The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Paramount Pictures | Release Date: December 25, 2008
7.4
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Generally favorable reviews based on 683 Ratings
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9
amheretojudgeSep 18, 2019
A rare cinematic art that never romanticizes his protagonist and instead he does, Brad does, with his performance.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button David Fincher is a controversial director in my house. Sophisticatedly picant in hisA rare cinematic art that never romanticizes his protagonist and instead he does, Brad does, with his performance.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

David Fincher is a controversial director in my house. Sophisticatedly picant in his language, his direction matches Steven Soderberg's capability of three dimensional perspective. And if looked upon, their careers have been similar. They both are known for the direction and not the writing. But David is ahead in popularity. He has captured some catchy stories including mystery novels and even biographies about arguably the most famous face of 21st century. And this is where I trail off. I haven't always been so giddy up about the material he gets on his table. His direction exceeds the script he gets.

And among few times when he has been blessed with an awe inspiring content, this would be the Holy Grail. This old style filmmaking that Fincher turns towards is a delightful gift to his fans. There is an unprecedented calmness in this film that makes the audience present in that frame. For three hours you are told to sit beside a death bed in a hospital room and you have never been honored like such in a Fincher set. A major character is of course Eric Roth's signature element, innocence in the film.

A film that provides every possible database to be found in this long weekend that we call "life", it never puts any vice in these characters. Even the bad ones. The ones holding their promises to the other side of the door. And as far as the protagonist, Brad Pitt, Benjamin Button, is concerned, he is written like a wise old soul. The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, to me, was exactly that, as in what made them decide to write him as a mature personality affecting these many lives around him, the writers explains it by claiming him the most experienced or oddly experienced.… Expand
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4
FilipeNetoMar 18, 2018
This movie was super inflated by advertising, created a huge expectation, and was partly a victim of it. They spoke of David Fincher like a first-class director, which I think he will never be. They spoke of the excellence of the cast, and inThis movie was super inflated by advertising, created a huge expectation, and was partly a victim of it. They spoke of David Fincher like a first-class director, which I think he will never be. They spoke of the excellence of the cast, and in fact only two actors (Brad Pitt, the protagonist, and Cate Blanchett, with whom he makes an unlikely romantic couple) is that really deserve this adjective. Here in Portugal, people have a saying, which states that "presumption and holy water, each takes how much wants". I think it perfectly applies to this film or, at least, to the enormous publicity that was done to it.

The film adapts a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which I never read to judge. The script, by Eric Roth (writer of "Forrest Gump", a film that - surprise, surprise - has some similarities with this one) is far from being extraordinary. The problem with this story is the character development, particularly the main character, with which I personally never felt any empathy. Despite being a totally different person from all others, Benjamin Button is a man who does not show who he is. He just shows what he does, where he goes, etc. We never realize why he was born old and rejuvenate, or what the relationship of this with an old clock that gives the time backwards (we do not know if such a link exists). We never know his thoughts and all the psychology, potentially rich, of a person so different from the all the rest, its never revealed. And the same with all characters. This makes this film a superficial, impersonal story, that never touches us, excites us in a more close and personal way.

Technically, its a regular film, within what Hollywood has accustomed us. The make-up effects (in particular those that aged the young Button) pleased me, as the scenarios, and how they were able to actually fit in their times, and show the passage of decades. As for the work of the actors, it's good but not excellent. I think its difficult, with so poor characters, have an inspired performance. The effort of Pitt and Blanchett, however, deserves some merit.… Expand
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10
DiptanshuMar 7, 2020
Perfect just perfect,literally greatest movie ever made,just made me curious on how just how great it was everything was just unbelievable and great!sure a definite classic with awesome score and screenplay and performances!david fincher is a legend!
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8
twistedoracleAug 14, 2020
Hats off to the director of this 'wonderful journey.' The movie is underrated to a far extent. One may have some emotional breakdowns at certain times and become numb and enlightened as the story unfolds. It is perfect for a person who lovesHats off to the director of this 'wonderful journey.' The movie is underrated to a far extent. One may have some emotional breakdowns at certain times and become numb and enlightened as the story unfolds. It is perfect for a person who loves movies with the earlier 20th century themed-drama… Expand
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7
HabibiehakimJun 29, 2022
It is a very interesting story to tell but The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button sadly made to the same old cases of a romance story, nothing's wrong with that as long as it's convincing, but for me personally it's kinda a rare case for aIt is a very interesting story to tell but The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button sadly made to the same old cases of a romance story, nothing's wrong with that as long as it's convincing, but for me personally it's kinda a rare case for a convincing couples that they do it rightly, Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett already became a couple in one of their previous film Babel which i love and they play husband and wife on that film and it works, they have some great chemistry on that film, and i think particularly for this one the way they portray their relationship is somehow did not work for me, they're both doing just fine as they're self but not together, so that's my main problem of the film, the second is i think the phase of the second act of the film which i found not bad but way too slow and i did got quite a lot of yawn during the second act, and for the first act it works just completely fine, so overall The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is quite a problematic film in terms of a phasing and main character relationsip with a very interesting basic story that ended in still quite a nice way and i also still mostly enjoyed it for a 2 hours and 45 minutes film and that's one of the big pros of the film, it is quite a disappoinment of a movie coming from someone like David Fincher but as a movie itself overall it was just ok.… Expand
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10
AliufJun 25, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. show a life reversely while Benjamin AND his love reach to their milestone which their age are near to each other combine with his eyes on Daisy and her friend in theater and bar while they are dancing makes the movie a MASTERPIECE.… Expand
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7
frightopiaMar 19, 2023
The film had fantastic acting and a great concept, however it could get extremely slow at times.
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