What curious case?

Rating: 4/10 (21 April 2009)

I don't get the hype at all and cannot believe the score this film gets. I really wanted to see it but was thoroughly disappointed. This is a VERY slow paced film and I mean slow, I usually enjoy films that are slower moving like 'Lost in Translation' but this is way too long and the plot doesn't hold up. Reasons I was not impressed:
1. For a very special condition such as Benjamin had, he was not at all special, he was not charming, emotional or even burdened by his condition.
2.Brad Pitt's acting lacked any depth. his character was merely like a 'normal' person and we were treated to a life story of a very average type of man.
3. Too long- could have been half an hour shorter. it was so slow moving that i got very restless and watched the clock to see how long it had left. all i ended up doing was watching the end to see how he would regress into childhood.
4.The narration is very annoying. The old Daisy is practically inaudible and the narration of Benjamin's diary is intrusive and schmaltzy.
5. No conflict. I waited for some and it never came, every time something began to happen in his life, a new scene started. characters were to and fro like yo yo's, he didn't learn anything from any experiences and an audience learns nothing from this man (who is different in a very big way)
6. Despite great special effects, the darkness after a while appears dull and I was hoping for a least one 'light' scene.
7. The acceptance of Benjamin. he was not shown to be bullied, questioned or ridiculed and unlike the superior Forrest Gump, he had no sense of humour and was not brave.
Overall, the film was slow, dull and far too long. the film looked quite good, but the plot was lost. the unusual premise should have spawned an intriguing life story of a very un-common man but instead we just got a pretentious, Hollywood style life story of a man with no depth, which was simply in reverse.