Powerful storytelling and amazing performances make The Curious Case of Benjamin Button a lock for academy award contention.

Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett lead a great cast of actors that capture their characters so well, you forget you’re watching actors.

The uniqueness of the concept makes the movie very intriguing and there’s also a Forrest Gump (1994) quality about this movie, but its not as uplifting and triumphant.

 “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

(2008) (rated: PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking) (2 hrs, 39 min)

Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormond, Jason Flemyng, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Tilda Swinton, Jared Harris

Director: David Fincher – Zodiac (2007), Panic Room (2002), Fight Club (1999), Se7en (1995), Alien 3 (1992)

Genre: Drama/Fantasy/Romance

The Plot: Tells the story of Benjamin Button, a man who starts aging backwards with bizarre consequences.

MY TAKE: This is clearly one of the best movies of 2008 with a great concept (aging backwards), great cast, great story, great makeup and costumes.

Pitt and Blanchett are great in their roles as their characters age in opposite directions, while keeping the personality and voice throughout.   The rest of the cast is superb with characters that are well rounded with depth regardless of their screentime.

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If you haven’t seen “Burn After Reading” yet, you should soon before this “R” rated comedy-drama from the Academy Award Winning Cohen Brothers is no longer in theaters. 
(* BUT BE CAREFUL ABOUT TAKING KIDS TO THIS ONE: THIS MOVIE IS LOADED WITH ADULT THEMES AND BAD LANGUAGE *)

People like to throw around the term “cast of characters”… but “Burn After Reading” really is a GREAT group of quirky and clearly defined characters !!!!

“Burn After Reading”

(2008) (rated: R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence) (1 hr, 35 min)

Starring: Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, George Clooney, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins, J.K. Simmons, David Rasche

Genre: Comedy/Crime/Drama

The Plot: A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to sell it.

MY TAKE (very minor spoilers):

There’s a reason why I went with my gut recommending this movie *before* I saw it …. all the makings were there (written and Directed by Joel and Ethan Cohen, a great cast, and a trailer that pulls you into the theater) and the audience is paid off !!!

I was captivated from the opening scene with Malkovich to the final scene with Simmons and Rasche.

This is one of the best ensemble casts I’ve seen in a long time… there were no wasted roles for any of the main speaking parts:
Brad Pitt is great as a goofy gym-trainer wanna-be spy…

George Clooney is right on as a charming ladies man, but gun shy treasury department employee…

Frances McDormand delivers as a gym employee tragically desperate for cosmetic surgery and a man who can make her laugh…

John Malkovich doesn’t disappoint as an intense, but alcoholic/psychotic CIA agent…

Tilda Swinton is perfect as a cold and direct wife and doctor…

Richard Jenkins is right on target as the timid gym manager…

and J.K. Simmons and David Rasche are great as CIA Officials with a perfect Abrahams-Zucker style of sarcastic seriousness that has you waiting for their next moment of wit trying steal each other’s scene.

With all these great characters and performances, it makes me think about the Academy Awards (more…)