A “friend” writes into Anne Thompson with a gushing review for David Fincher’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” “It’s magic realism propelled by extraordinary filmmaking technology but it’s not remotely what I’d call cold. It creates a world of oddities and wonderful, off-kilter characters but the whole piece is anchored by a decades long relationship that gets strained, frayed, breaks and rebuilds into something profound and moving.” We swear the “cold” part is in response to the tipster who wrote us. The person who wrote us we respect, but let’s be clear, that doesn’t mean we’re anti-‘Ben Button.’ Hell, we’re still super psyched to see it and holding out hope, but the opinion was genuine and from a well-respected source. [Anne Thompson image via Slash]
Karina at Spoutblog seems to have issues with the special effects. “Instead [of looking at Brad Pitt, Taraji P. Henson looks] like she’s grinning at something that isn’t there … and now I’ve started to say too much.”
Obsessions of a Pop Culture Nerd, are similarly underwhelmed, “I wasn’t as moved by this film as I wanted to be,” they wrote. David Poland calls bullshit on un-authored tipster reviews, but then again, he broke the “Milk” embargo as far as many are concerned.
Here’s the new TV spot with a lots of new footage from the film, Brad Pitt’s old/young voice (made to sound super gravely) is worrisome though it’s only their for a brief minute and hopefully not in the film that long. Having read the script, which we mostly liked, we’re getting excited to see this as soon as possible.
I dunno. I think they’d have to mess something up royally for this film not to be emotional. I was moved by the first trailer, and now this one as well. I think it’s when Brad Pitt says how it’s a shame nothing lasts that gets me thinking, especially considering the plotline to the movie, and how we know these characters can’t be together under normal circumstances. And even if they could, they’d still just grow old and die. And that’s the way life is…it’s sad.
I’m actually hearing a lot worse and a very mixed response. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.
I’ve heard very good things. You’re focusing too much on the negative.
Not at all, I’m reporting what I’ve heard, from legit sources including the stuff above, some of which is positive.
I will say this, Spoutblog got attacked today for their comments. Fincher fans go nuts, like Dark Knight fans when you’re not all in the tank for his films. It get scary how people want to hear nothing but positive stuff. How about reporting exactly what you’re hearing good and or bad?
Despite my (temporary) user name, i’m not actually a Fincher fan boy. But it’s becoming very obvious that there are people out there trying to “talk down” this film, using blogs like yours to pass along information from “unnamed” sources.
It happens with every “frontrunner” at this juncture in the season. I hope you’re not just a patsy for someone with a hidden agenda.
We’ll see…
Silly. We don’t push agendas. If you knew how many times we posted about this movie… ah, whatever you just got here and haven’t been around all year to see.
But I have been here all year…
I just haven’t posted until now. Why? Because you’re giving a very ONE SIDED interpretation of this thing. Are you denying that there are reports out there from people who watched TCCOBB and are raving about it?
Where are all of these second-hand reports?
You seem to be picking just a handful and then passing judgement. Again, we don’t know if these people have ulterior motives or hidden agendas. You’re not going to deny that rival companies/producers begin whisper campaigns against Oscar frontrunners are you? You’re not going to deny that they use sites like this one to do that?
I’m not accusing you personally of being part of some conspiracy. I am accusing you of maybe being a bit of a “nervous nelly.” Now, it seems with your newest post, that you’re going out of your way to “prove” that this film sucks.
Again, we’ll see…
P.S. Could you be very kind and turn off that video of Jake Gyllenhaal and the Prince of Persia. I actually enjoyed watching it the first time, but contrary to what you think I check your site several times a day and that thing comes on every single time and it’s very annoying at this point.
P.P.S. I actually like your site a lot and visit, as I mentioned, several times a day — everyday. So don’t take what i’m writing personally. I do think you’re being unfair though, and jumping to conclusions.