Rating: PG-13
Movie Release Date: December 25, 2008
DVD Release Date: May 5, 2009
Plot 411: The life story of a man who ages backward and how this affects his interactions with people.
Movie Release Date: December 25, 2008
DVD Release Date: May 5, 2009
Plot 411: The life story of a man who ages backward and how this affects his interactions with people.
Review: The main reason for my watching this movie was because the main concept of this plot was intriguing. It is about a man who is born with all the physical characteristics of someone in his 80s. Throughout his life, Benjamin (Brad Pitt) physically regresses toward infancy but his mind matures toward adulthood. This simple idea could be explored in so many different ways that I was curious to see how it would be developed. The why of Benjamin's condition is not explained at all in the movie, which is a little disappointing. It just is. Overall, I thought they could've done a better job with the storyline. I felt as though some of the obstacles weren't resolved in a satisfactory manner. Perhaps it's just me but I'd prefer to have a reasonable explanation for the events that occur. This movie failed to provide them despite being over two hours long. On a positive note, the cinematography of this movie is just breathtaking. The contrasts in Benjamin's life are stark and revealingly reflected in the film's color palette. The gorgeous golden hues used when he's in love with Daisy (Cate Blanchett) are even more beautiful when compared to the steely blue of a hospital or the dark browns of a cellar room. This was just one of those movies that are truly beautiful to look at. I loved the scenes with snow fall. Gorgeous. Besides Pitt and Blanchett's performances, a notable actor is Taraji P. Henson, who plays Benjamin's mother. She exudes such a belieavablely caring, maternal nature that it's really a departure from her character in Hustle & Flow.
Watch It: For it's great visual beauty, including its choice of lead actors.
Skip It: If you're looking for answers. There are none. It's just the story of his life, and often lives aren't wrapped up nicely.
4 comments:
Sorry to hear that you were disappointed with the story line. Haven't seen this yet, but there's an interesting back story...
So, I've been a huge Forrest Gump fan from the first time I saw it on TV. I'm not a Tom Hanks guy and can watch FG without seeing Tom but the one time he overacts while talking to the lady about the inspirational impact of his running gambit, Hanks turns his head sideways and says, "Nahhh, I don't know about that, but people did seem to say that it gave them hope".. that Nahhh was the only overdone moment in the entire film.. his genius extended to patterning his accent after the one used by Young FG.. amazing things keep happening to this character, and he gets a baby at the end of the movie" (aka my story).. so all the while I'm thinking that it's Winston Groom who wrote the book, but no, he movie is nothing like the book, it's Eric Roth and his screenplay that has the audacity of genius.. so I'm googling Eric Roth just to get more background, and lo' and behold, he has the same BD as my Son JJ.. ooh, that's way too odd. so, as anyone close to film knows, everyone on FG except the Producer girl took points on the movie and made millions, including Roth, along with the fortune from a long and successful screewriting career.. so Eric invests his millions with Stanley Chais, who then sends them over to Bernie Madoff where the $$$ disappear (Bernie Made Off with it).. the only saving grace for old Eric boy is that he also wrote the screenplay for Ben Button and probably just missed the Oscar to Slumdog.. which brings us back to your review.. so go easy on our inspirational pal Eric Roth.. he needs a hug or two these days..
I STILL haven't seen Forrest Gump. Still. I always catch parts of it on tv but I've never actually sat through it. I know, horrible huh?
well in your defense, it is a period piece that resonates most with people about 20-30 years older than you are.. so can't excoriate you on that account.. but, there are moments in this film where it "takes you to another level"..
for me, those moments are: (some obvious)..
when forrest starts running as a child..
when Lt. Dan calls God out during the hurricane..
when LD and FG's boat is the only survivor of the hurricane (a scene from my childhood)..
when forrest start running as an adult..
when forrest discovers that he's a Father (another scene from my life)..
watching FG reminds me how amazing life can be and reinspires me to believe in the impossible.. (one more time)..
it is long, however, so if you could take a mildly calming psychedelic substance, that might help you get through it..
I'll get around to it someday :)
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