Never in my life did I ever think a film starring THE Jean-Claude Van Damme would crack anybody’s top 10, but alas, Hans has put the man who portrayed Frank Dux in one of my favorite martial arts films ever into his ever degenerating top 10 list, one that will surely live in infamy. What’s next, Rambo? After all that though, I may or may not be acquiring the aforementioned movie at the moment…
Alas, we now enter the somewhat boring part of my top 10 as I select some of the obligatory movies, Kicking them off, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button…
From the moment I first saw the trailer before the midnight showing of The Dark Knight, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button grabbed my attention. What an interesting premise! Brad Pitt! Cate Blanchett! David Fincher! All the recipes for success were in place for something truly special, and the hype just grew exponentially for the next 4-5 months, and it was already being penciled in as an across the boards lock for award season. When the release date came about, the film was never able to live up to the enormous hype that preceded it, but still won me over as a true marvel and showcase of why I love movies in the first place, and a wonderful love story in its own right that kept my rapt attention for its nearly 3 hour running time.
David Fincher has been one of my favorite directors for a long time, and the time had come for him to make a pure blockbuster. While I still prefer the vastly underrated Zodiac (easily one of my favorites from 2007), Fincher is a director who is not afraid to take his time to tell a story. Much has been made of the slow pace of Benjamin Button, but I find it to be a strong point. I mean, we are talking about the full life of an individual born under unusual circumstances. To rush through any part of his life would have been an injustice to the wholly unique idea, hatched by F. Scott Fitzgerald back in 1921.
The film can not be mentioned without the incredible work put in by all of the actors. Brad Pitt is wonderful as the title character in a very subdued performance that could have been interpreted totally differently and probably would have ruined the film, and Cate Blanchett is stunning as has come to be expected as Button’s lifelong love Daisy, in what should net her another Academy Award. Taraji P. Henson especially shines in her role as Benjamin Button’s adopted mother Queenie, setting herself up for at least a Best Supporting Actress nomination, if not a win.
Finally, the special effects that went into this film set a new standard for what we expect from the movies. Superman, Star Wars, Jurrasic Park, The Lord of the Rings, and now, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button are landmarks in technical achievement; nearly every shot is an effect shot with the complcated aging process with the actors, but it all is done so well that it allows you to enjoy the film for what it is: a magical epic dealing wth love and aging.
it was a little weird to see an old version of Brad Pitt’s face pasted onto a kid’s body, but i guess that’s why they call it a “curious case”
13 oscar nods and I’m sure cinematography, make-up and special effects will be big wins. I wasn’t sure what to expect of the movie but I watched it twice. (Screener’s copy) and plan on watching it again. There were so many messages in the movie and you’re absolute right, the biggest one was: love!
[…] include Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Sean Penn (Milk), Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler). (Full disclosure: I still need to see The Visitor, don’t […]
[…] two predictions, Best Director and Best Picture. The nominees in Best Director are David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon), Gus Van Sant (Milk), Stephen Daldry (The Reader), and Danny Boyle […]
[…] picks in an email, and will post them shortly. As for now, the nominations for Best Picture are The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, and Slumdog […]