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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (film)

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For the short story, see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (short story).
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
File:Benjamin Button poster.jpg
Promotional poster
Directed byDavid Fincher
Written byScreenplay:
Eric Roth
Screen story:
Eric Roth
Robin Swicord
Short story:
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Produced byKathleen Kennedy
Frank Marshall
Cean Chaffin
StarringBrad Pitt
Cate Blanchett
CinematographyClaudio Miranda
Edited byKirk Baxter
Angus Wall
Music byAlexandre Desplat
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures (USA)
Warner Bros. (International)
Release date
December 25, 2008 (US)
Running time
165 min.
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$160,000,000[1]
Box office$332,582,711[2]

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a 2008 American fantasy drama film, based on the 1921 short story of the same name written by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The film was directed by David Fincher, written by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, and stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. The film was released in the United States on December 25, 2008.

The film received thirteen Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Pitt, and Best Supporting Actress for Taraji P. Henson. It won three Oscars for Art Direction, Makeup, and Visual Effects.

The film differs from the F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story. The short story is set in Baltimore, not New Orleans; the baby is born speaking like an adult; has a long white beard; is born in a hospital, not at home; and is 70 years old, not 80; is not deserted by his father at a home for the elderly, but is cared for by Mr. Button and encouraged to go to college.

Plot

In August 2005, 81-year-old Daisy (Cate Blanchett) is on her deathbed with her 37-year-old daughter Caroline (Julia Ormond) in a New Orleans hospital as Hurricane Katrina approaches. Daisy tells Caroline the story of a blind clockmaker named Gateau (Elias Koteas), who was commissioned to create a clock to hang in the New Orleans train station. After receiving news of his son's death in World War I, he continued work on his clock, but intentionally designed it to run backward, in the hope that it would bring back those who died in the war. After her story, Daisy asks Caroline to read aloud from a diary containing photographs and postcards written by Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt). Caroline begins to read as the story transitions to Benjamin's narration.

On November 11, 1918, just as the people of New Orleans are celebrating the end of the WWI, a baby boy is born with the appearance and physical maladies of an 85-year-old man. The mother of the baby dies shortly after giving birth, and the father, Thomas Button (Jason Flemyng), takes the baby and abandons him on the porch of a nursing home. Queenie (Taraji P. Henson) and Tizzy (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali), a couple who work at the nursing home, find the baby. Queenie, who is unable to conceive, decides to take the baby in as her own and be his mother, against Tizzy's wishes. She names the baby Benjamin.

Over the course of the story, Benjamin begins to biologically grow younger. In the 1920s, he makes friends with Ngunda Oti, a man who used to sit by a river, and Mrs. Maple, a woman in her seventies who loves music. He also finds out Tizzy's grandfather worked for John Wilkes Booth. In 1930, while still appearing to be 73, Benjamin meets a 6-year-old girl named Daisy (Elle Fanning), whose grandmother lives in the nursing home. The children play together and listen to Daisy's grandmother read from a storybook. In 1934, just as Mrs. Maple dies, Benjamin goes to work on a tugboat on the docks of New Orleans for a tattoo artist, Captain Mike (Jared Harris). In their free time, the captain takes him to brothels and bars. For the first time, Benjamin meets Thomas Button, who does not reveal that he is Benjamin's father. In 1936, after making friends with a man who got struck by lightning, Mr. Daws, Benjamin leaves New Orleans with the tugboat crew for a long-term work engagement. Upon Daisy's request, he sends her postcards from his travels. While in the Russian port city of Murmansk, he writes to Daisy that he has fallen in love. He begins an affair with the older, married Elizabeth Abbott (Tilda Swinton), who used to swim as a 19-year-old. On December 8, 1941 she breaks it off, leaving him a note only telling him "It was nice to have met you."

While in Russia, Benjamin and the rest of the tugboat crew hear of the Pearl Harbor attack. Captain Mike tells his crew that the Chelsea, his tugboat, has been commissioned into the United States Navy. They work through the war hauling damaged ships until one day they come upon a ship carrying 1,300 men that has been split by a torpedo. They attack the U-boat that had sunk the ship and ram it, sinking both the U-boat and the Chelsea. Captain Mike and every member of the crew except Benjamin and another man perish.

In 1945, Benjamin returns to New Orleans, and learns that the 21-year-old Daisy has become a successful dancer in New York City. In 1947, Benjamin meets Thomas Button again, who is dying. He reveals he is his father and gives him his house, his boat and the other possessions as the elderly Button dies. In 1951, Benjamin comes to New York to meet Daisy at a performance, he finds Daisy has fallen in love with a fellow dancer, and tries to accept that their lives have separated. Daisy's dance career is ended in 1957 by an accident in Paris, explained as a series of unfortunate events, known as the butterfly effect. She is hit by a taxi cab that breaks her leg in five places. When Benjamin goes to see her, Daisy is amazed at his youthful appearance, but frustrated at her own injuries; she turns him away by telling Benjamin to stay out of her life. In 1962, Daisy returns to New Orleans and reunites with Benjamin. Now the same physical age, they fall in love and move in an apartment together. They experience the 1960s together, in large part blissfully but increasingly aware of Benjamin growing younger while Daisy grows older. In 1967, Benjamin is informed that Queenie died and Daisy is pregnant. In 1968, Daisy gives birth to a girl, Caroline. In 1969, Benjamin, believing he cannot be a father to his daughter due to his reverse aging, and not wanting to burden Daisy with having to raise two children, sells his belongings, and leaves the proceeds to Daisy and Caroline. He leaves them both and travels to India. After reading this account, Caroline learns that Benjamin is her father. She is upset that Daisy took such a long time to inform her, but finds that Benjamin sent her a postcard from everywhere for each of her birthdays expressing his love for his daughter.

In 1980, Benjamin returns to meet Daisy in her dance studio. The 56-year-old Daisy is now married to Robert Williams, a kind man who supports her well, to Benjamin's relief. Daisy introduces Benjamin to Robert and the 12-year-old Caroline as a long-time family friend. Daisy and Benjamin then meet privately in Benjamin's hotel where they share their passion for each other, but they mutually realize that Daisy has become too old for Benjamin. Benjamin departs again and continues to grow younger. In 1991, Daisy receives a phone call from social workers. They inform her that they found Benjamin — now a young 12-year-old just hitting puberty — living in a condemned building, and that they called her because they saw her name mentioned frequently in his diary. The social workers believe that he has dementia as he sometimes forgets that he had just eaten and cannot remember Daisy or much of his past. Daisy moves into the nursing home where Benjamin grew up and takes care of him through the 1990s as he becomes a confused 5-year-old boy with a growing temper.

In 2002, Mr. Gateau's old clock is removed from the train station. Shortly afterward, in the spring of 2003, the 85-year-old Benjamin, who is now physically an infant, dies in Daisy's arms. At the moment before Benjamin dies, Daisy claims to have seen in his eyes that he recognized who she is. Finally, the hurricane cuts the electrical system. As Caroline briefly leaves the room, Daisy passes away, her wish of seeing Benjamin again seemingly answered by a hummingbird hovering outside the storm-drenched windows, just as the sounds of the city's emergency sirens and reports of breached levees are heard.

Benjamin then gives advice of people being born to sit by rivers, getting struck by lightning, having an ear for music, being artists, swimming, knowing buttons, knowing Shakespeare, being mothers, and dancing. The backwards clock is then shown in a basement, still working, as floodwaters envelop the storage room in which it is kept.

Cast

Production

Development

As early as summer 1994, Maryland Film Office chief Jack Gerbes was approached with the possibility of a film adaptation of the 1921 short story "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which takes place in Baltimore.[3] In October 1998, screenwriter Robin Swicord wrote for director Ron Howard an adapted screenplay of the short story, a project which would potentially star actor John Travolta.[4] In May 2000, Paramount Pictures hired screenwriter Jim Taylor to adapt a screenplay from the short story. The studio also attached director Spike Jonze to helm the project.[5] Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman had also written a draft of the adapted screenplay at one point.[6] In June 2003, director Gary Ross entered final negotiations to helm the project based on a new draft penned by screenwriter Eric Roth.[7] In May 2004, Warner Bros. Pictures and Paramount Pictures joined to co-finance the project, with Paramount Pictures marketing the film in foreign territories and Warner Bros. handling domestic distribution (those were eventually switched).[citation needed] In the same month, director David Fincher entered negotiations to replace Ross in directing the film.[8] In July 2005, Fincher negotiated a deal with the studios to direct Benjamin Button and Zodiac back-to-back, with Zodiac being produced first.

Casting

In May 2005, actors Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett entered negotiations to star in the film as Benjamin Button and Daisy, respectively.[9] In September 2006, actors Tilda Swinton, Jason Flemyng, and Taraji P. Henson entered negotiations to be cast into the film.[10] The following October, with production yet to begin, actress Julia Ormond was cast as Daisy's daughter, to whom Blanchett's character tells the story of her love affair with Benjamin Button.[11]

Brad Pitt had previously starred in other films with four of the other actors in this film. He co-starred in Legends of the Fall with Julia Ormond, Snatch with Jason Flemying , Babel with Cate Blanchett and Burn After Reading with Tilda Swinton.

Filming

Some filming was conducted in the Garden District of New Orleans, including this home at 2707 Coliseum St.

For Benjamin Button, New Orleans, Louisiana and the surrounding area was chosen as the filming location for the story to take advantage of the state's production incentives, and shooting was slated to begin in October 2006.[12] Filming of Benjamin Button began on November 6, 2006 in New Orleans. In January 2007, Blanchett joined the shoot.[13] Fincher praised the ease of accessibility to rural and urban sets in New Orleans and said that the recovery from Hurricane Katrina did not serve as an atypical hindrance to production.[14] In March 2007, production moved to Los Angeles for two more months of filming.[3] Principal photography was targeted to last a total of 150 days. Additional time was needed in post-production to create the visual effects for the metamorphosis of Brad Pitt's character to the infant stage.[15] The director used a camera system called Contour, developed by Steve Perlman, to capture facial deformation data from live action performances.[16] Overall production was finished in September 2007.[17] The movie props were donated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the 9th Ward of New Orleans.

Music

The score to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was written by French composer Alexandre Desplat, who recorded his score with an 87-piece ensemble of the Hollywood Studio Symphony at the Sony Scoring Stage.[18] The film's first trailer featured the "Aquarium" movement of Camille Saint-Saëns' The Carnival of the Animals (previously adapted by WB for a television special starring two of that studio's most popular cartoon characters, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck). The choir singing in the trailer is Libera, a group of boys from South London. The international trailer contains the song "A Moment of Greatness" by Immediate Music. One of the TV spots contains the song "My Body is a Cage" by Arcade Fire. Some TV spots use the song "The Return", which is part of APM Music's Liquid Cinema Collection "Cinematic Emotions & Drama". There are also songs in the film shared with O Brother, Where Art Thou?, including "Didn't Leave Nobody But the Baby" and "I'll Fly Away", from a different recording. The piano piece that Benjamin learns and which is reprised at the end of the film is Bethena: A Concert Waltz by Scott Joplin.

Benjamin and Daisy watch The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show singing "Twist and Shout".

Reception

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was originally slated for theatrical release in May 2008,[19] but it was pushed back to November 26, 2008.[20] The release date was moved again to December 25, 2008 in the United States, January 16, 2009, in Mexico, February 5, 2009, in the United Kingdom, February 13, 2009, in Italy[21][22] and February 27, 2009 in South Africa.

Box office performance

On its opening day, the film opened in the number two position behind Marley & Me, in North America with $11,871,831 in 2,988 theaters with a $3,973 average.[23] However, during its opening weekend, the film dropped to the third position behind Marley & Me and Bedtime Stories with $26,853,816 in 2,988 theaters with an $8,987 average.[24] As of March 21, 2009 the film has grossed $125,386,000 at the domestic box office, foreign box office stands at $177,000,000 with a total gross of $329,809,326.[2]

Critical reception

The film has received generally positive reviews. As of May 19, 2009, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 73% of critics gave the film positive reviews based on 211 reviews, with 77% of selected "Top Critics" giving the film positive reviews.[25] According to Metacritic, the film received an average score of 70 based on 36 reviews.[26] Yahoo! Movies reported the film received a B+ average score from critical consensus.[27]

Todd McCarthy of Variety gave the film a positive review, calling it a "richly satisfying serving of deep-dish Hollywood storytelling."[28] Peter Howell of The Toronto Star says: "It's been said that the unexamined life is not worth living. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button suggests an addendum: a life lived backwards can be far more enriching..." and describes the film as "a magical and moving account of a man living his life resoundingly in reverse" and "moviemaking at its best."[29] Rod Yates of Empire awarded it five out of a possible five stars.[30] Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter felt the film was "superbly made and winningly acted by Brad Pitt in his most impressive outing to date." Honeycutt praised Fincher's directing of the film and noted that the "cinematography wonderfully marries a palette of subdued earthern colors with the necessary CGI and other visual effects that place one in a magical past." Honeycutt states the bottom line about Benjamin Button is that it is "an intimate epic about love and loss that is pure cinema."[31]

Joe Morgenstern of the The Wall Street Journal gave the film a rave and stated: "Benjamin Button is all of a visionary piece, and it's a soul-filling vision."[32] Rex Reed of The New York Observer opines, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a monumental achievement — not only one of the best films of the year, but one of the greatest films ever made", and further states that it is "brilliantly directed and acted, sumptuously photographed and endlessly fascinating."[33]

A.O. Scott of The New York Times states, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, more than two and a half hours long, sighs with longing and simmers with intrigue while investigating the philosophical conundrums and emotional paradoxes of its protagonist’s condition in a spirit that owes more to Jorge Luis Borges than to Fitzgerald." Scott praised director David Fincher and writes "Building on the advances of pioneers like Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and Robert Zemeckis...Mr. Fincher has added a dimension of delicacy and grace to digital filmmaking" and further states, "While it stands on the shoulders of breakthroughs like Minority Report, The Lord of the Rings and Forrest Gump, Benjamin Button may be the most dazzling such hybrid yet, precisely because it is the subtlest." He also stated: "At the same time, like any other love- — like any movie--it is shadowed by disappointment and fated to end."[34]

On the other hand, Anne Hornaday of The Washington Post states, "There's no denying the sheer ambition and technical prowess of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. What's less clear is whether it entirely earns its own inflated sense of self-importance..." and further says, "It plays too safe when it should be letting its freak flag fly."[35] Kimberley Jones of the Austin Chronicle panned the film and states, "Fincher's selling us beautifully cheekboned movie stars frolicking in bedsheets and calling it a great love. I didn't buy it for a second."[36]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film two and a half stars, saying that it is "a splendidly made film based on a profoundly mistaken premise." He goes on to elaborate that "The movie's premise devalues any relationship, makes futile any friendship or romance, and spits, not into the face of destiny, but backward into the maw of time."[37]

Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian called it "166 minutes of twee tedium", giving it one star out of a possible five.[38]

Ashley Scrace from the Sheffield Star noted: "It is a good film, but one of contradictions, some of which are far beyond the story of young versus old. It is surprising yet clichéd; sad yet hollow; visually impressive yet ordinary." He goes on to add, "I just hope this year’s Oscars do not follow a tired formula: biggest budget, plus biggest stars, equals biggest awards." The film was rated at three stars out of a possible five.[39]

Cosmo Landesman of the Sunday Times wrote: "The film’s premise serves no purpose. It’s a gimmick that goes on for nearly three hours," concluding "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an anodyne Hollywood film that offers a safe and sanitised view of life and death. It's Forrest Gump goes backwards," while awarding the film two out of five stars.[40] James Christopher in The Times called it "a tedious marathon of smoke and mirrors. In terms of the basic requirements of three-reel drama the film lacks substance, credibility, a decent script and characters you might actually care for"[41] while Derek Malcolm of London's Evening Standard notes that "never at any point do you feel that there’s anything more to it than a very strange story traversed by a film-maker who knows what he is doing but not always why he is doing it."[42]

Top ten lists

The film appeared on many critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2008.[43] According to Movie City News, the film has appeared on 79 different top ten lists out of 286 different critics lists surveyed, the 6th most mentioned on a top ten list of the films released in 2008.[44] According to CriticsTop10, the film appeared on over 136 film critics top ten lists, with 12 number one mentions, and was also ranked 6th of the year in terms of appearances on critics' top ten lists.[45]

Plagiarism Claim

In January 2009, an Italian writer named Adriana Pichini filed legal papers contending that the film appeared to have been based on a story that she wrote in 1994, entitled "Il ritorno di Arthur all'innocenza" (Arthur's Return to Innocence). The case will be examined by an Italian judge to see whether or not the situation merits further inquiry.[46]

Home media

The film was released on Blu-ray Disc and DVD on May 5, 2009 by Paramount. The Criterion release includes over three hours of special features, and a documentary about the making of the film.[47] Benjamin Button has something of an unusual distribution arrangement for the Blu Ray release world wide. The US Criterion release does not appear to be available in other countries and it is unknown whether Warner struck a different transfer for other markets or used the same master outside of US. For releases in countries such as UK and Australia, the Blu Ray is distributed by Warner Brothers with no reference to Criterion on the packaging. The Criterion edition has received outstanding reviews for audio and video presentation. The main audio track is consistent across all editions (DTS HD Master Audio) and the special features appear to be consistent across both editions also. The Australian edition of the Blu Ray includes a license to download a digital copy of the movie to portable devices. This license key is valid for 1 year from release date of the Blu Ray. There is no media in the set containing the portable digital edition of the movie.

Awards and honors

Award Category Recipient Result
81st Academy Awards Best Picture Nominated
Best Director David Fincher Nominated
Best Actor Brad Pitt Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Taraji P. Henson Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Eric Roth Nominated
Best Film Editing Nominated
Best Cinematography Claudio Miranda Nominated
Best Art Direction Won
Best Costume Design Jacqueline West Nominated
Best Makeup Won
Best Original Score Alexandre Desplat Nominated
Best Sound Mixing Nominated
Best Visual Effects Won
American Society of Cinematographers[48] Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases Claudio Miranda Nominated
Austin Film Critics Association[49] Best Supporting Actress Taraji P. Henson Won
British Academy Film Awards Best Film Nominated
Best Makeup & Hair Won
Best Director David Fincher Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Eric Roth Nominated
Best Leading Actor Brad Pitt Nominated
Best Costume Design Nominated
Best Music Alexandre Desplat Nominated
Best Cinematography Claudio Miranda Nominated
Best Editing Nominated
Best Production Design Won
Best Visual Effects Won
Broadcast Film Critics[50] Best Film Nominated
Best Actor Brad Pitt Nominated
Best Actress Cate Blanchett Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Director David Fincher Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Taraji P. Henson Nominated
Best Cast Nominated
BFCA Critics' Choice Award for Best Writer Eric Roth Nominated
Best Composer Alexandre Desplat Nominated
Houston Film Critics Association[51] Best Film Won
Best Cinematography Claudio Miranda Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture Drama Nominated
Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama Brad Pitt Nominated
Best Director - Motion Picture David Fincher Nominated
Best Screenplay Eric Roth Nominated
Best Original Score Alexandre Desplat Nominated
MTV Movie Awards Best Female Performance Taraji P. Henson Nominated
National Board of Review[50][52] National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
Best Director David Fincher Won
Best Adapted Screenplay Eric Roth Won
Satellite Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Eric Roth and Robin Swicord Nominated
Best Art Direction and Production Design Donald Graham Burt and Tom Reta Nominated
Best Cinematography Claudio Miranda Nominated
Best Costume Design Jacqueline West Nominated
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards[53] Best Film Won
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards[54] Best Director David Fincher Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Art Direction Won

Notes

  1. ^ http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/BBUTN.php
  2. ^ a b "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2009-04-27. Cite error: The named reference "BOXOFF" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Sragow, Michael (2007-01-19). "'Button' Turns Up Nose at MD". The Baltimore Sun. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "'Husband' vows renewed; doc on saint set". Variety. 1998-10-22. Retrieved 2007-04-28. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Claude Brodesser (2000-05-19). "Taylor sews up deal to adapt 'Button'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-04-28. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Steve Chagollan (2005-08-21). "F. Scott Fitzgerald Gets a Second Act After All". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-04-28. Those who preceded Mr. Roth in the attempt include Robin Swicord ("Practical Magic"), Charlie Kaufman ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind") and Jim Taylor ("Sideways"). {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Cathy Dunkley (2003-06-02). "Par popping its 'Button'". Variety. Retrieved 2007-04-28. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Dave McNary (2004-05-10). "WB snaps Par 'Button' coin". Variety. Retrieved 2007-04-28. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Liza Foreman (2005-05-04). "Blanchett, Pitt on 'Case' for Fincher". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2007-04-28. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Swinton Set to Push Benjamin Button". ComingSoon.net. 2006-09-24. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  11. ^ "Ormond Joins Fincher's Benjamin Button". ComingSoon.net. 2006-10-18. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  12. ^ Dave McNary (2005-07-04). "Par pinches Fincher". Variety. Retrieved 2007-07-04. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ Michael O'Sullivan (2006-12-29). "Blanchett hits buzz in provocative roles". The Journal Gazette. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ Doug MacCash (2007-03-07). "Camera ready". The Times-Picayune. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ David M. Halbfinger (2007-02-18). "Lights, Bogeyman, Action". The New York Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ Nick Wingfield (2006-07-31). "Digital Replicas May Change Face of Films". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  17. ^ Kadee Krieger (2007-01-24). "Filmed in Mandeville". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2007-04-28. Chaffin said Pitt and Blanchett finished their scenes in Mandeville earlier Tuesday morning at the Lewisburg set. Monday, the pair and other cast members filmed scenes outside of Madisonville, she said. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  18. ^ Dan Goldwasser (2008-08-11). "Alexandre Desplat scores David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". ScoringSessions.com. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  19. ^ Julie E. Washington (2006-09-22). "Arts & Entertainment Weblog". The Plain Dealer. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved 2007-06-26.
  21. ^ http://www.cinepolis.com.mx
  22. ^ http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/releaseinfo
  23. ^ "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) - Daily Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  24. ^ "Weekend Box Office Results from December 26-28, 2008". Box Office Mojo. 2008-12-28. Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  25. ^ http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/curious_case_of_benjamin_button/
  26. ^ "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Metacritic.
  27. ^ "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)". Yahoo! Movies.
  28. ^ McCarthy, Todd (2008-11-23). "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Variety. Retrieved 2008-11-24.
  29. ^ Peter Howell (2008-12-24). "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Moviemaking at its best". The Toronto Star. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ Yates, Rod (February 2009), "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", Empire, no. 236, pp. p. 43 {{citation}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  31. ^ Honeycutt, Kirk (2008-11-24). "Film Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  32. ^ Joe Morgenstern. "'Button' Bends Time Into Grand Fable". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-01-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  33. ^ Rex Reed. "Thank You, Santy, for Brad, Leo, Cate and Kate". New York Observer. Retrieved 2009-01-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ A.O. Scott. "Movie Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ Anne Hornaday. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-01-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  36. ^ Kimberley Jones. "Film Listings - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-01-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ Roger Ebert. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2009-01-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  38. ^ Guardian.co.uk
  39. ^ [1] Ashley Scrace: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button FILM REVIEW
  40. ^ Sunday Times review
  41. ^ The Times review
  42. ^ London Evening Standard review
  43. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Metacritic: 2008 Film Critic Top Ten Lists". Metacritic. Retrieved January 11, 2009.
  44. ^ David Poland (2008). "The 2008 Movie City News Top Ten Awards". Retrieved 2009-01-25.
  45. ^ "Best of 2008". CriticsTop10.
  46. ^ Lyman, Eric J. (2009-01-30). "Italian writer raises case against "Button"". The Hollywood Reporter. Reuters. ISSN 0018-3660. Retrieved 2009-02-01. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" got a little stranger Friday after an attorney representing an Italian office worker filed legal papers alleging that the screenplay was based on a story she wrote in 1994. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |curly= ignored (help)
  47. ^ http://www.criterion.com/films/1584
  48. ^ American Society of Cinematographers (2009-01-07). "ASC Names Feature Film Nominees". Retrieved 2009-01-07.
  49. ^ "2008 Austin Film Critics Association award winners". Alternative Film Guide. 2008-12-16. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessed= ignored (help)
  50. ^ a b Hayes, Dade (2008-12-09). "Broadcast critics favor 'Milk,' 'Button'". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
  51. ^ "The Houston Film Critics Society".
  52. ^ "NBR names 'Slumdog' best of year". Variety. 12/4/2008. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  53. ^ "2008 St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards".
  54. ^ "Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards 2009 : Alternative Film Guide".

HighDefDiscNews Blu-ray Review

Preceded by Box office number-one films of 2009 (UK)
February 8 		Succeeded by
Box office number-one films of 2009 (JP)
February 8 		Succeeded by


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