Sunday, March 01, 2009
A curious case
Just got back from the cinema (for the first time this year!) after seeing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and I quite enjoyed it although I did find it to be a bit overlong. Nonetheless the story was suprisingly quite charming and pleasant, which is a real change of pace for David Fincher (if you think you will see Brad Pitt in this film beating the shit out of some bar patrons think again). The story follows the eponymous Benjamin who is born with a strange condition that makes him appear old as a baby with wrinkly skin as he grows up though he actually becomes younger and younger. During his life though he meets his life long companion and partner Daisy (Cate Blanchett looking rather radiant here!) and they throughout the events of his life they part and meet up again, but Daisy grows older Benjamin is getting younger.
So for once here we have a Fincher film that doesn't rely on fancy camera moves, loads of profanity or serial killers or people just being beaten and stabbed, I'm not dissing Fincher at all here, in fact its quite a pleasant story. Its subject matter is also quirky enough to keep it from becoming too sentimental or gushy, Fincher also provides some laughs along the way too the old guy getting struck by lightning 7 times and the scene where Brad and Cate finally get it on is funny:
Cate: Sleep with me.
Brad: Absolutely!
I didn't think the film struck me as one of the Fincher's best works but I think the fact that he can handle such material in an intelligent and sensitive way without turning it into a version of Forrest Gump was quite impressive. Its only the film's leisurely pace that kind of lets it down as it feels the pacing should have been tighter. But the cast are all great, Brad does fine in his quiet and assured role, Cate is terrific once again, there is also a nice cameo performance from Tilda Swinton (who faintly resembles Cate too). The aging makeup is terrific too, Brad's transformation from an old man into a shockingly young looking Pittster is totally believable looking (especially that towards the end where he literally looks about 18! Its quite freaky!).
So if you've got a few hours to kill I'd suggest you go and see Benjy's Button, its worth a watch.
So for once here we have a Fincher film that doesn't rely on fancy camera moves, loads of profanity or serial killers or people just being beaten and stabbed, I'm not dissing Fincher at all here, in fact its quite a pleasant story. Its subject matter is also quirky enough to keep it from becoming too sentimental or gushy, Fincher also provides some laughs along the way too the old guy getting struck by lightning 7 times and the scene where Brad and Cate finally get it on is funny:
Cate: Sleep with me.
Brad: Absolutely!
I didn't think the film struck me as one of the Fincher's best works but I think the fact that he can handle such material in an intelligent and sensitive way without turning it into a version of Forrest Gump was quite impressive. Its only the film's leisurely pace that kind of lets it down as it feels the pacing should have been tighter. But the cast are all great, Brad does fine in his quiet and assured role, Cate is terrific once again, there is also a nice cameo performance from Tilda Swinton (who faintly resembles Cate too). The aging makeup is terrific too, Brad's transformation from an old man into a shockingly young looking Pittster is totally believable looking (especially that towards the end where he literally looks about 18! Its quite freaky!).
So if you've got a few hours to kill I'd suggest you go and see Benjy's Button, its worth a watch.
# posted by kenny @ 11:17 pm 
