David Fincher & “ The Curious case of Benjamin Button”
iView Author: BIPIN VADDI (BOSTON, U.S.A)
Email: bvaddi@gmail.com
David Fincher & “ The Curious case of Benjamin Button”
When someone’s resume starts with some rock video’s for the MTV generation, then takes on a super franchise like Aliens and then delivering a disillusioned sequel, you would imagine, that they would go back to making music videos.
The director then comes up a supremely and immaculately made movie called “Se7en” and stuck the then poster boy Brad Pitt in a grimly set, depressing setting – along with the magnificent Morgan Freeman and Kevin Spacey. Yes, I am talking about one of my very favorite contemporary directors, who have developed a cult like following in the present times. – Mr. David Fincher. Everything from the credits rolling backwards to the BGM, and also the color of the movie, the sets, the performances – had me mesmerized, when I first saw “Se7en”.
Then the brilliance of the man, made him deliver – The Game, Fight Club ( I cannot talk or convey or admire anything about this movie, which has already not been said or written anywhere else – I scratched almost 3 DVD’s of this movie – due to repeated watching’s – and every time I discover something new and appreciate it some more. I cannot think of any other movie, where so many philosophies have been layered and put together so brilliantly. I still listen to its soundtrack and still can quote TYLER DURDEN at any given point of the time. Yes, I am a Space monkey ready for Project Mayhem indeed).
He followed it up with the well made “Panic Room” – which was a straightforward commercial movie – with brilliant technical wizardry behind the scenes. Something, which is a given for this brilliant works man. If at all, I had to pick one movie, which has not my expectations – it would be “Panic Room”. Even though, it was better than most regular Hollywood directors could have made, taken into consideration that the whole movie was based on the concept of 2 people trapped in a room, when their home is broken into.
He then came up with one of the most compelling stories and extracted one of the best work from Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo in ZODIAC. The entire movie is paced so well, that in spite of the running time, I did not look at the watch a single time during the movie. There was a certain tension in the air and also eeriness, when watching this movie. The true mark of this director was to transport us into that world and when we come to know that this movie is actually based on a true killer – it just hits you even harder.
Anyways, along side Danny Boyle, Gus Van Sant, Christopher Nolan, Pedro Almodovar, and Quentin Tarantino, David Fincher is one of the very best directors in Contemporary times. ( Before you bust my balls, I am only talking Hollywood here…)
Last night, I watched “ The Curious case of Benjamin Button” , Brad Pitt ages in reverse, from an 80 year old man in an infants body to handsome Brad Pitt ( who looks increasingly like Robert Redford in his 40s) to infancy again in about 2 1/2 hours. When Benjamin is 60 he looks 20, and we have on our hands the perfect movie for a time of age-defiance. David Fincher is a brilliant Cosmetic surgeon of sorts in this movie. His technical wizardry drives the entire movie. When I first heard about this movie , being a love story at its core, I went into the hall , thinking of how David Fincher, who is synonymous with dark stories and layered philosophies would actually helm this movie. Within the first 15 minutes, I had no doubt, that I was watching one of the best movies of the year.
With every sequence, you begin to like Benjamin even more than ever, we follow Benjamin’s growth ( if you can call that ), throughout the movie. The first time he goes to a brothel, he is 65 years old and then later he takes a crack at his first bourbon shot at a local bar. The first time he lays eyes on this little girl in her teens – he is mesmerized at her blue eyes. Then after a few years on board a ship, a few years at war, and a series of secret midnight rendezvous with Tilda Swinton ( who harbors a dream to swim across the English Channel) , Benjamin becomes more and more young looking and starts to look like the Brad Pitt , we all know today. The story is told in flashbacks that spring from Benjamin’s diary, from which old Daisy’s grown daughter (Julia Ormond – she lives!) reads aloud at her mother’s sickbed.
It is brilliantly shot and Fincher comes up with yet another amazing movie. I obviously do not want to give away anything else from the story , nor the ending. It’s an endearing movie , made with a heart and at the same time, technically speaking , it’s a notch above. The sets , the characters ( especially, this one guy, who talks about how the lighting has stuck him 7 times and still survives ) and last but not least Brad Pitt. He is amazing in this movie and he continues to surprise us, with his amazing choice of movies to work in. After Se7en , and Fight Club – Fincher and Pitt , get together to give us this gem of a movie.
Kudos and Good Bye 2008 !!!
BIPIN VADDI
Tags: Brad Pitt, Christopher Nolan, Danny Boyle, David Fincher, Fight Club, Gus Van Sant, Jake Gyllenhaal, Julia Ormond, Kevin Spacey, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Panic Room, Pedro Almodovar, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Redford, Se7en, The Curious case of Benjamin Button, The Game, Tilda Swinton, TYLER DURDEN, ZODIAC
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
Dude… u revealed the only parts of the story that the audience would watch for after knowing that its about a guy who ages backwards !!!
Anyways, too long, often boring at times, I am puzzled why Fincher did this.
Drinking wine during the film helps!
Yes, this film was great technically, especially the way the entire aging process was made to look flawless. And yes, this film had a number of beautiful scenes and nice sequences, but I didn’t feel like everything came together to make up anything too significant. I was left pretty unfulfilled at the end. When the credits rolled, I was just like, “okay.” You could blame it on expectations, but it’s not like I was expecting another Fight Club, just a nice touching film. But in the end, I didn’t really feel too moved.
I agree with ravptor above, its too long and often boring….also the titanic like narrative device was a convenient cop out…it ruined the emotional appeal of the film…its like telling the audience before each segment that this is going to be very emotional and you better feel for Benjamin…not only that…after the segment is over there is annoying reminder of how emotionally stirring it was though the expressions of mother and daughter.
Cate Blanchett was brilliant…Taraji Henson was really good and fun…but Brad Pitt appeared a bit confused and wooden at times…linear narrative would have been more interesting allowing audience to connect with the film without force feeding the emotions.
movie like these are like fresh air when i have to endure RNBDJ or recent Ghajini form own bollywood
this also shwoes what bollywood lacks and why hollywood has edge over our bollywood
#1 thing bollywood lacks is CREATIVITY
India has so many rich stories to tell yet these biwigs of bollywood never use their brain that often (i doubt if they even got one!!!!)
anway expect Dostana 2 coming soon thaeater near u ????
origianlly David fincher wanted Jake gylnewall(he offered him this role during shooting of Zodiac) for this movie but he refused
Hmm have been hearing mixed reviews for this movie, some have hailed it as a classic, while others have said its way too pondering and slow.
Makes me curious to see it more, as always been a fan of David Fincher.
err im expecting brilliance from this movie and now comments 1 2 and 3 are scaring me
@RS – I thought the movie was very well made and technically also it is very sound . however, if you go in expecting a se7en or a FC, then you will be bound to be disappointed. this is the most UN-fincher like movie , he has made till date – so to speak.
I was expecting too much from this movie, coz of the concept, Fincher-Pitt combo. I enjoyed watching the movie, but something was missing. The ending was apt for me. I didn’t like the narrative from old bed-ridden Cate Blanchett, that’s where I got bored. Through-out the movie, I was remembering “Forrest Gump”. The historical events taking place during the narrative (Vietnam war). Pitt trying to walk, Daisy’s role reminded me of Jenny in Forrest Gump. The reason may be because of the same screenplay writer, Eric Roth. Nevertheless, one of the better movies of 2008. I might watch it again.
i think maybe Tim Burton should have handeled this movie
The boring case of Benjamin Button! highly recommended for insomniacs…this movie might do the trick…also watch Miracle at St Anna after this and you can sleep for a week….