On the Record Posts: 5491 Joined: 13 Aug 2008 | Now, before I start this review, let me say that I may be a little biased by the fact that this is the first movie I have seen in the theatre in years, instead of waiting for it to come out on DVD and watching it at home, so take the fact that I was watching it on a movie screen and not a TV into account.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Directed by David Fincher, Screenplay by Eric Roth, based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is quite aptly named. The titular character, one Benjamin Button, is in fact quite a curious case: he was born old. Whereas the natural cycle is to be born a child and die an old man, Benjamin was born as with the body of an 80-year old man, and over the course of his life grows steadily younger. It follows him as he tries to live his life, a man growing younger while the people around him gradually grow older.
The story of Benjamin Button is told by way of a framing narrative, or a story within a story. The movie begins in a hospital room in New Orleans, LA, during the approach of Hurricane Katrina. The room is occupied by an old woman on her deathbed, Daisy, and her daughter Caroline. The story of Benjamin Button is contained in his diary, which Caroline is reading to her mother at her behest. The plot switches back to the hospital room on certain occasions to allow Daisy to elaborate on certain events that Benjamin would not have been privy to.
While the plot's details change over the course of the film, the overarching story of Benjamin and Daisy remains constant. It is a love story, but one unlike most of what you find in theatres nowadays. Benjamin and Daisy struggle to make the relationship work despite Benjamin's "condition".
One of the things I found striking in the movie was the way that the plot of Benjamin Button's story changes to fit the fiction of the times that Benjamin lives through. In his childhood in the 1920's and 30's, the plot focuses on the segregation between him and the people around him. The elderly people that he lives with treat him as a child, and the children think of him as an old man. Then in his teenage years it follows his experiences in World War Two, losing his innocence all too quickly. This continues through each era he lives through, the plot subtly altering itself to parallel the era's novels and movies. Most people will probably not even care about that, but for the people that notice it changes the entire way you look at the movie.
Another point of interest is that over the course of the movie, I found myself distracted from Benjamin's "curious case", instead focusing on the characters. I went in expecting some simple fiction about a man who was aging in the opposite direction, but was surprised to discover that this was not the case. It became more of a story of the times around Benjamin, with his aging alternating between the main focal point and merely a side story.
Overall, I have to recommend this movie, but with a caveat: if you are expecting a simple story or any action, this is not the movie for you. It is complex, more so than most other movies that have come out in recent years, but I for one enjoyed it, and strongly recommend it for anyone that wants their movies with a bit of thought involved.
Truly an instant classic
~Andrew
NOTE: This is my first review, so any constructive criticism is welcome. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1092 Joined: 23 Sep 2008 | You have got me interested
to the Demonoid! |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1652 Joined: 2 Nov 2008 | That was really good, I like how succinct it was and how you brought out something that (according to you, I haven't seen this movie yet) is easily missed. Now I know what to look for.
Glad to hear C2B2 is more than just a gimmick and actually has some depth, I've heard otherwise from some reviews, but I have a feeling they're just naysaying philistines. I'll probably go see this film sometime soon =)
Now why I'm talking in big words is a mystery ._. (tries to shake off the air of formality *shake*) |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1809 Joined: 8 Nov 2008 | Good review, THOUGH I think you may need to put some critisicm in BUT judging from what you say it does sound so good that it might not need any? And you do talk about the plot alot which you may need to be careful of. (maybe talk about how the actors played their parts and stuff?) |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1092 Joined: 23 Sep 2008 | one problem, I feel they rushed the end a bit, thats it |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 3106 Joined: 28 May 2008 | Pretty good review. I do usually like a bit more detail/length in my reviews, but what you've written is good. Plus you're got me intrigued by this now, I shall have to check it out. |
On the Record Posts: 5491 Joined: 13 Aug 2008 | neoman10:
one problem, I feel they rushed the end a bit, thats it
I have to agree with you on that point, I thought that it ground to something of an abrupt halt, after the amount of time he spent as an old and middle aged man, the time he spent when he was younger seemed far too short. It also nags me that I can't figure out the significance of the storm motif, seeing as how it appears several times throughout the narrative, and I find it hard to believe it's just meant to link the framing narration with the diary's story. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1092 Joined: 23 Sep 2008 | xitel:
neoman10:
one problem, I feel they rushed the end a bit, thats it
I have to agree with you on that point, I thought that it ground to something of an abrupt halt, after the amount of time he spent as an old and middle aged man, the time he spent when he was younger seemed far too short. It also nags me that I can't figure out the significance of the storm motif, seeing as how it appears several times throughout the narrative, and I find it hard to believe it's just meant to link the framing narration with the diary's story.
I think it was so people could relate and know she was gonna die no matter what because of what happened in Katrina |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1195 Joined: 31 Jul 2008 | The significance of Hurricane Katrina is really not that hard to understand assuming you're read anything at all by F. Scott Fitzgerald (specifically the Great Gatsby).
Beginning of the movie = Storm picks up, everyone gets antsy.
Middle of the movie = Storm backs off a touch, everyone relaxes, ease of tension goes surprisingly well with how happy everyone in the movie is at this point.
End of the movie = Storm gets closer, prepares to fuck everything up. The movie ends abruptly so we can all go home and muse on how terribly unsubtle the symbolism in the film was.
The behaviour of the storm parallels the feelings of the characters. That's all there is to it. (I believe I pointed this out in my review too). |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1341 Joined: 19 Jun 2008 | Excellent review. I would elaborate a bit more on the cinematography and maybe the sound but overall, you were informative and critical. Good job!
I haven't seen it yet, but I intend to. Everything I've read by Fitzgerald I've liked. |
Now, before I start this review, let me say that I may be a little biased by the fact that this is the first movie I have seen in the theatre in years, instead of waiting for it to come out on DVD and watching it at home, so take the fact that I was watching it on a movie screen and not a TV into account.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Directed by David Fincher, Screenplay by Eric Roth, based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is quite aptly named. The titular character, one Benjamin Button, is in fact quite a curious case: he was born old. Whereas the natural cycle is to be born a child and die an old man, Benjamin was born as with the body of an 80-year old man, and over the course of his life grows steadily younger. It follows him as he tries to live his life, a man growing younger while the people around him gradually grow older.
The story of Benjamin Button is told by way of a framing narrative, or a story within a story. The movie begins in a hospital room in New Orleans, LA, during the approach of Hurricane Katrina. The room is occupied by an old woman on her deathbed, Daisy, and her daughter Caroline. The story of Benjamin Button is contained in his diary, which Caroline is reading to her mother at her behest. The plot switches back to the hospital room on certain occasions to allow Daisy to elaborate on certain events that Benjamin would not have been privy to.
While the plot's details change over the course of the film, the overarching story of Benjamin and Daisy remains constant. It is a love story, but one unlike most of what you find in theatres nowadays. Benjamin and Daisy struggle to make the relationship work despite Benjamin's "condition".
One of the things I found striking in the movie was the way that the plot of Benjamin Button's story changes to fit the fiction of the times that Benjamin lives through. In his childhood in the 1920's and 30's, the plot focuses on the segregation between him and the people around him. The elderly people that he lives with treat him as a child, and the children think of him as an old man. Then in his teenage years it follows his experiences in World War Two, losing his innocence all too quickly. This continues through each era he lives through, the plot subtly altering itself to parallel the era's novels and movies. Most people will probably not even care about that, but for the people that notice it changes the entire way you look at the movie.
Another point of interest is that over the course of the movie, I found myself distracted from Benjamin's "curious case", instead focusing on the characters. I went in expecting some simple fiction about a man who was aging in the opposite direction, but was surprised to discover that this was not the case. It became more of a story of the times around Benjamin, with his aging alternating between the main focal point and merely a side story.
Overall, I have to recommend this movie, but with a caveat: if you are expecting a simple story or any action, this is not the movie for you. It is complex, more so than most other movies that have come out in recent years, but I for one enjoyed it, and strongly recommend it for anyone that wants their movies with a bit of thought involved.
Truly an instant classic
~Andrew
NOTE: This is my first review, so any constructive criticism is welcome.