Thursday, January 8, 2009

The Curious Case of a Weak Film

Claire, my sister Jessica and I went to see the Curious Case of Benjamin Button on Monday night. ***Warning...some spoilers below***

It is up for all kinds of awards, including the Golden Globe "Best Picture" nomination.

Did I miss something? It is a bad Forrest Gump.

Man is afflicted. Man sees the world. Man bumps into fantastical people and has fantastical journeys. Man goes to war, makes a friend, looses a friend. Man inherits a business, makes lots of money, gives it away. Man gets girl pregnant and worries the baby will be sick like him.

I could go on and on with the similarities.

Wait, did someone just say that the screen writer of Forrest Gump was also the lead writer for this movie...ahhh it is all making sense now.

Look, the characters are not likable. They are selfish, self-loathing and nasty little people. None of us were rooting for them.

I am bummed, because I thought I was going to see a good movie. Instead, I got a lecture about making lemonade out of lemons and that there is comfort in sleeping around.

I think I will go watch the real Forrest Gump.

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After writing this, I found a little "name that film" write-up...maybe I should be a reviewer.
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For the record, according to Claire who did grow up in SE Louisiana and might know a thing or two about accents, the actors was terrible.

12 comments:

Wonderful World of Weiners said...

And I just read a kick ass review of that movie too!! They LOVED it!!

Hallie

MaBunny said...

Wow, loved Forrest Gump, thought this one would be cute too, thanks for the warning!

for a different kind of girl said...

I've wanted to see this movie, but after reading this and hearing from a couple other people who said it was "meh..", I think I'll wait to see it when I can rent it for a buck at the Redbox.

In the meantime, I'll dig out our VHS copy of Forrest Gump!

kimmy said...

I loved the movie Forrest Gump. When we go to Maui in February we are eating at Bubba Gumps!

Kimmy

Unknown said...

I saw the same connection you did between this film and Forrest Gump. I did enjoy it though...which I'm sure has NOTHING to do with the fact that I would be happy watching the hair on Brad Pitt's legs grow. And I did think the aging effects, or rather the "getting younger" effects were pretty darn good. That's just my 2 cents...

Rahul said...

Does he talk abotu chocolates? That would be the coup de grace.

Debra said...

My husband and our girls went to see this movie when we were up in San Fran. I went for a massage at the spa. Sounds like I definitely got the better end of the deal!

Hugs,
Debbie

Katelin said...

i have been hesitant to see this one and i still think i want to, but gah 3 hours is so long. and it looks like it will be as slow as meet joe black and i can't handle that a second time.

WILLIAM said...

Was there a Lt Dan?

Anonymous said...

*lol* at William.

Haven't seen the movie, but you're surely the first I've heard that doesn't like it! I guarantee you ruined it for me, because now I'll only see the Forrest-parallels when I watch it.
There will never be another Forrest Gump: "I'm sorry I had a fight in the middle of your black panthers party."
(The most under-rated line of the movie, in my opinion.)

And fun fact: Brad and Cate's newborn baby in Ben Button is my good friends' baby, Lily. She's 2 now. They covered her in Smuckers Jelly & vaseline for the birth scene. The $5 magic of Hollywood...

"Intentionally Katie" said...

I'm not reading this post because I DO want to see this, but you're the first bad review I've seen! (can't say, "read" b/c I didn't read it) I'll consider myself warned...

The Maid said...

I thought the movie was great. ??

Maybe I should be a reviewer. LOL

I thought the cinematography was great, the acting was good, the characters were believable, and it made me think about the way we all age in a whole different light. I think that it just proved that God's design for choosing life, and growing up and old rather than the reverse is the best way. It is not without it's challenges, but it is beautiful.

I also thought that this movie spoke about love and grace (the mother who took Benjamin in without question because he was one of God's children) and that it spoke volumes about forgiveness among other things.

Wow, I can't believe I saw it so differently than you! ;)

And Forrest Gump...well one of my all time favorites except for the swearing!

The Maid

PS - And William, Lt. Dan is a celebrity in our house...so I laughed out loud at your one liner. :) He is so good at that!