I first read about The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button in a review in Empire Magazine, it had been given a 5 star rating and this is the sole reason I wanted to see the film, although I am not a regular reader of Empire I had heard that they rarely give 5 star ratings, so I went to see this film with high expectations.
The film also had a massive reception and was nominated for 10 BAFTA's of which it won 3, and has been nominated for 13 Academy Awards. The film main competition has been Danny Boyle's, Slumdog Millionaire which was reviewed in the same issue of Empire and also recieved 5 stars. After been beaten to the best picture and director awards at the BAFTA's by Slumdog Millionaire it will be interesting to see how Fincher's effort fares at the Academy Awards.
The film is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and there have been a few previous attempts to recreate it for the big screen. In May 2004 David Fincher was selected as the man to direct the film, and in November 2006 filming finally began. The obvious difficulties came in post production when they began the metamorphis on Brad Pitt's face during his infant years.
The film follows the story of Benjamin Button who when he was born was ohysically the age of a man in his late 80's, a few years into his life he met Daisy. Eventually he leaves for a life on the sea. When he returns he meets Daisy again and we see how there love affair blossoms.
Although the story can be enchanting at times there is always an underlying sadness and the inevitability that there love affair will come to an end. The story is about the couples failure to beat time and the film eventually comes to a teary end, and I must admit I had a lump in my throat.
Pitt's performance is a joy to behold and is without a doubt the best performance of his career. Cate Blanchett is also brilliant in her role as Daisy although clearly overshadowed by Pitt's performance. The direction from David Fincher is as always brilliant and even at the happiest moments in the film there is always an underlying feeling of sorrow.
Although the film is a different genre to Slumdog Millionaire, I just can't see Oscar success for Benjamin Button although if it did win the awards it would be fully deserved. Unfortunately for David Fincher his film has come up against very stiff competition in Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire.
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Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Production Year: 1997 - Drama - Director: Gillian Armstrong - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Cate Blanchett, Ciaran Hinds, Tom Wilkinson, Richard Roxburgh
This is an anthology of the best stories written by Francis Scott Fitzgerald - including ... more
"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" and "A Diamond As Big As The Ritz". People who were unfailingly polite racked their brains for comp...
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I was born under unusual circumstances. And so begins The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, ... more
adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time...
I was born under unusual circumstances. And so begins The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, ... more
adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time...
Advantages: Everything. It's got depth, good characters, good plot, its well thought out, thought provoking... Disadvantages: You have to pay attention... That's it. No half watching this film.
surveysista1988 10.06.2009 (10.06.2009)
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