult achievement to strive for, but I think this was done beautifully.
I think it points out simply that humans make mistakes. Yes, Benjamin should have stayed with his family but then he is human so he chose to leave and he thought it was the right thing to do. Many people make these kinds of choices and whether it is right or wrong, they carry out their choices just the same.
I think the reason someone will love or hate this will be if it connects to your own life. This movie connects to many of the points in my life. Not specifically but at the heart of what it says. I think it says most of all, if you had to say one thing, that life is precious, interesting, amusing, beautiful, unfair, scary, silly and ultimately, just life.
And that's my review. Run on sentences, rambliness, and all. Hope no one's eyes fell out in the reading. :)
2:42 pm
http://jillianmadison.com/2008/12/benjamin-button-sucked/ I just found this review on google and it made me laugh out loud. Head over here for interesting discussion and a funny unconventional review of this awful movie!!!
8:41 pm
Chuck, you're clueless. Being a deep thinker doesn't require looking down your nose at anything that isn't "on your level". I enjoy a wide range of art and literature. I've studies philosophy and politics extensively. Just because I've learned something doesn't mean I'm above it. Just because I know that we go through life and lose the ones we love doesn't mean a movie is "dribble" because it touches on that point. The kind of folks who DEFINE themselves as "intellectuals" are typically jaded, and yes MISERABLE..whether they realize it right now or not. So go ahead Chuck, you go on and see "Synecdoche, New York" instead of Benjamin Button. It will give you something to think (deeply) about -- instead of perhaps going out and living life.
10:50 pm
Getting back to the movie, Jake.If you can possibly get over yourself for a second you might notice that I did waste my time and saw this turd. It was oveerrated crap. Deal with it. Don't have to define yourself as an "intellectual" to understand that.
That you would think that just because somebody didn't enjoy this turkey as much as you did that they must be miserable or jaded speaks volumes about your self centered personality. Enjoy your little world.
3:27 pm
Whoever said the kid who played Benjamin looked nothing like Brad Pitt is a complete moron. Didn't you see that jaw? He was perfectly cast and could act. Also, this was a great movie and all those who think otherwise are idiots, especially the reviewer.
4:45 pm
How insightful Jarrod. Does your Mommy let you watch PG-13 movies?
3:27 am
Chuck, I don't understand why you are defending Tricia, even if she completely agreed with my opinion, I still would call her an incompetent movie critic. Be honest, if you truly think this movie sucked then admit she sucks at writing movie reviews, too. I read much better quality reviews that trashed it as well.
Now back to the movie...obviously I loved the movie so (using logic and common sense) I did NOT waste three hours of my life (and oh yes, it is precious as is yours and everyone else). I feel that if it was (were?) a different actor, maybe someone lesser known that Brad Pitt, people would not say the same things, for example this quote-
"or the GQ photo montages- see Brad coming up out of the water,see Brad riding a vintage motorcycle,see Brad modeling classic suits etc. ad nauseating."
I am an empath/HSP so it's extremely easy for me to "feel" a movie and this was a landmine of emotions set off from the very beginning. I personally disagree 100% about it being heavy handed and only made to try and get an Oscar. I can honestly feel how much fun they all had making this movie, directing it, acting in it, writing it. This was pure excitement over doing what they love. I don't look down on anyone for not being able to feel this, it just is what it is.
While my brother was an amazing writer and critic I disagreed with him many a time because he, like many who didn't like this movie, refused to enjoy a movie simply because it was mainstream.
I personally would love to see the Oscars disbanded and discontinued. I think it's an utter waste of time and removes the option of tearing a movie to shreds simply because one thinks it's only purpose is to win a damn trophy. Chuck, I am glad you enjoyed Seven Pounds, obviously you aren't a moron and I would enjoy debating with you further about The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
I will let you know how I like Slumdog Millionaire compared to this movie as soon as I see it. :D
For those who critique Brad's portrayal, this isn't The Curious Case of the PERFECT Benjamin Button. Humans make mistakes, they are not perfect and to me that is the gist of it all and what makes this movie beautiful and TRUE despite all that could not be in real life.
3:34 am
I meant to say WOULD remove the option (once there is no more "Academy Awards") of tearing a movie to shreds simply because one thinks it's only purpose is to win a damn trophy.
4:10 pm
Although I am not an educated film critic, I am an avid movie goer for at least 40 years, I have a wide variety of films that I have enjoyed, and many genres, that I continue to explore with great delight. I looked forward to this film when I first read about it. I have seen the reviews, and watched the trailers. I just watched this film last night and it made me mad. It was poorly acted , badly edited, boring, corny,dull, and yes predictable. I am a fan of Brad Pitt, I thought he was great in Babel, comical in Snatch,Ok in the Ocean's series, worth watching in Fight Club,and creepy in Kalifornia. Brad seems to hold back a lot, he is more of a re-actor than actor. Meet Joe Black? Legends of the fall? Seven? Troy?. These were terrible performances. I guess this is my opinion and I'm entitled to it as everyone. I couldn't believe that CCBB garnered 13 nominations, for editing, best writing? Make-up? Best Actor? Director? I already know the Oscar will go to Mickey Rourke, I have not seen all the nominated performances, but I can bet it won't be Brad Pitt, it would be robbery from any of the other nominated actors if he should win.
3:08 pm
Wow. Olszewski's review was what it was, but reading some of these comments is almost more entertaining. One thing keeps striking me about the negative comments: Some people seem to think that, if they don't agree with a critic's opinion of a given film, it makes that critic "incompetent".
Get over it. Reviews are OPINION, not gospel. People strongly disagree with someone like Roger Ebert, too. But HIS incomptetence lead him to fame and fortune, didn't it?
It's unfortunate that some grown adults are under the impression that, if a critic doesn't write what they, personally, want to read, that critic has no business writing anything. Grow up and understand that all criticism is is an opinion by someone who sees a hell of a lot more movies (or reads more books, goes to more restaurants, drives more new cars, etc.) than you do and gets paid for their opinion based on that experience. IT'S AN OPINION, not a :law" that tells you whether you're allowed to enjoty something or not.
Just because you don't agree with that opinion doesn't mean a reviewer isn't good at what they do. Use some adult common sense, for crying out loud. "Wah! I'm in love with Brad Pitt and you said he... (gasp!) isn't good! You should be fired!!!"
Idiots.
4:13 am
Yeah, there's always tough part of theater and movies: attraction to a character or belief in it that the viewer cannot just switch on, as though bisexual and willing to get it on with anyone. Some don't respond to Brad Pitt, find nothing there. Same issue for last year's "The Visitor". Coming and going .the lead, Richard Jenkins, is deeply depressed, first with empty academic life, then with his powerlessness in an unjust world. As he's also written and directed as entirely humorless, even a caring liberal can have a hard time being persuaded to empathize with a comfortably set Asperger's like mature adult, even after he surrenders to the street rhythms. There's still so little joy there.
But, that was my response, not that of those who kept this small film in release and pushed it for some award nominations.
My fave for the year was Fatih Akin's "Edge of Heaven", which I anticipated, but which still surprised me with its creative energy and different rhythms. A best of the last several years film for me, even if the actor in one of six leads, Baki Davrak maintains erotic physical detachment from the world around him. When Hanna Schygulla, whose daughter has just died, finds him in a large crowded tea room and asks how he recognized her among all the people coming and going, he replies, softly "Because you are the saddest person in the room." Schygulla has in fact more expressed concern to spot him than the great great grief she is in; so the versthehen of the line hits you as absolute truth and empathy. Or hit me, but not everybody else that saw the film. (Not persuaded this director can direct male actors?: See a berserker in Gegen die Wand (Head On))
4:08 pm
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course. I must say that I find the film reviews of the City Paper, and particularly those written by Tricia Olszewski very good. There are so many movies that if one doesn't choose carefully, they might end up being waste of time, energy, money as well as precious good mood.
Tricia and other reviewers at the City Paper guide in the right direction I think; at least, most of the time. I don't live in the D.C but I still follow the City Paper's reviews. So I say, Go Tricia!
12:44 pm
I want my 3 hours back!!!! One of the worst movies ever made. A poor man's "Forest Gump" as others have noted. Brad Pitt's character was a proverbial bump on a log...why are we supposed to care about him? Or believe he's such a great catch? Did the director just graduate from film school or did he even go?
Simply awful.