Friday, June 13, 2008

An early look at "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

I was all set to write a rant about how there's another f-ing strike on the horizon - with the Screen Actors Guild's contract set to eclipse June 30 - but I really just can't bring myself to deal with such nastiness on a Friday morning.

There's also news out there - actual and simply rumored - about NBC's upcoming "The Office" spinoff. First the actual: The showrunners have made their first casting hire, comedian Aziz Ansari, who apparently stars on some MTV sketch comedy show I've never seen called "Human Giant."

Much more exciting is the simply rumored news that Rashida Jones - a k a Karen Filippelli - will soon be joining the new cast too. All we know so far is that she's signed a "talent holding" deal with Universal, which is producing the show. What in the world would they be paying her for except to join this new venture?

I certainly hope that comes to be, but in the meantime I'm even more excited today about this teaser trailer for David Fincher's fall flick "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," based on a F. Scott Fitzgerald tale about a man who ages in reverse through the twentieth century. Everyone probably already knows that Brad Pitt is the titular Mr. Button, but this one also stars Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Julia Ormond and one of my very favorite actresses, the great Taraji P. Henson (a k a Shug from "Hustle & Flow.")

I just love Fincher pretty much unconditionally, and the premise sounds great, so I'd have to list it as the one flick I'm most looking forward to this fall. Enjoy the trailer, and keep your fingers crossed that M. Night's latest offering doesn't just suck as hard as I'm now fairly certain it will. Peace out.

9 comments:

Chalupa said...

Hopefully "Karen Scarfolli" doesn't pick on any short people or graffiti any lockers on the new Office spin-off.

Reel Fanatic said...

Wow ... I'm embarassed to admit that I never figured out that was her on "Freaks and Geeks" .. I'm gonna have to go back now and check it out again!

Unknown said...

The writing was on the wall for "The Happening" when I heard professional critics were being told there would be no previews. The official excuse given was that they didn't want journalists giving the ending away and spoiling the film for the public. Those self-same journalists didn't give the ending to "The Sixth Sense" away and to issue such an excuse is just plain insulting.

Alas, the film seems to be so bad that the critics have dropped their normal faculties and started giving "The Incredible Hulk" pretty good reviews. This 'do-it-by-numbers' superhero flick is a huge disappointment. Norton's Banner is just bland, the CGI and FX are well hokey, and the plot is just lame. And yet the portents, when Norton first signed on, were so good.

Am consoling myself with the fact there's not TOO long to go until "The Dark Knight" hits the screens.

Reel Fanatic said...

I've enjoyed reading the reviews so far for the sheer venom in them, Ian, and it has been especially sharp this time, even moreso than for the simply wretched "Lady in the Water" ... I was on the fence, but I think I'm gonna have to fork over my cash just to find how truly awful it is

jeremy said...

That's why I love you, RF! You pay money to see bad movies.
(Oh, and as to my Rambo recommendation--please keep in mind, I went in thinking "this is going to suck" and it didn't, but it wasn't an opus or anything).

Reel Fanatic said...

I always look at movies like that through that kind of lens, Jeremy, so don't think you've raised my hopes too much!

Terence Towles Canote said...

I've seen the trailer to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and it looks good. But then Fincher is one of those few directors who has never made a film I didn't like.

Bob said...

The first time I saw that "Benjamin Button" trailer I had tears in my eyes. From a trailer! I am so excited for that movie.
I think I'm gonna go see "The Happening" too. "Lady in the Water" was just horrendous and it sounds like this may actually be worse, but sometimes you just have to see for yourself. If nothing else at least Zooey Deschanel is in it. I could watch a movie where she stares at the ceiling. Actually that might be better than "The Happening." :)

Reel Fanatic said...

I'm with you in love for Zooey Deschanel, Bob, which I've had since at least "Almost Famous" .. I still have a very strong feeling even she's gonna be terrible in "The Happening," but I just can't resist the temptation to find out for sure