The Curious Case of Benjamin Button out on DVD now

Based on the 1921 short story by F Scott Fitzgerald The Curious Case of Benjamin Button opens with Daisy (Blanchette) dying in New Orleans as hurricane Katrina comes to town. She asks her daughter to read from Benjamin’s diary, and so the begins the tale of his unusual and incredible life.

Born an old man, abandoned by his family but found by Queenie a carer at a home for the elderly Benjamin (Pitt) grows younger daily while the residents arrive age and die around him. Daisy comes to visit her grandmother and so begins a lifelong friendship and love.

It was a real pleasure to watch this film, I had thought that it was either just a vehicle for Pitt or was going to be too romantic and soppy but it wasn’t it was great. Firstly I wondered at the amazing subtle effects and sight of a child sized old man protected and accepted in the home for the elderly Its fascinating to watch the years drop off, while the love of his life, Daisy ages. The film draws you in with a mixture of humour and curiosity and before you know it your hooked!

The film is funny amusing, and also very moving. By presenting a life in reverse the audience is made to think about love, loss and the happiness that can be found in life. Watch it, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Director: David Fincher

Cast:
Benjamin Button – Brad Pitt
Cate Blanchette – Daisy
Julia Ormond – Caroline
Taraji P. Henson – Queenie

Click here for the offical website

Get Smart out on DVD now

Based on the 1960’s television series of the same name, Get Smart follows newly promoted Agent 86 (Carell) and his partner Agent 99 (Hathaway) as they attempt to foil KAOS and their plans to assassinate the US President.

I’ve not seen any of the original television series and maybe if I had I wouldn’t have been left feeling that I watched the wrong film. I expected the film to be on par with Austin Powers or even Inspector Clouseau with Peter Sellers (I haven’t seen the Steve Martin remakes) where a clumsy misguided agent wins through in spite of himself but this film wasn’t like this at all. Carrells Agent 86 is intelligent but inexperienced which although this is a different angle it is one that, for me, didn’t really work. He is teamed with Hathaways Agent 99, who is reluctant to work with the rookie – it’s a formula that has been overused in films and nothing new is added to it here.

I know comedy is subjective but I didn’t laugh enough, and I also didn’t care enough either. Its well acted, it looks good but it just didn’t do anything for me, I think I will forget I ever watched it very quickly.

Director: Peter Segal

Cast:
Steve Carell – Maxwell Smart / Agent 86
Anne Hathaway – Agent 99
Dwayne Johnson – Agent 23
Alan Arkin – The Chief
Terrance Stamp – Siegfried
Terry Crews – Agent 91

For the official website click here

The Wrestler out on DVD now

The story of an ageing, once successful wrestler Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson (Rourke), a man trapped by his headlining past trying to come to terms with a very uncertain future.

When you only know how to do one thing what happens when you can no longer do it? A tale of one mans attempt to rebuild and change his life when a heart attack means he can no longer continue in the ‘sport’ where he was once great.

BAFTA winner Rourke is totally fantastic, it’s impossible to contemplate anyone else in the role of the battered, broken Randy. A man trying to forge a relationship with his estranged daughter and a blossoming romance with a stripper (Tomei) while trying to deal with physical trauma and ill health. He only knows the ring, the crowd, the lights, and the fans – what is his alternative? Its almost heart breaking watching this guys attempts to work in a grocery store when ill health forces him into retirement.

Aronofsky directs this tale brilliantly, in one particular scene Randy is going to work in the supermarket and it is filmed like he is entering the wrestling ring it’s superbly done. It’s a film that made me think again about a profession that I had thought was almost a joke. What these men put themselves through in the ring while preparing themselves like models for the small crowd they draw is really something to consider. What do they do when the spotlight moves on and they haven’t ever reached the heights of being truly successful? Do they end up like Randy, trapped in an old image of themselves, living on dreams?

It’s a great film, moving, powerful, sad and thought provoking – something I never thought I would ever say about wrestling!

Director: Daren Aronofsky

Cast:

Mickey Rourke – Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson
Marisa Tomei – Cassidy / Pam
Evan Rachel Wood – Stephanie

Click here for the official website