late Oscar update

I did manage to see all 5 best picture nominees this year. The last one I saw was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which I only managed to see on Sunday afternoon. The movie ended less than an hour before the start of the award ceremony. It's close, but a goal met is a goal met, right?

I'm not that crazy about the movie. David Fincher's movies tend to be about ideas rather than about people. His gift is in his visual flair and nimble editing, and given the right material he can make great movies. Films like Seven and Fight Club are among my favorites. However, his style is just not a good fit for the material in Benjamin Button.

I have not read the original short story, but I can imagine that the author intended to explore the transitory nature of life through the central conceit of a man aging backwards. Whether we're aging forwards or backwards, we are always changing and how difficult is it to stay connected with the people in our lives when change is a given? The problem with Benjamin Button is that the eponymous character didn't change much through the movie. In fact, he never developed anything resembling a real personality. He is a cipher that's used to showcase life in New Orleans in the 20th century. This device worked well in Forest Gump because Gump is a likable guy whom the audience can root for, but it's hard to give a damn about someone who likes to drink and hang out with women and friends but otherwise has no interests.

I would put this movie below the other nominees except for The Reader which I liked even less.