ScreenCrave.com » The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Behind The Scenes of Benjamin Button

Mali Elfman — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:11:33 +0000

There has been a lot of talk about whether or not Brad Pitt’s performance in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was due to the amazing special effects or his acting. After taking a look at a very small amount of the work he did, I would say that it was even harder for him to play the role well due to the special effect. Not only did he have to physcially represent all the different stages of Button’s life but he didn’t even have the help of being on set or working off of the other actors.

It’s truly remarkable to see what they’re with images now. Check out the video on technology that went into making Benjamin Button.

What do you think? Does Pitt deserve the Oscar win?

Round Up: The Flash, Puss in Boots, Hyperion Cantos

Krystal Clark — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 01:07:18 +0000

Here are some of the top news stories of the day……

Has The Flash found a writer? A source close to the developing project, believe that screenwriter Dan Mazeau will pen the script for the live action comic adaptation. [FirstShowing]
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button gets no love in Italy. An Italian office worker filed legal papers against the film’s creators citing that Button’s script is based on plagiarized material. [THR]
The sci-fi novel Hyperion Cantos is getting adapted for the big screen and it already has a director attached. Scott Derrickson, the guy who brought you last years The Day the Earth Stood Still will helm the futuristic feature. [ComingSoon.net]

Mickey Rourke’s getting more work! The Oscar nominated actor has signed on to star in the Hollywood debut of Indian writer-director,Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The film’s entitled Broken Horses, and is described as a gangster caper. [THR]
Puss in Boots is getting his own film. A writer by the name of Tom Wheeler has been hired by Dreamworks Animation to pen a script for the Shrek spin-off. [ComingSoon.net]

VOTD: Forest Button

Mali Elfman — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:00:10 +0000

The Curious Case of Forrest Gump – watch more funny videos

Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons

Matt Hansen — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 23:42:45 +0000

Didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas? Well not to worry, because Hollywood is dropping off some fantastic last minute gifts which are sure to brighten you Holiday spirits. The best of which may also be the longest in run time. The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons clocks in at 159 minutes, but as you’ll come to find out, every moment is well worth it.

Brad Pitt plays the title role of a New Orleans man who was born old and appears to be aging backwards. Under these “unusual circumstances” the young orphan starts off life with losing most of his friends, falling in love and having a surrogate mother who is at least sixty years his junior. Starting in the early 1920′s, the film evenly progresses through seven decades of life. All of which are filled with fate, destiny, and many colorful characters who help Benjamin along his journey. When we come to the end we are left with a story that is thoroughly complete, engaging, and easily enjoyable.

Noteworthy performances come from a supremely talented cast that includes Julia Ormond, Tilda Swinton, Taraji P. Henson, and the disarmingly beautiful Cate Blanchett who portrays Benjamin’s life long love. While I’m thoroughly convinced that Pitt made a deal with the devil for good looks, he proves once again his ability to deliver a character that require a perfect balance of subtlety and awareness.

If you want to be chronologically correct, F. Scott Fitzgerald gets credit for coming up with this story in the first place. However, big kudos must go to the collaborative efforts of Director David Fincher and Writer Eric Roth for putting together such a simple yet profoundly moving tale. The incredible makeup team and special effects were so realistic that they were almost impossible to notice, but what’s even more impressive is how the key point of time is dealt with in the story. Small changes such as the characters wardrobe and a duplex TV which broadcast the Beatles first television appearance, do so much with so little. Fincher wisely the makes the film into a timeless tale rather than a tale about time. While it’s never blatant, Benjamin Buttons manages to relay something that we need reminding of at this time of year, that the most important things in life are the relationships we have with others.

While I admit to not having seen The Wrestler or Slumdog Millionaire which both seem to be generating big Oscar buzz, this is the first movie of awards season which truly caught my attention for multiple nomination locks. Already with five nods from the Golden Globes, one things for certain, Button will deservedly go home with one type of shiny accolade to sit on the mantle.

Awards: The Golden Globe Noms Lead by Button, Frost, and Doubt

Mali Elfman — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:58:38 +0000

Looks like the most popular films this year for the The Golden Globes are: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Doubt and Frost/Nixon. Each film nabbed five nominations including best actor, best feature, and more.

There were a few surprises:

Tom Cruise managed to get a nomination for his supporting role in Tropic Thunder, along with Downey Jr. Looks like there might be some tension at that table.
Heath Ledger (not really a surprise) was also nominated for best supporting actor in The Dark Knight.
Milk was only nominated once. Sean Penn managed to get a nod for Best Actor. I would have liked to have seen 1-2 more nominations for this film.
The Dark Knight was not picked for best feature (is this a prelude to the Oscars?)
Also, has anyone even seen Revolutionary Road?

Check out the full list below…

FILM

BEST FEATURE – DRAMA
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” – Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures
“Frost/Nixon” – Imagine Entertainment, Working Title, Studio Canal; Universal Pictures
“The Reader” – Mirage Enterprises; The Weinstein Company
“Revolutionary Road” – An Evamere Entertainment BBC Films Neal Street Production; DreamWorks Pictures in Association with BBC Films and Paramount Vantage
“Slumdog Millionaire” -Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.; Fox Searchlight Pictures and Warner Bros.

BEST FEATURE – COMEDY
“Burn After Reading” – Working Title/Releasing Company; Focus Features in association with Studio Canal
“Happy-Go-Lucky” – Summit Entertainment, Film4, Ingenious Film Partners, Miramax Films; Miramax Films
“In Bruges” – Blueprint Pictures; Focus Features
“Mamma Mia!” – Relativity Media, Playtone, Littlestar; Universal Pictures
“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” – Mediapro; The Weinstein Company

ACTOR – DRAMA
Leonardo DiCaprio – “Revolutionary Road”
Frank Langella – “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn – “Milk”
Brad Pitt – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Mickey Rouke – “The Wrestler”

ACTRESS – DRAMA
Anne Hathaway – “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie – “Changeling”
Meryl Streep – “Doubt”
Kristin Scott Thomas – “I’ve Loved You So Long”
Kate Winslet – “Revolutionary Road”

ACTOR – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Javier Bardem – “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Colin Farrell – “In Bruges”
James Franco – “Pineapple Express”
Brendan Gleeson – “In Bruges”
Dustin Hoffman – “Last Chance Harvey”

ACTRESS – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Rebecca Hall – “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Sally Hawkins – “Happy-Go-Lucky”
Frances McDormand – “Burn After Reading”
Meryl Streep – “Mamma Mia!”
Emma Thompson – “Last Chance Harvey”

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tom Cruise, “Tropic Thunder”
Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder”
Ray Fiennes, “The Duchess”
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”
Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, “Doubt”
Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler”
Kate Winslet, “The Reader”

SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
Simon Beaufoy – “Slumdog Millionaire”
David Hare – “The Reader”
Peter Morgan – “Frost/Nixon”
Peter Morgan – “Frost/Nixon”
Eric Roth – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
John Patrick Shanley – “Doubt”

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“The Baader Meinhof Complex” (“Der badder meinhof komplex”)(Germany) – Constantin Film Produktion GmbH; Summit Entertainment, LLC
“Everlasting Moments” (“Maria larssons eviga ögonblick”) (Sweden) – Final Cut Productions Aps; IFC Films
“Gomorrah” (“Gomorra”) (Italy) – Fandango; IFC Films
“I’ve Loved You So Long” (“Il y a longtemps que je t’aime”) (France) – UGC YM/UGC Images/France 3 Cinema/Integral Film; Sony Pictures Classics
“Waltz with Bashir” (Israel) – Bridgit Folman Film Gang/Les Films D’Ici/Razor Films/Arte France/ITVS International; Sony Pictures

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
“Bolt” – Walt Disney Pictures; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
“Kung Fu Panda” – DreamWorks Animation SKG; Paramount Pictures
“Wall-E” – Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

BEST SCORE
Alexandre Desplat – “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button”
Clint Eastwood – “Changeling”
James Newton Howard – “Defiance”
A. R. Rahman – “Slumdog Millionaire”
Hans Zimmer – “Frost/Nixon”

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

“Down To Earth” from “Wall-E” – Music By: Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman; Lyrics By: Peter Gabriel
“Gran Torino” from “Gran Torino” – Music By: Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens; Lyrics By: Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
“I Thought I Lost You” from “Bolt” – Music & Lyrics By: Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele
“Once In A Lifetime” from “Cadillac Records”
Music & Lyrics By: Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott Mcfarnon, Ian Dench, James Dring, Jody Street
“The Wrestler” from “The Wrestler” – Music & Lyrics By: Bruce Springsteen

TELEVISION

TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
“Dexter” (Showtime) – Showtime/John Goldwyn Productions/The Colleton Company/Clyde Phillips Productions
“House” (Fox) – Universal Media Studios In Association With Heel And Toe Films, Shore Z Productions And Bad Hat Harry Productions
“In Treatment” (HBO) – Sheleg, Closest To The Hole Productions In Association With Hbo Entertainment
“Mad Men” (AMC) – Lionsgate Television
“True Blood” (HBO) – Your Face Goes Here Productions In Association With Hbo Entertainment

TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
“30 Rock”
“Californication”
“Entourage”
“The Office”
“Weeds”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Gabriel Byrne – “In Treatment
Michael C. Hall – “Dexter
Jon Hamm – “Mad Men
Hugh Laurie – “House
Jonathan Rhys Meyers – “The Tudors

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
Sally Field – “Brothers And Sisters”
Mariska Hargitay – “Law And Order: Special Victims Unit”
January Jones – “Mad Men”
Anna Paquin – “True Blood”
Kyra Sedgwick – “The Closer”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES -COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Christina Applegate – “Samantha Who?”
America Ferrera – “Ugly Betty”
Tina Fey – “30 Rock”
Debra Messing – “The Starter Wife”
Mary-Louise Parker – “Weeds”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
Alec Baldwin – “30 Rock”
Steve Carell – “The Office”
Kevin Connelly – “Entourage”
David Duchovny – “Californication”
Tony Shalhoub – “Monk”

MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
“A Raisin in the Sun” – Sony Pictures Television
“Bernard and Doris” – Trigger Street Independent Productions in association with Little Bird and Chicago Films and HBO Films
“Cranford” – A Co-Production of BBC and WGBH Boston.
“John Adams” – Playtone in association with HBO Films
“Recount” – Spring Creek/Mirage Productions in association with Trigger Street Productions, Everyman Pictures and HBO Films

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Ralph Fiennes – “Bernard and Doris”
Paul Giamatti – “John Adams”
Kevin Spacey – ” Recount”
Kiefer Sutherland – “24: Redemption”
Tom Wilkinson – “Recount”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Judi Dench – “Cranford”
Catherine Keener – “An American Crime”
Laura Linney – “John Adams”
Shirley Maclaine – “Coco Chanel”
Susan Sarandon – “Bernard And Doris”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Eileen Atkins – “Cranford”
Laura Dern – “Recount”
Melissa George – “In Treatment”
Rachel Griffiths – “Brothers And Sisters”
Dianne Wiest – “In Treatment”

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Neil Patrick Harris – “How I Met Your Mother”
Denis Leary – “Recount”
Jeremy Piven – “Entourage”
Blair Underwood – “In Treatment”
Tom Wilkinson – “John Adams”

Nominations for the Critics Choice Awards Lead by ‘Milk’ and ‘Button’

Mali Elfman — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:50:00 +0000

That’s right, Milk and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button have tied for the most nominations with eight a piece. Both were of nominated for best actor, best acting ensemble, best writer, and of course best picture. Sadly, only one of those is available in theaters at present (Milk) the other one you’re going to have to wait until Christmas to watch.

Here are the nominees for the 14th annual Critics’ Choice Awards. Which ones do you want to win?

PICTURE
“Changeling”
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“Doubt”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Milk”
“The Reader”
“Slumdog Millionaire”
“Wall-E”
“The Wrestler”

ACTOR
Clint Eastwood, “Gran Torino”
Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor”
Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn, “Milk”
Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”

ACTRESS
Kate Beckinsale, “Nothing But the Truth”
Cate Blanchett, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie, “Changeling”
Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep, “Doubt”

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, “Milk”
Robert Downey, Jr., “Tropic Thunder”
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”
Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
James Franco, “Milk”

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Vera Farmiga, “Nothing But the Truth”
Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler”
Kate Winslet, “The Reader”

ACTING ENSEMBLE
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“Doubt”
“Milk”
“Rachel Getting Married”

DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”
Christopher Nolan, “The Dark Knight”
Gus Van Sant, “Milk”

WRITER (ORIGINAL OR ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)
Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Dustin Lance Black, “Milk”
Peter Morgan, “Frost/Nixon”
Eric Roth, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
John Patrick Shanley, “Doubt”

ANIMATED FEATURE
“Bolt”
“Kung Fu Panda”
“Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa”
“Wall-E”
“Waltz With Bashir”

YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS (UNDER 21)
Dakota Fanning, “The Secret Life of Bees”
David Kross, “The Reader”
Dev Petal, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Brandon Walters, “Australia”

ACTION MOVIE
“The Dark Knight”
“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
“Iron Man”
“Quantum of Solace”
“Wanted”

COMEDY
“Burn After Reading”
“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”
“Role Models”
“Tropic Thunder”
“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”

PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
“John Adams”
“Recount”
“Coco Chanel”

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“A Christmas Tale”
“Gomorrah”
“I’ve Loved You So Long”
“Let the Right One In”
“Mongol”
“Waltz With Bashir”

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
“I.O.U.S.A.”
“Man on Wire”
“Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired”
“Standard Operating Procedure”
“Young at Heart”

SONG
“Another Way to Die,” Jack White and Alicia Keys/Jack White, “Quantum of Solace”
“Down to Earth,” Peter Gabriel/Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, “Wall-E”
“I Thought I Lost You,” Miley Cyrus and John Travolta/Miley Cyrus and Jeffrey Steele, “Bolt”
“Jaiho,” Sukhwinder Singh/A.R. Rahman and Gulzar, “Slumdog Millionaire”
“The Wrestler,” Bruce Springsteen/Bruce Springsteen, “The Wrestler”

COMPOSER
Alexandre Desplat, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Clint Eastwood, “Changeling”
Danny Elfman, “Milk”
Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, “The Dark Knight”
A.R. Rahman, “Slumdog Millionaire”

TRAILER: International Benjamin Button Trailer

Mali Elfman — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:52:53 +0000

Watch the beautiful trailer for David Fincher’s film Benjamin Button below…

Director: David Fincher
Writer: Eric Roth
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton
Release: December 19, 2008

NEW POSTERS: Benjamin Button Close-Up Posters

Mali Elfman — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:03:45 +0000

I love how the font mirrors their lives. Nice touch.

Director: David Fincher
Writer: Eric Roth
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton

Release: December 19, 2008

Trailer below:

Thank You TrailerAddict

Round Up: Edge of Darkness Pics, Twilight Interviews, Benjamin Button

Mali Elfman — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:53:18 +0000

Photos of Mel Gibson (featured above), John Travolta and Jonathan Rhy Meyers on the set of Edge of Darkness [ComingSoon]
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button artwork [/Film]
Ennio Morricone, an Academy-award winning composer will score Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds [Spill]
New photo off the set of Nine, a new musical by Chicago Academy Award nominated director Rob Marshall [IESB]
The truth behind Changeling: Who Christine Collins really was [Cinematical]
Interviews with Twilight‘s Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Stephenie Meyers! [IESB]

Upcoming Releases That We’re Excited For (and You Should Be Too)!

Nushin Rashidian — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:00:04 +0000

I happen to be a fan of films that leave an aftertaste. The kind that don’t just stun and surprise me in the moment, with no kernel of truth to leave me thinking for days. If you are like me, and value films for their story line, their insight into the self or a world unknown, then the following films will surely move you. With the theme of love (or a lack of) in Nights and Weekends, to the life story of an icon of the LGBT community in Milk; this list appeals to a variety of tastes. Make a note of the release dates, and enjoy the trailers!

Nights And Weekends

Release Date: October 10th

The Secret Life of Bees

Release Date: October 17th

Local Color

Release Date: November 7th

Milk

Release Date: November 26th

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The trailer can be found here!

And finally, the one we just cannot get enough of…

Doubt

Release Date: October 10th

New Benjamin Button Trailer

Mali Elfman — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:20:21 +0000

I hate trailers that give too much away. For the most part I try and avoid them. Although when I saw the first trailer for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I was just confused. The second trailer has me fascinated. Aside from the absolutely stunning shots, the story actually is beginning to make sense in a fantastical sort of way. Perhaps I just needed some time to wrap my head around the idea?

I think at the hands of almost anyone else than David Fincher, this film could have been a disaster, but with his creativity and talent, it may just be a knock out.

The trailer of below of for a higher quality version go here.

It’s still weird seeing and hearing Brad Pitt without Brad Pitt, isn’t it?

ScreenCrave.com » The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Behind The Scenes of Benjamin Button

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FILM

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