The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button reviewed by Mark Kermode

[@Tomatito1981]

I love the way Simon deliberately winds Mark up in every review they do together :) They make an awesome pair, keep the reviews coming chaps :)

[@thisisnotbeckett4321]

7 years...

[@thisisnotbeckett4321]

i was 5 when you said this

[@huzistiglitz5122]

Here for the review. Stayed because of the duo

[@Tomatito1981]

ThisIsNotBeckett haha I was 32

[@SIGNIFYING_NOTHING]

Review is worth it for the sake of hearing Mark Kermode's Southern accent.

[@lionofjudah6753]

ikr

[@katiemiaana]

She dances hither, thither and yon lol!

[@Altaranalt]

Wow, I absolutely loved every second of this movie. Guess taste differ.

[@CashelOConnolly]

Hello from 2019 I really liked Benjamin Button too,Kermode is wrong it’s better than Forrest Gump

[@myousickoflife]

@@CashelOConnolly 2020 here to tell you this movie will never be good

[@CashelOConnolly]

Wade B 2020 here,I’m telling you it’s great imo ,your opinion is different that’s fine. No one should ever argue over something as trivial as movies. I HATE all Star Wars films others like them,O.K Stay healthy,happy and never hate Dublin Ireland 🇮🇪

[@qusigh]

@@cl759 how much r we talking

[@adolflenin4973]

@@qusigh He is irish

[@captain07234]

Don't always agree with him, but when he is right, he is right. He absolutely right about this pretentious dribble.

[@universallogin1290]

Kermode's hair reminds me of David Lynch.

[@MrAkashvj96]

This is actually a very good review.

[@fejugaism]

Such a poor movie. I rarely agree with Mark, but here he is 100% right. This movie has no point, no character development, no nothing. It's not boring, it's just pointless.

[@davidlean1060]

Fincher's main strength is he makes great looking films and he always uses interesting lighting and camera work, so his films are compelling, but they are technically compelling. I have always enjoyed watching his films for that reason, even if I have serious doubts as to whether he actually has anything to say about the world. He's one of the great visualists but is he an artist? I'm not sure yet I'm sorry to say.

[@ThierryLoa]

My favourite sequence in the film was when he was in his teen age and traveling the world as a backpacker. In that seq, he speaks about the human condition, life and change. It'd been nice to hear more about his inner thoughts as he experiences life differently.

[@MsHyperviolet]

that was such a great review, hilarious and spot on.

[@kubakonrad]

This must be my favorite Kermore review to date - and I’ve seem plenty.

[@Dani-th6cl]

LOL There was a whole complicated sequence about how seemingly unrelated events leading up to her taxi cab accident (e.g. taxi driver stopping for coffee, shoe lace breaking, someone forgetting to set her alarm clock, etc.). But Mark is right, she has nobody to blame but herself. When you dance all over the place without even looking, that's pretty much an accident waiting to happen.

[@Starzagal]

Danielle Stormborn oh god it was so dull I forgot that bit completely

[@Lundy.Fastnet.Irish_Sea]

It was one of the most beautiful scenes tbh. It was done in the point of view of Button interpreting what happens to Daisy. You don't have to agree to Button's reasoning but it shows how he sees things, and how he wishes that things go differently. You have to remember Button loves Daisy and it makes sense that he refuses to see it as Daisy's fault.

[@Texus8]

LOL I felt exactly the same way about this movie. I honestly couldn't figure out why everyone loved it so much, I think it's Fincher's worst film. That part about Cate Blanchett dancing was priceless!!

[@simontrebel87]

It's a whole bunch ah Hooey!

[@MFAM-Joseph]

I looked this movie so much, the way they illustrate his life and people around him throughout his life and their struggles, talents, hopes, wants, and their intimate natures of who they are deep down and how that is all interconnected between everyone’s lives, not to mention Benjamin himself who has the most uniquely insightful introspective view on the world shaped by all of his experiences that are unlike anyone else’s yet doesn’t know how to convey them to the people around him. It’s a story that has given me a better understanding and view point on my life. The only problem I had with this movie, and countless other movies and tv shows, is how they portray the Louisiana accent. As someone who grew up in Louisiana and lived in New Orleans for a time, Louisiana accents are nowhere close to the southern bell accents of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia that is so commonly known. A Cajun/Creole accent is distinctly unique due to the ancestral and cultural differences of Louisiana compared to its other southern counter parts

[@chriscarolan8742]

I finally saw this tonight courtesy of Prime, and agree with Mark. It is a long watch that continually alludes to the idea a colossally profound point is about to be made and it's on it's way. However, not only does the point ultimately fail to materialise, but it's like they had no real plan for the final act where he reaches adolescence and finally childhood. You are therefore left feeling bereft of any strong assertion from the filmmaker and this ultimately descends into nothing more than a sad reminder of the genuine finite nature of our existence. It's pretty for sure and you can see that care was given in production, but it doesn't remotely deliver on that running time as value for your time (especially when reminded life is finite!)

[@4Mr.Crowley2]

Another character who lived life backwards was/is the character of Merlin in The Once and Future King -- he has memories of the horrors of WWI for example when teaching young Arthur about chivalry and warfare. I am surprised Kermode didn't mention this but instead mentioned Mork...

[@questionitall3053]

Perfect review of this film- spot on!

[@TheConciseStatement]

The news girl had the Julia Ormond role in that review insofar as she got to say, "Oh yeah."

[@amalmavani]

completely spot on review - i saw ben button before seeing this and as i listened to kermode i realised that i thought exactly as he did while in the cinema. slumdog better win the director/film awards at the oscars this film is shocking!

[@BrotherJosephus]

I have been encouraged to watch 'Benjamin Button' as part of my scriptwriting module, see how it turns a short story into a three-ish hour film.

[@PowerSpirit50]

I think it was the only movie where I cried a bit.

[@arkmidis]

"If I'd been awake more, I would have laughed". Brilliant :))

[@51yourtimeisup]

he really hates films that say "hey... you know... where all a bit... arn't we?"

[@notabot835]

slumdog vs benjamin button? wow, that was a really weak year for film

[@notabot835]

***** that's true

[@Starzagal]

doody magoob come on slumdog is much better than Benjamin button

[@leonkane8570]

That's the Oscars my friend, a year that included Gran Torino, The Wrestler, Happy Go Lucky, Milk, Wall E, In Bruges, Hunger, Hellboy II, Synecdoche New York, etc, not to mention foreign films

[@anthonymartensen3164]

@@leonkane8570 the dark knight

[@suzukix5owner]

Ben Button is one of my all time best films.

[@kokomanation]

It was a really good film and very well directed with superb cinematography.The thing that didn’t make sense was that if you have such a condition you usually go to a doctor to see what is going on

[@guinnesstrail6799]

After Zodiac, it is Fincher's greatest film. Gets better and better with each viewing.

[@yashwiniozur8581]

Fincher's greatest? It's his worst to date. The Social Network, Zodiac, Se7en, Gone Girl and Fight Club are all much better.

[@richardsmith3121]

Just been watching a few of his reviews (well lost really). Here he is on amazing form. Hilarious. I liked the movie though.

[@richardsmith3121]

Lots not lost

[@llarcher4558]

Agreed, I did not think it was as good as I had heard! ...thanks for explaining it! I didn't even want to think about it!💕

[@jondawg123]

I know your comment was posted over a year ago, but I'd just like to point out: the reason that dance scene was included in the end was because Danny Boyle wanted to stay true to tradition of Indian films, which always (or almost always) end with dancing like that. I thought it was dumb too until I found that out.

[@binstig]

@tyruk Just because he wasnt afraid to stand out and say what he liked about it doesnt make him a bad critic. He also likes many films which I would myself regard as some of the greatest of all time (ie Pan's Labyrinth, Mary Poppins etc)

[@JosephDoody1]

...apart from Woody Allen, Nicholas Winding Refn, Leos Carax, David Cronenberg, Darren Aronofsky, William Friedkin, Tomas Alfredson, Sam Raini, Michael Haneke, Paul Thomas Anderson, Guillermo del Toro, Werner Herzog, Clint Eastwood, Julian Schnabel, Xavier Beauvois...

[@EoghanMcCarthy900]

Even tough the movie is nearly 3 hours I would recommend a second viewing as I found it getting better each time I saw it and now it really is up there for me as a classic...

[@TheFordy95]

It was Karl Pilkington's idea!!!

[@zaksmith1827]

This is a great comment

[@agentblackacid]

I love Mark's reviews and even when I disagree although the point he makes about Benjamin's life story doesn't make sense "Where is he going? Why is he going there and when he gets there is there actually going to be any point in it?" Erm.... isn't that just like life? Do any of us really have the answer to those questions about our own lives? So why should a film about someone's life be any different & make sense? "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" - John Lennon

[@amyclarke41]

interesting 🤣

[@Cazanator6000]

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is one of the best films I've ever seen, one of like 10 - 20 Films I would rate as a 10/10.

[@maxinecaulfield310]

Let me guess, The Shawshank, Green Mile, Shutter Island, Memento, Pulp Fiction, Benjamin Button, Interstellar, Inception, Schindler's List, Jaws, District 9, Forrest Gump?

[@ben-fe3zy]

That is one cold putdown!

[@Sam-cv6un]

@@maxinecaulfield310 You know nothing about this person, and yet you attack them. Why?

[@maxinecaulfield310]

@@Sam-cv6un Attack?

[@Sam-cv6un]

@@maxinecaulfield310 They say they love a film you clearly don't. You respond by assuming they love a bunch of other populist favorites, which it's pretty obvious you look down on them for. It's a reductionist attitude towards an individual you've never met. Even if you were right, it's not a healthy way to engage with people.

[@TheElixir007]

Kermode was less serious back then... huhuhu

[@Gnomeslair]

Ahhh, that was hilarious. Especially that dancing bit...

[@Apathesis0]

How can he claim it is not original because of Mork and Mindy when the short story preceded that show by decades?

[@chrishiggins7166]

The film maybe too long & confusing in parts, however the film’s well casted, well acted, stylish & A well directed fantasy story. (77%) (4/5 stars) (positive)

[@ethanwashoe5868]

Apparently I’m the only one that liked this film. It’s okay to make different type of films, this one didn’t try to be gritty and smart like fight club. It was meant to be light hearted and it showed a beautiful portrait of early 1900s New Orleans, one of the most interesting cities at the peak of its influence.

[@silas1414]

I like how the other guy is gently calling out the reviewer on his cringey hyperbole

[@wugglebee9522]

Can't really blame the movie for being unoriginal since Benjamin Button was based upon a Short story that was older than Mork and Mindy, and the fact that no adaption can really be considered original by definition.

[@ReligionOfSacrifice]

Forrest Gump (1994) comes in as my 38th favorite movie of all time, but I hated "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." My brother loved the movie, but I hated it.

[@silobandnj3967]

Honestly mark is dead on right here

[@sixamsedna]

i always wondered that too. Though I'd say it's more of a 'setup' than anything else.

[@danieljamesmead]

This is one of those movies where I know it’s pretty shit, but I’ll still watch it every time it’s on.

[@jack.1.]

Probably an unpopular opinion but I thought it was a really good film, just had a real touch and I felt like it captured life especially things like where he has dementia as a kid at the end and all the relationships. Great acting also.

[@ehmazin]

@agentblackacid Is he not talking about the structure of the film? No reasons given or buildup to situations

[@jamchew1982]

LOL "it's all the points of the compass, spectacular"

[@RinaMeyers]

This movie is SURPRISING, BRILLIANT, ENTERTAINING and a joy to become emersed in! I was left wanting more, more, MORE!

[@Sapphonouveau]

'She dances hither, she dances thither..' rlol!It's the death of narrative cinema, and she comes wearing a tutu.

[@hypnocilicdreams]

Really funny review by Mark, one of his best! Personally, I think they should've changed the title to The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttfuck. Everyone who paid to see it got shafted

[@zachsheffee8458]

I love how the British don’t sugarcoat everything!!

[@StrangerToEarth]

You don't think the Great Gatsby is ONE of the greatest novels ever written? Really?

[@trexguy]

It was better than Slumdog Millionaire.

[@jonny5779]

The clip they played is funny, it sounds like the girl said "i saw my momma kissing another man, her face was red vomit" Lol😂😂😂

[@KyleAButler]

Sound's exactly like what I imagined the film to be like, making sure I will never see it.

[@jvanness90]

The effects were well handled, but it still pulled me out of the film. An example of a filming technique that was used just because they could. I have to imagine this would have looked better if they used makeup on Brad and then super imposed his face onto the other bodies. Effects are best when they are a blend of practical and digital. Even if the effects had worked properly, it's still a rubbish film. One of the few films I actually fell asleep to in the cinema.

[@MWeistra]

How wonderful! I owned a video store for a few years and this was one of the movies that many people loved but i hated (Crash - not the Cronenberg one - was another). I agree with the good doktr on this one...

[@DannyFromLA23]

@terratrema Are you serious? They mention it numerous times. Watch the movie again

[@Gaalsien]

Critics are always supposed to side with public opinion?

[@Nopperabou]

She actually just walked in front of the taxi.

[@trexguy]

Oh Mr Kermode I cant disagree with you more. Out of the 5 films nominated BB is the best one! I must say that you still made me laugh. Love your show!

[@twyckoff87]

God I hated this movie. I think time has proven Kermode and I right. Who ever talks about this movie?

[@barbarakirk1451]

He was right about Mork living life backwards too.

[@ThierryLoa]

The film isn't that bad. I enjoyed it actually. The better film I've seen coming out of mainstream Hollywood. The film captures and covers the life of the odd and unique individual, Benjamin Button, who experiences life - the world, death, love and time - differently from normal human beings.

[@SimarilRL]

Slumdog Millonaire is one of the most over rated movies of all time, its cheesy as hell... Benjamin Button was for me a master piece.

[@amyclarke41]

Nicolás Ramos i disagree but i found the first half to hard to watch😣of Slumdog millionaire i cant speak 4 this reviewed film

[@RideMyF150]

Pitt:miscast in that sh%$...they shoulda had a real fu%$in actor in that.

[@B1ggu5]

It's a compliment I believe.

[@ThierryLoa]

Though I agree it could have done more to explore and show the dilemmas and consequences of a human being who ages backward on philosophical and psychological levels, the film does touch the subject to some degree.

[@Kevo216666]

Great review... I couldn't finish it I'm afraid. Not the review - the movie. :)

[@GavanDuffyAnocht]

Dude has a PhD!!! Nice

[@Ruffleswolf]

Because he's talking about a film and not a short story?

[@badhead]

He's one of the few critics who tells it like it is. I dont always agree whith him. But he's not pretentious and arty talking about symbolism. He gets to the point. There is a lot of films he likes as well.

[@Cacophonaut]

@badhead actually I imagine he does talk about symbolism, just not on a more populist platform like 5live. Dude has a PhD, he will have studied concepts (such as the auteur, mis-en-scene, generic codes & conventions, intertextuality) that you would almost certainly consider "pretentious", but are in fact part of the essential toolkit for film analysis. In my experience, most people use the word "pretentious" to dismiss something they find intellectually intimidating.

[@yarsivad000.5]

Brad's hair style broke up BradJoleana? "Enough, is Enough...get out! Had Enough of that hair!"

[@larma7]

So is The Wrestler . . . what a shame that this movie was nominated for Best Pic but not The Wrestler!!!

[@thecolorunknown]

Well I prefaced my 11 month old comment by saying "I think" as in...it's my opinion. I know people disagree but it just annoys me to have a comment I made almost a year ago be called ignorant when it was just a harmless opinion.

[@HpArtcraft]

Kermode loves Twilight. His opinion is not valid lol.

[@hennyM5]

what a terrible way to look at things. I sincerely hope that in the year since you left this comment you've changed this horrible outlook

[@chanceie12]

Calm down Henny , he didn't kill anyone.

[@trexguy]

Benjamin Button is the best film after Wall-E, Be Kind Rewind, and Leatherheads. Its too bad those films were not nominated.

[@dancochrane5577]

Finally, you nailed it! Most over rated of that year.

[@terratrema]

@RedSandStudios Oh yes, you're right! I walked into this movie knowing fine well it was directed by David Fincher, starred Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, cost $200m of a major Hollywood studio's money, yet I was still expecting a documentary. Silly me. You really put me in my place. SERIOUSLY THOUGH, why should I be expected to emotionally interact with a movie when the whole premise of the movie, and they way the premise is handled, is unutterably stupid? Answer me. Well, go on, answer me!

[@h.b.smith_writer]

I extremely appreciate how Mark defended Forrest Gump. The alleged conservative pandering and sentimentality aren't true.

[@mousehead2000]

i was about to say pretty much exactly what you just said...

[@supersatanic]

I agree.This movie sucks. It's staggering that Fincher followed up a masterpiece like 'Zodiac' with this.

[@hkoenig1]

I'm pretty sure at the beginning of this video he listed all of David Fincher's good films.

[@cyriptobi137]

The film was far better than slumdog

[@tyruk]

@TulseLuper So do I -- so do most people.

[@thecolorunknown]

Opinions can't be wrong, that's why they are called opinions and not facts. Welcome to Logic 101, I'll be your instructor for the day.

[@djmattcarter]

I read the story in about 15 mins & I was really looking forward to seeing the film. However, I have to agree with Mark, it dragged on and on and turned out to be pretty pointless. What a shame

[@CiprianHanga]

I enjoyed this review almost as much as I have enjoyed the movie. Almost.

[@HR_GN]

Mr. Kermode, you just made my day. I'm always glad to see people calling this movie out, especially when they do it as eloquently as you.

[@Degjoy]

Such a good review!

[@bobdy9988]

He did English Literature.

[@glycerine139]

He's a film critic- the point is for him to give HIS opinion of films, not say what other people think about them... that would be kind of dull, don't you think, if he was like I'm not gonna be negative about this film, yknow, because it seems that the public like it. Also, some pretty crap films have been very popular eg pirates of the carribean 3, marley and me, so lots of people going to see it hardly makes it a great movie.

[@DanielMumby]

You clearly haven't seen Titanic: The Animated Musical...

[@Kick17]

oh god i think i must be the only person who liked this film and personally i dont really see anything wrong with a film being simmilar to another. Anyway its not like forest gump was the first of its kind