The nominees for this year’s Oscars were announced today. I was surprised to see “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” receive the most nominations, including for Best Picture. While the Brad Pitt-vehicle was amusing, I didn’t feel it was a satisfying movie or the best work from 2008.
Some critics didn’t care for “Button” — Roger Ebert said in his review that the premise of a man being born old and aging backwards was wrong. Even my family didn’t necessarily seem engaged by Button’s life experiences.
I could see the whimsy of a teenage mind trapped in a body that looks like a 60-year-old’s, but I felt the experience was entirely too superficial as Button grew younger while the world got older.
Ultimately, “Button” is a superstar vehicle and a special effects tour-de-force that is unable to find a decent story.
As usual, I haven’t seen many of the films nominated for Best Picture (which includes some intriguing pics like “Milk,” “Frost/Nixon” and “Slumdog Millionaire”). Instead of “Button,” I would’ve rather seen “The Dark Knight” or “WALL•E” have a shot for the top spot.