| Author |
Message |
|
| chillywilly |
 Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 6:15 pm |
 |
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 8251
Location: Salt Lake City
|
Ignore everything you've come to expect from a David Fincher film, except for his attention to detail when telling a story.
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" was a very well put together adaptation of a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Every part of the 2 hour and 37 minute movie made me enjoy how the story unfolded about Benjamin Button, a person born old and growing younger as he ages.
Brad Pitt has transformed this role into one of my favorite of his. The attention to detail with his character (and appearance) was superb and it was one of the most different, but engrossing stories I have seen.
Cate Blanchett is equal in praise of Daisy, a childhood friend who finds her way in and out of Benjamin's life many times.
The aging of time melded well into the plot, with each of the scenes, time periods and styles being very much believable.
If this film doesn't garner at least a couple of Oscar nods (Adapted Screenplay and Makeup), I'll be shocked.
Highly recommended for anyone sitting on the fence with this or those who were not fans of David Fincher's movies. |
_________________
Chilly
"If you should die before me / Ask if you could bring a friend" |
|
| Back to top |
    
|
| mo_flixx |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:15 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 30 May 2004
Posts: 12533
|
mo_flixx wrote: I read the very short story "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" tonight. I can honestly say that apart from the general idea of the story itself, there is absolutely nothing in the short story that is carried over to the movie. Not one thing.
And yes, as billy said, the short story has creepy elements. It is not whimsical nor bittersweet. It is, as the title suggests, a curiosity.
None of the cinematic elements of the film (the romantic locations of wintery Murmansk or languid New Orleans, the Ralph Laurenesque beauty of the characters, etc.) are present in the short story.
Here's the link again:
http://www.readbookonline.net/read/690/10628/
chilly --
did you see this post about "Benj. Button?" Have you read the short story? I would not term the movie an adaptation. I would call it loosely based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. (Despite whatever the credits say).
There is NOTHING in the story that is in the movie - none of the characters at all except for Benj. and his father. There is a lot of talk about the Ivy League: Harvard and Yale. It has elements one might expect from an early 20th C. Fitzgerald story but NONE of what we see in the movie.
I'm not going to debate whether it will get an award or not...but truly, the script is completely manufactured with Gumpish elements, and based on almost nothing of Fitzgerald's story. Go to the link above if you don't believe me. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| lshap |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:40 pm |
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 4248
Location: Montreal
|
Chill,
Lots of folks in the biz would agree with your glowing review of Benjie Button. I don't. I liked Pitt and Blanchet as a couple in unusual circumstances (they were also paired in Babel. Can't these two kids have a normal relationship?), but the central theme of Button's un-aging lacked the poignancy it needed to make it work for me. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| lissa |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 7:49 pm |
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 2148
Location: my computer
|
Quote: ...Button's un-aging...
Have yet to see the movie, but familiar with its premise - shouldn't that be de-aging..? |
_________________
Statistically, 6 out of 7 dwarfs aren't happy. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| chillywilly |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:04 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 8251
Location: Salt Lake City
|
| Thanks, Mo. I will go check out that link to the details behind the story. It should shed more light for myself on why NONE of the short story is contained in the movie. |
_________________
Chilly
"If you should die before me / Ask if you could bring a friend" |
|
| Back to top |
|
| chillywilly |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 8:15 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 8251
Location: Salt Lake City
|
Lorne,
I couldn't take Babel. All I could do to watch it. Pitt and Blanchett were awkward, IMO.
There was something that worked for me in Benjamin Button. Mo mentioned the "Gump-ish" moments in the movie, but Gump was more of a manufactured movie and plot, creating cheesy catch phrases that were intended to be marketed to death. Benjamin Button didn't seem to have cliche phrases or cheesy moments. Even if there is hardly any connection to the original short story (as Mo mentioned), I still enjoyed the movie. |
_________________
Chilly
"If you should die before me / Ask if you could bring a friend" |
|
| Back to top |
|
| Befade |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:16 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 3784
Location: AZ
|
| Kate Winslett definitely deserved the Golden Globe for The Reader. It should have been best actress, not supporting......but she was amazing. See this movie if you haven't. Read the book, too. |
_________________
Lost in my own private I dunno. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| chillywilly |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:20 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 8251
Location: Salt Lake City
|
mo_flixx wrote: Just saw BUTTON. It wasn't as bad as I thought. All the criticisms are merited...but in some ways, I think it was worth seeing. Esp. on the big screen.
The look of the film is just about perfect. I'm curious about Fitzgerald's story which would have had to have been set much earlier than the movie. The old age makeup is creepy to say the least. The baby Benjamin is pretty horrifying.
The youthful makeup for both Pitt and Blanchett is truly amazing. I'm not sure just how they got Pitt to look 16, but they did and it works. Pitt age 30 - 40ish on a motorcycle and on a sailboat is just about the most gorgeous thing imaginable. He hasn't looked that good in years! Think Ralph Lauren ad. Cate can't even come close.
The Gumpisms (the hurricane, etc.) seem unnecessary. And the film could have been much shorter. There's too much CGI...when will they learn?
Tilda Swinton and the scenes in Murmansk, U.S.S.R. are romantic and beautiful.
...
Going back and finding posts on BUTTON.
The cinematography of the movie was something I didn't mention in my first hand report. Stunning, to say the least.
The CGI that bothered me a lot and didn't look as genuine as it could have was the cold air breath scenes. Nitpicky, but noticeable. |
_________________
Chilly
"If you should die before me / Ask if you could bring a friend" |
|
| Back to top |
|
| Earl |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:23 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 09 Jun 2004
Posts: 2621
Location: Houston
|
Befade wrote: Kate Winslett definitely deserved the Golden Globe for The Reader. It should have been best actress, not supporting......but she was amazing. See this movie if you haven't. Read the book, too.
Saw the movie today and I agree. I'll get the book from the library as soon as I can, but with the movie getting some publicity there is a waiting list. |
_________________
"I have a suspicion that you are all mad," said Dr. Renard, smiling sociably; "but God forbid that madness should in any way interrupt friendship." |
|
| Back to top |
|
| lissa |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:25 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 2148
Location: my computer
|
| I posted in the TV forum, Betsy, that I'm going to start the book PDQ (bought it and have saved it, for whatever reason). I have to see the film but won't till I've read the book. I've heard amazing things about both. Glad to know Kate deserved the award, I adore her in everything; good to see her recognized. |
_________________
Statistically, 6 out of 7 dwarfs aren't happy. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:33 pm |
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
|
| Kate love, Linney love, Wilkinson love, Giamatti love.... I'm liking the Golden Globes, even if I haven't seen the specific work. |
_________________
I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed? |
|
| Back to top |
|
| lissa |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 9:42 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 2148
Location: my computer
|
High points: Ricky Gervais (who is one of my all-time favorite people in show biz), this line about war from Ari Folman:
Quote: ..."an ancient videogame that has nothing to do with their lives whatsoever."
Paul Giamatti's speech, Laura Linney's smile, Tom Hanks's class...and the standing O for Heath Ledger put tears in my eyes. |
_________________
Statistically, 6 out of 7 dwarfs aren't happy. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| lshap |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:15 pm |
|
|
|
Site Admin
Joined: 12 May 2004
Posts: 4248
Location: Montreal
|
Earl wrote: Befade wrote: Kate Winslett definitely deserved the Golden Globe for The Reader. It should have been best actress, not supporting......but she was amazing. See this movie if you haven't. Read the book, too.
Saw the movie today and I agree. I'll get the book from the library as soon as I can, but with the movie getting some publicity there is a waiting list.
While you movie geeks were wasting time watching the GG's I was getting a blood pressure workout watching the season premier of 24.
That said, yeah, I loved Winslet in The Reader. Loved the film, too! Defining her role as "Supporting" is head-shakingly stupid and ...um...unsupportable. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| Earl |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:22 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 09 Jun 2004
Posts: 2621
Location: Houston
|
| Colin Farrell wins for In Bruge! Fuckin' A !!! |
_________________
"I have a suspicion that you are all mad," said Dr. Renard, smiling sociably; "but God forbid that madness should in any way interrupt friendship." |
|
| Back to top |
|
| whiskeypriest |
| Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2009 10:41 pm |
|
|
|
Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 6916
Location: "It's a Dry Heat."
|
| It's the Year of the Kate.... |
_________________
I ask you, Velvel, as a rational man, which of us is possessed? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
