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CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Submitted by miss_niki on February 21, 2009 - 8:00pm
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Directed by David Fincher
3 stars
::spoiler alert::
I love David Fincher’s work. I especially love it when he’s paired with Brad Pitt. He brings the grit of his music video background to an extended format, cleans it up a little, but not enough that you don’t still know there’s a layer of filth underneath. I like that. I’m a grit-girl.
But in this film, the grit is gone in favor of presenting a story less rooted in real life & more fantastic & optimistic in nature. It’s a valiant effort by Mr. Fincher, but it falls slightly short. Slightly.
I found myself distracted by the beauty of Mr. Pitt, anxiously awaiting the point at which he loses the wrinkled prosthetics & reveals to be the Sexiest Man Alive I know & lust. I was pleased to see the recreation of his “Thelma & Louise” youth. That being said, I am of the personal opinion that Brad Pitt is highly underrated as an actor simply because of his beauty. He’s a tremendous talent & should be given due respect as such. But let’s face it; I’m a heterosexual American woman. I want to see Brad looking yummy.
There is, however, a message behind the tale. Take advantage of the time you have. Waste not the days of your youth. You can always start over. There were so many life lesson quotes, I found myself wishing I could remember them all if for no other reason than to update my Facebook profile Quotes section with them. (i only wish i was kidding) But I’m unsure of the amount of faith Mr. Fincher had in the viewing public’s capability to absorb these lessons because the movie was just. so. long. All this time, all this slow pacing, all this conversation, only to feel gypped at the end when we don’t see how he goes from teen to baby. Meanwhile, we have a hurricane a-brewing in N’awlins & there is absolutely no resolution to that.
Do I question the beauty of the story, the talent of the actors, the poignancy of the message? Absolutely not. Do I wish it was presented ever-so-differently? Yes. & that’s what cost this movie a star from me.
Film Break
Here is a very important quote that occurred as the film broke —- a note from Benjamin Button to his daughter:
“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”
I hear ya....
This is a movie marathon that can make people squirm in their seats. Just hoping their bladders will hold out til the end.
http://www.italkfilm.com
Film Stoppage
PS: It’s a damn shame about the 2 film stoppages in this movie. Both came at points of pivotal importance &/or great understanding through dialogue. But it was nice to have a quick bathroom break, truth be told.