Benjamin Button

[SonOfArathorn]

Sorry if a thread exists already. But my lady and I just watched it last weekend finally and all I can say is wow. Even after all of the Oscar talk and hype I still came away very impressed. I've read in a lot of "overrated movie" threads that people here didn't like this movie. I cannot understand how anyone with a heart didn't like it, it is one of the deepest movies I've ever seen. There are very few films that I think about for days after I've seen them but this is one of them, Brad Pitt was excellent (his acting is so hit and miss I was worried) Cate Blanchett was here usual perfect self. I didn't even realize how long it was until it was over and I saw that close to 3 hours had gone by. PQ and AQ were absolutely top shelf. Fincher finally has his masterpiece.
Yes, for some it may have stayed too much in the melancholy but it was a pretty spot on film in my opinion. I would give this movie 5 out of 5 stars across the board.
Comparing it to Slumdog I don't see how it didn't win the nod for best picture, it is easily the best film I've seen since The Constant Gardener.

[CYMBOL]

My problem with the movie is he didn't really do anything or experience anything out of the ordinary. His life story could have been told without the "aging backwards" premise and it wouldn't have changed anything.

Well made movie - the story just didn't do it for me.

[Suntory_Times]

^ I think part of the point of the film is that he lived a somewhat 'ordinary' life despite his condition.

This was also my favorite film since Sweeney Todd and The Constant Gardener, and is easily one of my favorite films. The end just twists my gut its so beautifully yet in a way painful to watch (it evoked both great sadness, happiness and beauty all at the same time for me). As for Fincher, despite only having made seven feature films he is already one of my favourite directors (despite the average yet beautifully shot Alien 3 and terrible end to The Game). I'd also suggest other films that are likely to be remembered in years to come by Fincher are Seven, Fight Club, Zodiac and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Of course one must always mention the beautiful seduction dance scene (how many people can say there draw didn't fall open during this scene).

[hardcorefrokid]

I was was in awe when I finished it, I started tearing up. Yes, tearing up. I wanted to watch it again the moment I finished it. A masterpiece hands down. Plus, it's $13.99 on Amazon.

[tbizzle]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

^ I think part of the point of the film is that he lived a somewhat 'ordinary' life despite his condition.

We agree once again

Man I need to check out The Constant Gardener, I can't believe I missed a Rachel Weisz movie! And to OP, glad you enjoyed Ben Button! I saw it a few months ago and bought it the next day, can't wait to watch it again soon

[adh56]

Fincher has been making great movies for a while now but I was really impressed by TCCOBB and Zodiac.

[jasonicus]

I was not impressed with this movie at all. It felt like I had seen it before. A decent film, but just not as good as it could have been.

[Sussudio]

Great analysis, Arathon! I too thought it was an incredible movie that should have won best picture.

Also, I agree with the statement above that the point of the story was to show one "unordinary" man's ordinary life. One of the major themes of the movie was mortality and how we perceive it.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

Great analysis, Arathon! I too thought it was an incredible movie that should have won best picture.

Also, I agree with the statement above that the point of the story was to show one "unordinary" man's ordinary life. One of the major themes of the movie was mortality and how we perceive it.

Hmmm, I guess I don't see the amazing story of an ordinary man's ordinary life.

It was a very well made film. Just not that interesting in the end.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

Hmmm, I guess I don't see the amazing story of an ordinary man's ordinary life.

It was a very well made film. Just not that interesting in the end.

Understandable, as not everyone views movies in the same light I'm glad, since people with different tastes are what keep things interesting. It would be extremely boring if everyone all loved and hated the same movies

[SDon1969]

I recently bought this and watched it two nights ago. The AQ & PQ were outstanding, of course (thanks, Criterion).

I thought it was a very well-made film. I think that with Benjamin's unique condition, following his life more effectively highlighted what we all experience - life, love & loss. The movie has had me thinking for the past couple days, like SonOfArathorn mentioned. I've always been a big Fincher fan; now, even more so.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

Understandable, as not everyone views movies in the same light I'm glad, since people with different tastes are what keep things interesting. It would be extremely boring if everyone all loved and hated the same movies

Yeah, I get what you're saying. . . some people have no taste, but I can't hold it against you all.

Seriously though, good movie, well made, but nothing in his life was interesting to me.

Take away the fact that he was aging backwards (which was barely a factor), and it was a very boring movie, with very boring characters - hell, I'd go as far as to say unlikeable characters. His love interest was so uninteresting.

If the point of the movie was "life is uninteresting and then we die" - well then, bravo!

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

Take away the fact that he was aging backwards (which was barely a factor), and it was a very boring movie, with very boring characters - hell, I'd go as far as to say unlikeable characters. His love interest was so uninteresting.

I feel it became a very big factor, especially in the final act of the film (eg: him leaving his daughter, and how he and Daisy lived out there final years). Also, how he was treat by others was constantly the opposite of what someone his age would generally be treat, which I found was a fun and interesting 'concept'.

It isn't for everyone, but I would recommend giving it another try at a later date as I can see how this could be a film many may have to be in the right mood to enjoy (I know several people who where disappointed purely as they where hoping for a movie like the notebook, which was considerably less sad).

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

If the point of the movie was "life is uninteresting and then we die" - well then, bravo!

You think Benjamin's life was uninteresting? I'd be very happy if my life turned out half as fulfilling as his did, albeit it was considerably less then many characters achieve in movies, but that to me is also part of its charm). Anyway, enough gushing from me.

[MaCruz]

I bought this as a blind buy, and this movie has to be one of the best PQ movies on blu. I would rate the movie/PQ/AQ almost perfect.

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by macruz19

I bought this as a blind buy, and this movie has to be one of the best PQ movies on blu. I would rate the movie/PQ/AQ almost perfect.

There is what appears to be some slight film damage in the final shot of the film, which is odd considering it was shot with digital cameras. In any case it is so minor it is barely worth noting (even when you know its there you would rarely notice). Aside from that I can't fault the video quality or audio quality.

[MaCruz]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

There is what appears to be some slight film damage in the final shot of the film, which is odd considering it was shot with digital cameras. In any case it is so minor it is barely worth noting (even when you know its there you would rarely notice). Aside from that I can't fault the video quality or audio quality.

Maybe next time I watch it... I'll pay attention to the ending.

[Moefiz]

I really like this movie, just a well done movie about a man journey thru life and how he is grounded by the special people around him.
Certainly not for everyone, there isn't any action or comedy just really good acting accompany by a wonderful score.

[Pelican170]

I dont like this one at all. I just have a hard time with it because through the whole movie, nobody seems remotely interested in the fact that this guy ages backwards!!! they all act like its no big deal lol. cant get over that...

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

You think Benjamin's life was uninteresting? I'd be very happy if my life turned out half as fulfilling as his did, albeit it was considerably less then many characters achieve in movies, but that to me is also part of its charm). Anyway, enough gushing from me.

I really didn't find his life (minus the agining phenomenon), very interesting.

I thought growing up in a nursing home was interesting - however, as I mentioned, the story could have been told with a child growing up there and it would have been the same (ala My Girl).

As a "teen", he gets drunk and visits a brothel. . . ultimately, I don't care.

He leaves home and gets on a boat. Other than the brush with the enemy boat, I was bored and didn't find his experiences very interesting.

His affair with the married woman was fairly pointless to the whole of the story and very boring. (Not sure how this was supposed to endear me to the character. Ben's a cheat and doing another man's wife. Bad Ben, bad!)

After that, it was mainly his love story. Maybe it was because I just didn't see the "love story" as anything special. Both characters were so boring and mundane. And Cate Blanchette's character just didn't make me like her.

In the end, she cares for him in his old (young) age. Again, this is no different then regular life when a loved one cares for a spouse who has gone down hill.

Is it sad? Yes. It's not that he film was bad in any way (as I've said), I simply was expecting something truly magical in the story, something we don't see every day - in the end, I felt I had watched a very slow tale about an every day life. I never found any interesting wisdom or conclusions he came to that anyone aging normally doesn't already learn.

At the end of the movie, my wife and I basically shrugged.

Either way, Fincher is a fantastic director - looking forward to his next movie.

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

Either way, Fincher is a fantastic director - looking forward to his next movie.

At the very least we can agree on Fincher being a fantastic director, though his next project doesn't particularly excite me.

Originally Posted by macruz19

Maybe next time I watch it... I'll pay attention to the ending.

I noticed film damage on casino royale as well, which few seem to mention.

I know it wasn't film damage on Benjamin Button as no film was used, but I can't imagine it being an an encoding problem, or artistic intent either. I should probably point out that the final scene is not one that has the 'film damage effect' there on purpose. The rest of the film was perfect as far as I could tell and I've yet to see a reviewer give the picture quality anything either then a perfect score, so I guess I was just surprised, as everything seems to suggest it really should not be there.


This thread has made me watch the film yet again (that's three time in the past two weeks know, and I want to go back to the first scene and watch it all over again).