The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

  • USA Benjamin Button (working title)
Trailer 4
USA, 2008, 166 min

Directed by:

David Fincher

Based on:

F. Scott Fitzgerald (short story)

Screenplay:

Eric Roth

Cinematography:

Claudio Miranda

Composer:

Alexandre Desplat

Cast:

Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormond, Jason Flemyng, Mahershala Ali, Jared Harris, Elias Koteas, Phyllis Somerville, Tilda Swinton (more)
(more professions)

Plots(1)

"I was born under unusual circumstances." And so begins The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story, set in New Orleans, from the end of World War I in 1918 into the 21st century, following his journey that is as unusual as any man's life can be. (official distributor synopsis)

(more)

Videos (14)

Trailer 4

Reviews (14)

Pethushka 

all reviews of this user

English I have a lot of respect for David Fincher, not just because of this magnificent drama. It's incredible the way he can present a film to the audience. The story is original. Brad Pitt’s performance makes this film really unique and unbeatable!! 100% for the great cast, the idea, and the way it’s presented. ()

Isherwood 

all reviews of this user

English This film is an honest piece of craftsmanship, into which Fincher has put a lot of his unmistakable ideas, and yet they don't really attract attention and thus leave enough room for the story. The story itself could actually be told in a moment. It’s not that I was bored - the director can tell a story engagingly enough for that, but this is his first film that completely missed the mark for me emotionally. Maybe that’s because of the fact that Cate Blanchett just doesn't "fit" in the film for me and she flutters a bit behind the excellent Pitt, and also because of the lengthy runtime, which is just too long given the amount of plot. Some people obviously think that a perfect style can carry a film. I give it a weaker four stars. ()

Ads

gudaulin 

all reviews of this user

English I know that the movie is about the relentless passage of time, fateful encounters, and mutual passing in life. But with all due respect to the luxurious cast, budget, and technically precise direction, this is the only Fincher film that bores me and, above all, almost evokes no emotions in me. I am indifferent to the fate of the protagonist and in such cases, I cannot give it more than two stars. Overall impression: 45%. ()

NinadeL 

all reviews of this user

English The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is definitely a film you need to watch multiple times. Depending on our frame of mind, we can appreciate the individual components, Fitzgerald's theme, the lavish acting of Pitt and Blanchett, or Tilda Swinton's perfect little performance, who manages to steal a good half of the film for herself. I have a soft spot for the atmosphere of pre-war New Orleans and I'm glad Fincher paid homage to it in this way. ()

POMO 

all reviews of this user

English A masterfully crafted arrow which, however, takes a too direct path to its target and is above all TOO LONG, in addition to being made of components that we already know too well. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button spoke to me with its magical first third full of sincere kindness and breathtaking effects that turn the digital Brad Pitt into a better actor than the real one we see later. But the rest is filled with cotton wool, having little to offer beyond things that are superfluous to Benjamin’s story. Overall, it’s a nice movie, but not the film of the year. David Fincher is wasted on such mainstream audience ass-kissing. This is paradoxically his least interesting and controversial work. ()

Gallery (89)