"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" was outstanding.

[nytemare]

It was truly magical. The acting was great all around. I imagine there will be at least 3, possibly 5 acting nods. The makeup and special effects were astounding. It is sure to get a Best Picture nod, as well. If it doesn't win for makeup, then nothing should win.

I also saw "Valkyrie", which I thought was very well done. Cruise is a little on the batty side, but he really does resemble Von Stauffenberg, a person who has interested me since I was 20. I can put aside his battiness to enjoy his films. It was raw, and well-acted, including many character actors who I enjoy seeing, including Bill Nighy and Eddie Izzard.

[kiva]

1. But was anyone in the theater shot?

A South Philadelphia man enraged because a father and son were talking during a Christmas showing of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button took care of the situation when he pulled a .380-caliber gun and shot the father, police said.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4721726

[Deja Q]

2. Yeah, I would have expected gunfire in a James Bond movie instead...

[kiva]

3. Hmmm, an interesting idea--and a person could probably

get away with it, too. No one would realize someone was shot until the movie was over and the theater emptied. Dammit, I wish I'd have thought about this before I saw Quantum of Silence, I could have taken care of the idiot that kept opening his cell phone and flashing the light in my eyes.:grr:

[Deja Q]

4. Well, there's always the next one...

In 2010 if the 2 year separation remains consistent... :silly:

[KamaAina]

5. Yeah you rite!

Not only that, Brad Pitt apparently spent his time in the Lower Ninth Ward wisely -- learning how to do a New Orleans accent! (How NOT to do it: Dennis Quaid, "The Big Easy".) This was that rarity of rarities: a New Orleans movie that was simply set there, rather than every other shot being of a parade, or someone eating gumbo, etc., etc., ad nauseam. That being said, the early streetcar scene, with the Bushman from Philly, may well (based on the architecture) have been shot on my old street, S. Carrollton, and later, the couple most certainly did dine, as have I, at the Clover Grill on lower Bourbon (a couple of blocks down from the "Human Zoo"), which is still there.

Semi-spoiler: Do see it -- but try for the matinee: the run time is a grueling three hours, which seemed almost as long as the whole time I lived in NOLA!

[nytemare]

6. It was a long one!

But, it was hardly noticed. The makeup made Brad look like he did in Thelma and Louise, and the makeup on Cate in the hospital bed was just amazing. It looked so authentic.

[Shell Beau]

7. I feel similar to how a lot of movies made in Mississippi. The accents

are usually beyond terrible and they always depict us all sweaty. We do have air conditioners here.

[Ten Bears]

13. 3-hour movie?

That's longer than it takes to read the book.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. Thanks for the recommendations... I want to see Benjamin Button.

Not so sure about Valkyrie.

[AbbeyRoad]

9. I saw "Benjamin Button" yesterday, and I agree

I was aware of the three hour run time going in, but it really seemed to pass quickly, because the story and acting were engrossing.

If it receives award recognition, I think it will be well deserved.

[Schema Thing]

10. I was underwhelmed.

I enjoyed it, but I didn't think it was anywhere near great. You're right though, makeup was really good, as was the cinematography and costuming/propping for period(s).



I liked Gran Torino much more, actually. Of course, being a Clint Eastwood film, it won't win any awards for cinematography. That man actually has open contempt for the camera and lighting department, I do believe.

[Fire Walk With Me]

12. Benjamin Button would have significantly profited from the depth and dimension

of David Lynch's cinematography, specifically regarding people's movements and presence in a scene. I felt that many times, people were just moving around in BB. Sometimes in a Lynch film, a character becomes enormous.

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. Did I tell you? I was struck by lightning, seven times!

(Yes, I'm going to post that in each and every Benjamin Button thread I see.)

[nytemare]

15. Did he really end up explaining all 7 times?

I think I only counted 5. Of course, it was a long film, so I had to make one trip during the film.

[Left Is Write]

14. Having read the story from which the name and basic aging concept were taken -

I don't think I'm interested in the movie, which significantly changes the original story (in fact, I'd say they are two completely different stories).