Written by: Dominick at 2:56 pm
Movie Info:
Writers: Eric Roth, Robin Swicord
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Brad Pitt, Spencer Daniels, Cate Blanchett, Elle Fanning, Madisen Beatty, Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormond, Jason Flemyng, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Jared Harris, Elias Koteas, Tilda Swinton
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Paramount
Release Info:
Theatrical Release: December 25, 2008
DVD Release Date: May 5, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $22.99
Though he’s not my favorite actor, I have this thing with Brad Pitt movies. In the vast majority of cases, I love them. Fight Club, Kalifornia, Se7en, Sleepers, Twelve Monkeys. They all top my favorite movies list. Troy, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Ocean’s Eleven and Thelma & Louise are all movies I’ve seen several times. There is just something about Brad Pitt movies. They are great!
There was no doubt I’d see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It has Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in it, together. Blanchett is one of the actress’ I feel fit into a special, elite group in today’s Hollywood. Her glamor and acting chops remind me of Old Hollywood, when actors actually needed to know how to act. She has the drive and talent of a Katherine Hepburn and the grace of a Grace Kelly. In the acting world, she’s a rarity.
I knew little of the story behind The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Like a good writer, I did my research before watching this movie. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is based on a short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Though I’m a selective purist when it comes to films adapted from literary works, I wasn’t at all offended by how little The Curious Case of Benjamin Button resembles the story by Fitzgerald. I had the chance to read the story, and while good, I feel Fitzgerald wanted to accomplish something different in telling the story of Benjamin Button than Eric Roth did in his adaptation of the story.
Truly, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a very loose translation of the story. The only thing the two have in common is the name and the fact that Benjamin Button is born old and dies young. However, even in that, I must say I prefer Fitzgerald’s interpretation of ‘Benjamin Button,’ where Button is born old in every way (reading, knowledgeable, of a mature height and look) than Roth’s interpretation where Benjamin is born looking like an old man in a baby form. Still, I don’t mean to imply this takes away from the film plot for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Honestly, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an excellent stand alone film, if you can look past all Fitzgerald accomplished with his story. The addition of Daisy and her sub plot makes a very different impression than what happens to Benjamin Button in the story. In many ways, the film is much more optimistic in what it is trying to accomplish, not that the story is pessimistic. I just feel more for Benjamin in the story than I did for Benjamin in the movie.
The The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Plot
The movie starts in 2005. In New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina is making her presence known. Daisy (Cate Blanchett), an elderly woman in a New Orleans hospital, who is dying, is alone with her daughter Caroline (Julia Ormond). Daisy tells Caroline about a blind clockmaker Gateau (Elias Koteas), and why he made a clock that told time backwards. The story is somewhat poignant in light of their current plight.
Once Daisy finishes a story, she asks Caroline to read the diary of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt). The journal is filled with pictures and postcards and tells the intimate tale of the author’s life. Benjamin was born on November 11, 1918, the day that New Orleans is celebrating the end of WWI. The son of the Buttons, Benjamin is born with the appearance of an elderly man. His mother dies after giving birth to him and his father, who owns his own store, Thomas Button (Jason Flemyng) is ashamed of him. He feels he has no choice but to abandon him at a nursing home.
Benjamin is found by Queenie (Taraji P. Henson) and Tizzy (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali). They are a couple who work at the nursing home. Tizzy wants nothing to do with the child, but Queenie is unable to have children, so she takes Benjamin in and raises him as her own. It is she who names him Benjamin. As Benjamin ages, he physically becomes younger. When Benjamin should be 11 or 12 years old, he meets a young girl named Daisy (Elle Fanning). Daisy and Benjamin become fast friends. Daisy’s grandmother lives in the nursing home where Queenie and Tizzy work.
Within a few years, Benjamin sets out to work. He works on the docks, on a tugboat for Captain Mike (Jared Harris). It is in this time that he meets his father, though he doesn’t know that is who Thomas is. When Benjamin sets out to sea with the Captain, Daisy asks him to send her postcards. As Benjamin gets younger, Daisy continues to age. She becomes a dancer and falls in love with someone else. He, of course, is in love with her. The story explores the rest of Benjamin’s life and what it is like to, essentially, age backwards, the world passing him by in a much different way then most would expect.
Storyline/Plot: 
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:
Audio/Visual:
The quality for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is excellent. I expect this quality of a new movie. There really weren’t any compression errors or other problems you will sometimes see with DVDs. The film is presented in 2.40:1 widescreen with a 1080p screen resolution. It’s hard to complain about anything that is as beautiful as this presentation. The excellent quality compliments an excellent movie.
The audio for Benjamin Button is excellent. Your have the option of using ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1, ENGLISH: DTS-HD MA 5.1, SPANISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 or FRENCH: Dolby Digital 5.1. The English DTS is incredibly dynamic with excellent surround quality. The biggest compliment audio-wise is the magnificent score. It just swells through the speakers. There are also some great sound effects from the calm sea to the raging storm. Subtitles are available, for those who wish to use them in English, Spanish and French.
Visual:
Audio:
Bonus Features:
The special features for Benjamin Button are almost as impressive as the movie. Fincher provides a riveting commentary that is filled with information about the movie, the important casting process, and many tidbits that came from making the film. While the commentary is a treat to listen to, it’s not the most impressive offering in this set.
The second disc is exclusively special features. In fact, it’s really one huge documentary that is split into four stages. The stages, all offering a series of featurettes, interviews, and galleries are First, Second, and Third Trimesters and Birth. The special features in the documentary form run for a few minutes less than three hours. Anything you could possibly want to know about this movie has been included.
The First Trimester includes “Preface,” “Development and Pre-Production,” and
“Tech Scouts.” The Storyboard and Art Direction Galleries are also included. This section really gives you a feel for what went on before the movie was being filmed. The Second Trimester delves into production with “Production Part 1″ and “Production Part 2.” These featurettes offer a great deal of information about costume design, special effects and other behind the scenes matters. Another “Costume Design” featurette and a Costume Gallery are also included.
The Third Trimester offers “Visual Effects: Performance Capture,” “Visual Effects: Benjamin,” “Visual Effects: Youthenization,” “Visual Effects: The Chelsea,” “Visual Effects: The Simulated World,” “Sound Design,” and “Desplat’s Instrumentarium.” It’s worth noting that if you want to leave anything to the imagination, you should avoid the Third Trimester as they really offer a clear and insightful view of what went on to make these characters look the way that they did. Finally, Birth offers a “Premiere” featurette along with some trailers and Production Stills.
A final word of warning, if you use the Play All feature, look out for featurettes that were not included as a few of them in each section seem to be left out.
Bonus Features:
Bottom Line:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, though not very similar to the story it was based upon, is actually a really terrific film. The acting is amazing. It’s easy to see why this film won Oscars for Art Direction, Makeup and Visual Effects. The picture is stunning and is only enhanced by a unique story and standout performances by Pitt and Blanchett. This movie comes highly recommended. Pick it up in the Two Disc Special Edition if you like special features. If not, getting the movie on its own is well worth the price you’ll pay.
Overall Rating:
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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
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Dominick Evans is in his late 20's. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.
