Curiosity killed the cat, but just bored me ...

Rating: 1/10 (31 December 2008)

Let me start off by saying Buttons is a beautiful picture. But that's what it feels like, a photograph taken by a well groomed photographer. However there isn't much of a story here. It almost seemed like Fincher was shooting a spread for GQ. There were scenes where I could almost hear him say. "Show me those pouty lips!" If you think I'm being harsh; then just watch the motorcycle scene again. Pitt almost strikes a pose to Maddonna's Vogue.
The story just isn't groomed enough to warrant such a huge epic. Even Australia (with multiple stories) couldn't cut it. I did however think the age fx were amazing but, after a hour of trying to stop thinking about how an older Pitt looks like a present Redford, it was distracting. It also seems as if the one action scene was very forced. Everything working in Button's favor to ensure harm didn't come to him. I heard several people say this scene was a wondrous spectacle; for me it reminded me of The English Patients airplane crash. Just a nod on the shoulder to keep me awake and interested.
I really went into this film with hopes it would be an epic. I knew it would be a long journey (running at approx. 3 hours). However time stands still in a grand film. This film seemed long because I, like Buttons, could feel the hours, instead of years, creep up on me. As I left the theater my Son asked me a question that really caught me off guard: Dad what if Buttons would have been normal like us, would the movie had been different? I answered, sure I would not have seen it.
I guess that's the real FX here. My Zodiac/Se7en director got me to see a Harlequin Romance.