The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [Criterion Collecton] [2 Discs]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's story, re-teams the director with Brad Pitt, who takes on the title role. What makes Button such a curious case is that when he is born in New Orleans just after World War I, he is already in his eighties, and proceeds to live his life aging in reverse. This sweeping film follows the character's unusual life into the 21st century as he experiences joy and sadness, loves lost and found, and the meaning of timelessness. Cate Blanchett co-stars along with Tilda Swinton, Elias Koteas, and Julia Ormond. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 2
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Features:
  • cc
  • Interviews with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett
  • Audio Commentary featuring Academy Award-nominated Director David Fincher
  • Footage revealing the innovative techniques behind the Academy Award -winning visual effects and makeup
  • Step-by-Step examination of the motion-capture process aging Brad Pitt
  • In-depth exploration of David Fincher's creative process on the set
  • Interview with acclaimed composer Alexandre Desplat about the score
  • Featurettes on the film's storyboards, costumes, and Academy Award-winning Art Direction
  • Stills Galleries, including costume designs and candid behind-the-scenes production photos
  • Optional French- and Spanish-dubbed soundtracks
  • Plus: An Essay by film critic Kent Jones

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Won Best Art Direction - 2008 (Donald Graham Burt, Victor Zolfo)
•     Won Best Makeup - 2008 (Greg Cannom)
•     Won Best Visual Effects - 2008 (Eric Barba, Craig Barron, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton)
•     Nominated Best Actor - 2008 (Brad Pitt)
•     Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay - 2008 (Eric Roth, Robin Swicord)
•     Nominated Best Cinematography - 2008 (Claudio Miranda)
•     Nominated Best Costume Design - 2008 (Jacqueline West)
•     Nominated Best Director - 2008 (David Fincher)
•     Nominated Best Editing - 2008 (Kirk Baxter)
•     Nominated Best Original Score - 2008 (Alexandre Desplat)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 2008 (Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Ceán Chaffin)
•     Nominated Best Sound Mixing - 2008 (Michael Semanick, David Parker, Mark Weingarten, Ren Klyce)
•     Nominated Best Supporting Actress - 2008 (Taraji P. Henson)

• Alliance of Women Film Journalists

•     Won Best Editing - 2008 (Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall)

• American Cinema Editors Guild

•     Nominated Best Edited Feature - Drama - 2008 (Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall)

• American Film Institute

•     Won Best Picture - 2008

• American Society of Cinematographers

•     Nominated Best Cinematographer - 2008 (Claudio Miranda)

• Art Directors Guild

•     Nominated Best Art Direction in a Period Film - 2008 (Donald Graham Burt)

• Austin Film Critics

•     Won Best Supporting Actress - 2008 (Taraji P. Henson)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 2008

• British Academy of Film and Television Arts

•     Nominated Best Actor - 2008 (Brad Pitt)
•     Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay - 2008 (Eric Roth)
•     Nominated Best Cinematography - 2008 (Claudio Miranda)
•     Nominated Best Costume Design - 2008 (Jacqueline West)
•     Nominated Best Director - 2008 (David Fincher)
•     Nominated Best Editing - 2008 (Kirk Baxter)
•     Nominated Best Makeup and Hair - 2008 (Jean A. Black, Colleen Callaghan)
•     Nominated Best Music - 2008 (Alexandre Desplat)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 2008
•     Nominated Best Production Design - 2008 (Donald Graham Burt, Victor Zolfo)
•     Nominated Best Visual Effects - 2008 (Eric Barba, Craig Barron, Edson Williams, Nathan McGuinness)

• Broadcast Film Critics Association

•     Nominated Best Acting Ensemble - 2008
•     Nominated Best Actor - 2008 (Brad Pitt)
•     Nominated Best Actress - 2008 (Cate Blanchett)
•     Nominated Best Composer - 2008 (Alexandre Desplat)
•     Nominated Best Director - 2008 (David Fincher)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 2008
•     Nominated Best Screenplay - 2008 (Eric Roth)
•     Nominated Best Supporting Actress - 2008 (Taraji P. Henson)

• Chicago Film Critics Association

•     Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay - 2008 (Eric Roth)
•     Nominated Best Cinematography - 2008 (Claudio Miranda)
•     Nominated Best Director - 2008 (David Fincher)
•     Nominated Best Original Score - 2008 (Alexandre Desplat)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 2008

• Costume Guild Awards

•     Nominated Best Art Direction in a Period Film - 2008 (Jacqueline West)

• Dallas/Fort Worth Film Critics Association

•     Nominated Best Picture - 2008

• Directors Guild of America

•     Nominated Best Director - 2008 (David Fincher)

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Nominated Best Director - 2008 (David Fincher)
•     Nominated Best Original Score - 2008 (Alexandre Desplat)
•     Nominated Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama - 2008 (Brad Pitt)
•     Nominated Best Picture - Drama - 2008
•     Nominated Best Screenplay - 2008 (Eric Roth)

• Houston Film Critics

•     Won Best Cinematography - 2008 (Claudio Miranda)
•     Won Best Picture - 2008

• Las Vegas Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Art Direction - 2008
•     Won Best Cinematography - 2008 (Claudio Miranda)
•     Won Best Costume Design - 2008 (Jacqueline West)

• London Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Director - 2008 (David Fincher)
•     Won Best Supporting British Actress - 2008 (Tilda Swinton)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 2008
•     Nominated Screenwriter of the Year - 2008 (Eric Roth)

• Los Angeles Film Critics Association

•     Nominated Best Score - 2008 (Alexandre Desplat)

• National Board of Review

•     Won Best Adapted Screenplay - 2008 (Eric Roth)
•     Won Best Director - 2008 (David Fincher)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 2008

• New York Film Critics Online

•     Nominated Best Picture - 2008

• Phoenix Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Cinematography - 2008 (Claudio Miranda)
•     Won Best Original Score - 2008 (Alexandre Desplat)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 2008

• Producers Guild of America

•     Nominated Best Picture - 2008

• San Diego Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Art Direction - 2008 (Donald Graham Burt)

• Screen Actors Guild

•     Nominated Best Actor - 2008 (Brad Pitt)
•     Nominated Best Performance by a Cast - 2008
•     Nominated Best Supporting Actress - 2008 (Taraji P. Henson)

• Southeastern Film Critics Association

•     Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay - 2008 (Eric Roth, Robin Swicord)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 2008

• St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Picture - 2008
•     Won Most Original, Innovative or Creative Film - 2008

• Vancouver Film Critics

•     Won Best Director - 2008 (David Fincher)

• Washington D.C. Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Art Direction - 2008

• Writers Guild of America

•     Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay - 2008 (Eric Roth, Robin Swicord)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Brad Pitt - Benjamin Button
       Cate Blanchett - Daisy
       Taraji P. Henson - Queenie
       Julia Ormond - Caroline
       Jason Flemyng - Thomas Button
       Mahershalalhashbaz Ali - Tizzy
       Jared Harris - Captain Mike
       Elias Koteas - Mr. Gateau
       Phyllis Somerville - Grandma Fuller
       Tilda Swinton - Elizabeth Abbott
       Lance E. Nichols - Preacher
       Rampai Mohadi - Ngunda Oti
       Elle Fanning - Daisy (Age 6)
       Madisen Beaty - Daisy (Age 10)
       Ed Metzger
       Peter D. Badalamenti
       Robert Towers
       Lois Hall

• Director:

  David Fincher

• Producer:

  David Fincher, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Ceán Chaffin

• Screen Story:

  Eric Roth

• Screenwriter:

  Eric Roth

• Screen Story:

  Robin Swicord

• Cinematographer:

  Claudio Miranda

• Composer (Music Score):

  Alexandre Desplat

• Editor:

  Angus Wall, Kirk Baxter

• Production Designer:

  Donald Graham Burt, Kelly Curley

• Art Director:

  Scott Plauche

• Supervising Art Director:

  Tom Reta

• Art Director:

  Randy Moore, Michele Laliberte

• Associate Producer:

  Jim Davidson

• Set Designer:

  Masako Masuda, Randall D. Wilkins, Lorrie Campbell, Ryan Heck, Jane Wuu, Clint Wallace, Tanny Lee

• Set Decorator:

  Victor Zolfo

• Costume Designer:

  Jacqueline West

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Mark Weingarten, Ren Klyce

• Casting:

  Laray Mayfield

• Second Assistant Director:

  Bob Wagner

• Special Effects Coordinator:

  Burt Dalton

• Short Story Author:

  F. Scott Fitzgerald

• Makeup Special Effects:

  Greg Cannom

• Second Unit Director:

  Allen Kupetsky

• Re-Recording Mixer:

  Ren Klyce

• Supervising Sound Editor:

  Ren Klyce

• Re-Recording Mixer:

  David Parker

• Second Unit Director:

  Tarsem Singh

• Makeup Special Effects:

  Brian Sipe

• Re-Recording Mixer:

  Michael Semanick

• Stunts Coordinator:

  Mickey Giacomazzi

• Visual Effects Supervisor:

  Eric Barba

• Assistant Location Manager:

  Aaron Millar

• Second Unit Director Of Photogra:

  Dan Holland

• Visual Effects:

  Steve Preeg

REVIEW:

• Think back a bit. How many times have you heard an old man spout that time-honored cliche, "If I knew then what I know now, things would have been a lot different growing up." In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, a man has the extremely rare opportunity to do just that. Adapted from author F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story by director David Fincher and Oscar-winning screenwriter Eric Roth (Munich, Forrest Gump), the film allows us to take two journeys simultaneously -- one physical, and the other psychological. At its core, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an inventive and involving mortality fantasy that isn't as much about the eponymous protagonist as it is about the people he meets along the way in life, and the profound effect they can have on his existence and world view -- even if their names tend to escape him from time to time.
  
  Benjamin Button came into this world with the body of an old man, but the spirit of a newborn child. Raised in a retirement home after being abandoned by his father, the grandfatherly boy always assumed he was just another resident like all the rest -- until the day he met the lovely Daisy. And while initial appearances may have suggested that Daisy was merely coming into this world while Benjamin was surely on his way out, the truth is that this remarkable pair was on a most curious collision course. Later, as the old man grows into a young lad and ventures out into the world aboard a rickety tugboat piloted by crusty but kindly Captain Mike (Jared Harris), he finally starts to realize what living is all about. We experience Benjamin's life through not only the entries he has made in his diary, but the fading recollections of Daisy, who now lays dying in a New Orleans hospital as Hurricane Katrina begins to shake the skies above. As a result, we start to understand how Benjamin's unique circumstances afforded him the opportunity to view life from a perspective that most people dream about, but no one ever lives.
  
  Director Fincher is more than up to the task of following Benjamin as he learns about life -- and women -- while working in a Russian port during World War II and becomes embroiled in a battle at sea after the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, and screenwriter Roth does a fantastic job of showing how Button's many experiences enriched his life while simultaneously giving him a profound appreciation for the human condition -- and the love of a beautiful woman. Together, Fincher's and Roth's talents yield a fable that wrestles with some pretty weighty concepts, but still has something for everyone.
  
  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is brimming with intriguing concepts and brilliant visual effects, making it a stimulating treat for both the eyes and the intellect. Perhaps it's a small miracle that Fincher never lets the story get so heady that it becomes adrift within its own elaborate, time-shifting universe and loses sight of the human drama that drives it, but then again, the story wouldn't be nearly as affecting without the many characters that guide our protagonist along the way. There's nary a moment that Brad Pitt isn't entirely believable as the humble traveler at the center of the film -- whether he's hobbling along as an adolescent septuagenarian early on, or turning up as a fresh-faced teen later in life. The chemistry he shares with co-star Cate Blanchett radiates through the masterful special-effects makeup and digital manipulation that they both don at various points in the film, and when Benjamin and Daisy both meet halfway in life, it's a joy to see them interact in their "natural" skins. Supporting players Harris, Taraji P. Henson, Jason Flemyng, and Tilda Swinton are all a pleasure to watch as well, and newcomer Rampai Mohadi makes a hearty impression with his brief role as a jovial Pygmy who gives Button his first taste of freedom.
  
  As a director, the last thing David Fincher could be accused of is excessive sentimentality. Yet, in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, we begin to see a side of Fincher that wasn't afforded to us in such cool-to-the-touch classics as Seven and Fight Club. So has one of modern cinema's great cynics gone soft? In a sense, yes -- at least this time out. But while some jaded cinemaphiles might make the case that Fincher has lost his creative edge only because he isn't shredding consumerism or damning conformity outright, who's to say that force can't be equally as effective when turned in the opposite direction? After all, wasn't Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Amelie every bit as intoxicating and spirited as his dreamily dark feature debut, Delicatessen, or the frightfully bizarre City of Lost Children? Just like everyone else, filmmakers are people who change with time. Sometimes that change involves moving in a direction that may surprise fans; sometimes, sadly, it means losing their creative spark. Have no fear, Fincher still has his spark. The only difference from before is that this time the spark serves to illuminate, rather than burn. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi