Pitt's Button Flick
The only thing wrong with the deal to finally make a film of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" -- Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett costarring under directed David Fincher, from an adaptation by Eric Roth -- is that totally twee title. It makes the film sound like a pain-in-the-ass 1953 Danny Kaye movie that's overly taken with its own whimsy. Just forget about paying proper homage to Fitzgerald's short story, change the title and Benjamin Button name and they'll be fine. If they don't do this, guys like me are probably going to start looking around for reasons to dislike it. Because nobody wants to hang for two hours with a guy Benjamin friggin' Button. Or Tweedle or Muffindale or Merkin or any other dorky-sounding name of that type. In Fitzgerald's story Button is a guy who begins aging backwards when he hits 50, and then complications ensue when he falls in love with a woman of 30. What's there to complicate? You're older and you start getting younger and you fall in love with a 30 year-old...big deal. The pic will start shooting toward the end of the year.
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 27, 2006 at 4:31 PM
comment #1
Chuck says ...
Because when he turns 15, or 10 or 5 it will probably be a turn off for the woman, or maybe not, maybe its that kind of movie.
Posted by Chuck at July 27, 2006 5:05 PM
comment #2
craptastic says ...
I think its the best title since "Cop Gives Waitress Two Million Dollar Tip"
Posted by craptastic at July 27, 2006 5:11 PM
comment #3
phil says ...
Merkin? But that was the President's name in "Dr. Strangelove," Jeff!
Posted by phil at July 27, 2006 5:18 PM
comment #4
VoiceOfReason says ...
Actually, Fitzgerald's story is about a guy who is born as an old man and begins ageing in reverse. And it takes place in Baltimore- the Detroit of the east coast. Just an FYI.
Posted by VoiceOfReason at July 27, 2006 5:25 PM
comment #5
Anonymous says ...
Are you insane, Jeff? Or are you just trying to look stupid? This is a beloved Fitzgerald story that if done right is Academy Award stuff. And the complication ensues when they start to grow apart in age, comedically and tragically, as she gets older, and he gets progressively younger. Read the story and the script man, a real blend of humor and pathos.
Which reminds me of another film based on a book that you would have wanted to change the name of (and the main character's name): Forrest Gump. I can just imagine the fun you would have had with that one!!! "I can guarantee", writes Wells, "no-one wants to spend two hours with a guy named 'Forrest Gump.'"
Please tell me you were kidding in your initial post. Or being sarcastic, Or just trying to get under the skin of people like me. Please.
Posted by Anonymous at July 27, 2006 5:29 PM
comment #6
Anonymous says ...
Brad Pitt is a silly actor. Not a bad actor, but a silly one. He does silly things. Like he's always eating in those Ocean's movies and it's irritating. Or Meet Joe Black. He plays death like death is an alien. Great choice. What a boob. Or he's always crying. He likes to be emotional.
Posted by Anonymous at July 27, 2006 5:35 PM
comment #7
Daniel Zelter says ...
Forrest Gump was a unique name. Benjamin Button sounds like the label for a generic stuffed animal line.
Posted by Daniel Zelter at July 27, 2006 6:19 PM
comment #8
Anonymous says ...
I like pain-in-the-ass 1953 Danny Kaye movies! The Court Jester is genius! GENIUS!
Posted by Anonymous at July 27, 2006 7:18 PM
comment #9
Noah says ...
Good thing Jeff isn't an executive..."A guy finds a portal to John Malkovich's brain? Big deal! Pass!"
Posted by Noah at July 27, 2006 7:26 PM
comment #10
Noah says ...
Good thing Jeff isn't an executive..."A guy finds a portal to John Malkovich's brain? Big deal! Pass!"
Posted by Noah at July 27, 2006 7:26 PM
comment #11
Daniel Zelter says ...
Noah: Being John Malkovich only made $9 million back, and didn't even win any Oscars.
Posted by Daniel Zelter at July 27, 2006 8:27 PM
comment #12
Larry says ...
Brad Pitt is a big enough star that he'll overcome any bad title. Part of the fun of Mr. & Mrs. Smith was too such big names were in a film about people with generic names. Smaller films without stars need snappy titles to avoid being lost in the shuffle.
I'm reminded of The Adventures Of Sebastian Cole. It's a modern, R-rated coming of age film that did no business. Maybe it's because the title says it's a Disney film about a dog.
Posted by Larry at July 27, 2006 8:36 PM
comment #13
Anonymous says ...
all the people who replied to jeffs comments are asinine
Posted by Anonymous at July 27, 2006 9:40 PM
comment #14
Noah says ...
Daniel, so in your opinion the movie shouldn't have been made? So we should be robbed of a brilliant, original, creative movie because it didn't make money? We're talking about quality of film and potential greatness, not about dollars and cents.
Posted by Noah at July 27, 2006 9:41 PM
comment #15
Anonymous says ...
OMG you guys have found the formula for guaranteed box office success that Hollywood has been looking for. it's all in the name.
I agree with the poster above you are all asinine
Posted by Anonymous at July 27, 2006 9:47 PM
comment #16
Pink Lips says ...
See because I'm a lady I like to do ladies things you see. I sewing and manicures you know ladies things.
Posted by Pink Lips at July 27, 2006 9:52 PM
comment #17
Anonymous says ...
See because I'm a lady I like to do ladies things you see. I sewing things and getting manicures you know ladies thing.
Posted by Anonymous at July 27, 2006 9:54 PM
comment #18
Anonymous says ...
it actually reminds me of some kind of death cab for cute album title.
you know that kind of self importanance but trying to be unique crap.
Posted by Anonymous at July 27, 2006 10:55 PM
comment #19
Rogo says ...
Is "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" ANY BETTER?
Posted by Rogo at July 28, 2006 4:58 AM
comment #20
Josh Mooney says ...
But Death Cab For Cutie named their entire band after a 1967 song by The Bonzo Dog Band. So much for unique!
Posted by Josh Mooney at July 28, 2006 5:56 AM
comment #21
Mother Goose says ...
In the original story, Button is born at age 70. No effort is made to explain this birth in any kind of plausible way. It's just there, like a detail in a fable. As the title of a fable, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" seems fine to me.
But then I liked Roger Rabbit. And Billy Pilgrim from "Slaughterhouse Five." And Donnie Darko.
Posted by Mother Goose at July 28, 2006 6:15 AM
comment #22
Mike Gebert says ...
As it turned out, I DIDN'T want to spend two and a half hours with some dumbass named Forrest Gump, learning how he invented the whoopee cushion and accidentally bumped into Hitler while jogging.
Posted by Mike Gebert at July 28, 2006 7:32 AM
comment #23
christian says ...
yeah, clearly scott fitzgerald is a total, like, loser. i would have texted him so fast it would make his myspace page spin. ben button? oh mah gawd. how about bebe? oh, taken. hmm. ferris bueller? taken. erin brockovitch? uh, shit. wyatt earp? my name is earp?
and seriously, like, gatsby is, like, a totally like gay brand.
Posted by christian at July 28, 2006 9:26 AM
comment #24
Anonymous says ...
But Death Cab For Cutie named their entire band after a 1967 song by The Bonzo Dog Band. So much for unique!
I'm guessing it was a hip song in some way?
Posted by Anonymous at July 28, 2006 6:43 PM