Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Kind of a letdown.
UPDATE: As a dog returns to its vomit, so too can irascible commenters be counted on to deliver the crazy goods. Today's dumb comment comes from "danielle," who asks in the thread of my review, "do you guys like ANYTHING? i mean, really. or rather, do you like anything that isn't some indie filled with has-been actors or newbies?" (All capitalizations and questionable phrasings are obviously sic.)
But the answer is: Yes. Of course. This has been a relatively weak year for film, and though one of my favorites was indeed an indie filled with a fantastic actor that uninformed people might refer to as a "has-been," I've also enjoyed quite a few mainstream flicks. I can only assume that "danielle" is a new reader who hasn't had time to realize this, or that on the given weekends I gave glowing reviews to major Hollywood fare, her head was lodged too firmly inside her buttocks to prevent her from reading the reviews.
In any case, here once again are links to movies I loved this year:
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
The Visitor
WALL-E
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
Frost/Nixon
QED.
Comments: 4
I liked it prolly a little more than you did, but your observation is spot on. I thought the technical was well done and not focused on too much. I thought it borrowed from Gump quite a bit including the "look, we're right next to history happening" moments. But I really liked the juxtaposition of humor and pensiveness. I thought that was more honest - life rarely times it jokes well, nor its moments of weight. They mingle into a weighty emotional thing.
I felt connected to the characters, especially Benjamin, having the perfect union of able body and tenured wisdom, yet disconnected from the world and relationships to see it fulfilled.
Plus I had seen Eagle Eye at the $1 the night before, so maybe I was hungry for good :)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall? Really? I don't get it. i mean, I GET it, I just don't get it. Please elaborate/justify your love for it in one sentence...:-)
I thought In Bruges was tops this year. And I have heard nothing but GLOWING reviews of Slumdog Millionaire and the Wrestler.
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If I had any beef with Pajiba, it wouldn't be this. Also, a lot of times, though not exactly the case with this review, I think people don't understand the idea of subtle praise. Like, if you're not falling all over yourself trying to explain how good it is, you didn't like it. I agree, she's probably a new reader, or a dumb one. Great review, although, as I will be seeing the film soon, I hope you're wrong. Keep up the good, honest work and don't worry about a quota of positive or negative reviews.
Dec 27, 2008 2:16 AM