The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

As I remarked a couple of days ago, when it comes to a David Fincher film, the worst you can possibly get is something very good, and for my money, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is Fincher’s worst film.  That being said, it’s still quite good, but there are so many issues with it that it just cannot achieve that all-time classic greatness that you hope for in a Fincher film.

I’m not the first person to say this, but it’s pretty much Forrest Gump, except much more elegant and – at times – pretentiously twee.  The acting is, well it’s alright.  It’s just so, overwrought.  So purposeful without purpose.  Yes, we know it’s a grand epic story of this guy with a weird disease, but these people are like Aaron Sorkin-written characters in “Studio 60”.  Sorry, your job on a fading sketch show is not the most important job in the world.  The character of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) did not change the world in anyway other than the way he influenced the people around him.  He wasn’t even fucking Forrest Gump, lucking into investing in Apple or anything like that.

It’s a gorgeous movie, and there is no reason to hate the film at all.  It’s just exceedingly long, and the premise of the movie – while interesting – is pretty much shown as nothing more than an odd quirk and an inconvenience to Button.  Believe me, this is a movie I sat down to watch wanting to love, but feeling in my heart that it was an uncharacteristic misstep for Fincher.  Again, it’s still a good movie.

3.5 / 5