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Jan 17, 2015Nursebob rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
A sincere, though misguided attempt to give new meaning to the old saying, "Youth is wasted on the young". Through a series of deathbed flashbacks it tells the story of Benjamin, who was born with the body of an old man but the mind of an infant. As he grew older mentally, his body grew younger which led to a few romantic complications as there was only one brief span of time in which mind/body were in synch with one another. A very interesting premise which this overly long and lightweight drama fails to explore adequately. Fincher concentrates on the trimmings of the story.....lots of pastel sunrises, "homespun" wisdom, and Brad Pitt's pecs but fails to deliver any real substance, instead distracting the audience with superfluous asides involving blind clockmakers ('cause you never know what's coming for you); dubious hummingbirds (their wings trace the symbol for "eternity" don't you know); and a protracted sequence showing the power of coincidence which reminded me of the opening scenes of "Magnolia"..... (gee, if only her friend had bought a better pair of shoelaces Daisy would still be dancing.....) This is the type of cloying Hollywood crowd pleaser which lulls you into believing you are watching something profoundly moving, but as the houselights come up you realize you've simply been sold a bottle of cinematic snake oil.