In her A- review, Lisa Schwarzbaum says Benjamin Button is “an extravagantly ambitious movie that’s easy to admire but a challenge to love.”
A different director might have emphasized sentimentality in the manner of a Robin Williams weepy with a message: We’re all going to die, so love while you get a chance! Instead, Fincher’s innate astringency — his hardness, even, which he has put to such varied effect over the years in Fight Club, Seven, and Zodiac — becomes exactly the kind of tonic needed to balance the sweet/tart proportions of so audacious a cinematic project.
Here, Lisa puts her finger on the button.
At any moment in this singular Hollywood spectacle, two marvels predominate, one technical and the other…Bradical. The movie has been in the works for years, pored over by Fincher like a favorite fairytale from his childhood. But only now has computer-driven wizardry matured enough to meet the story’s challenges so unobtrusively. Likewise, Pitt, a comely actor, is no longer the golden surprise he was 18 years ago in Thelma & Louise. What he is, though, is a phenomenon of heightened celebrity. And that rarified status, combined with good grooming and exquisite digital effects care, produces the exact force field of fame needed to take our breath away in that first moment on screen when, rid of gray hair, Benjamin is bathed in light that honors the movie-star beauty Pitt is. Was. Is.
13 Responses for "EW’s Benjamin Button review"
“Here, Lisa puts her finger on the button.”
Didn’t mean for that to sound like a euphemism.
Fight Club: the first time I didn’t laugh at Brad Pitt for the wrong reasons. Benjamin Button: the first time I saw his work and thought: “Bravo.”
What a load of verbose cobblers. If that’s the kind of nonsense spouted by Lisa at EW then it’s pretty evident that dear ol’ Lise is preaching to the choir & BB hasn’t a chance with middle America.
Edited to add; & now I see Ebert’s given it two & a half stars. Oh, dearie me! Poor Sash, poor Ryan – just not working out for you is it? First Revolurtionary Road gets mixed reviews, now Button.
LoL, as they say.
12 monkeys,seven,fight club,babel,snatch,jesse james,burn after reading,benjamin button = pitt great actor
kalifornia! bad movie , great pitt
pitt is a very versatile actor,is fantastic as Jesse James and Chad, 2 different roles,is fantastic tyler durden and richerd (babel).
Your opinion matters so much to me, Zed, I’m shocked to realize I forgot what movies you think are worthy of a BP nom this year. So I did a quick search for “Zed” and reminded myself:
“When Changeling is nominated expect the usual hypocritical gasps of astonishment from the blogosphere”
“I wasn’t aware any credible reviewers had given GT a negative review.”
Other than your Cialis hard-on for all things Clint, I can’t find any evidence that you really like movies that much. Changeling and GT are the only two you’ve had anything good to say about all season. Every other comment you make has been to knock movies many of the rest of us love.
Still sticking with your prediction that Changeling and GT will both be nominated for BP?
A challenge to love? As in not many #1 spots? All of a sudden I have the feeling that the final five will include wall-e, The Dark Knight, and Slumdog Millionaire. Button and Milk may be left off…
You know her top ten list is out, as well as Owen Glieberman’s (sp?), you guys should post it.
Was posted here right after it was published, Wall-E.
http://www.awardsdaily.com/?p=5007
BALEETED!
Ah. I see, guess I missed it. Thanks.
I don’t get the Brad love. I think his acting is bad.
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