The Film
It is hard not to compare The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to Forrest Gump, as it tells the tale of a character who is anything but ordinary and highlights his most extraordinary life, complete with voiceover narration, clever flashbacks and a gimmick. In this case what makes Benjamin Button unique is that he is somehow born old and "ages" backward. His childlike curiosity is seen as aged wisdom, and because he is getting younger things get "easier" for him as he becomes stronger, fitter and more agile. It is thus too bad that director David Fincher wasn't able to speed things along - because while this was based on a "short story" it is epic in length but is slow to get to the point, which viewers pretty much get by the end of the first act.
Need a second opinion? Check out Joe Lozito's review of the theatrical release of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
The Picture
Again, this film has been compared to Gump, and instead of nifty scenes using real-world clips with the actors placed in them, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button stands out for aging Brad Pitt in reverse. Director Fincher is one who truly focuses on the "visual" aspect of movie making and thus manages to make this a visual treat. This carries over to the 1080p 2.40:1 widescreen presentation, which looks simply breathtaking from beginning to end. This Criterion Collection disc thus delivers the visuals that we'd expect to see.
The Sound
While this isn't exactly an action packed film, it does have an audio track that is full of subtle audio cues, and the DTS HD Master Audio track is excellent. Fincher created a film that doesn't lack the sounds of every day life, and this is consistent throughout, while a few moments standout that will shake the walls. While some of the effects are even a bit overblown given the tone of the rest of the film, it is hard to complain considering the overall audio presentation is as impressive as the visual one.
The Extras
The bonus features in the two-disc Criterion Collection could almost be considered a little self-indulgent, even for the biggest fans of Fincher. While it is hard to complain about more, there is so much in this package that it borders on sensory overload. The first thing noticeable is that this disc comes with a booklet that includes an essay by film critic Kent Jones, and also includes some key facts on the film, cast and other credits. It is the sort of booklet that we used to get when DVD first came out, but was dropped to only the most special of special editions and it is something that cinemaphiles will appreciate. The two-disc package is further loaded, and I do mean loaded with extras. This includes a commentary track by Fincher, and a timeline option that allows viewers to jump to specific moments of the film based on the commentary.
The second disc continues bonus features that, combined, are longer than the film itself. These include a multi-part "The Curious Birth of Benjamin Button," which is broken into four parts (cleverly called First, Second and Third Trimester as well as Birth). For reasons that aren't so clear the "play all" option doesn't contain everything that you'd get from watching this as individual parts. In addition, the disc contains trailers and still galleries.
Final Thoughts
It is said that youth is wasted on the young. For Benjamin Button, a man born old who ages backwards, it is clear that it is what you do with your life, not the order in which you lived it that counts. And while this is an enjoyable film with a plethora of bonus material, there is so much that you could waste a large chunk of your own life to really take it all in, but you won't be younger than when you started.
Where to Buy
Product Details
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