THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (2008)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 
Directed by David Fincher
Grade: B-

Eric Roth, the screenwriter of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, won an Oscar for his screen adaptation of Winston Groom’s Forrest Gump, and has now revisited his Oscar-winning game plan by penning a seemingly ingenious script under sneaky pretenses. Here, fifteen years later, Roth (who I’ve always thought to be a very talented and prolific screenwriter) looks to recapture the “Gump” buzz by swapping out handicaps, love interests, and epic journeys through the decades without notice. Unfortunately, even when combined with David Fincher’s sharp direction and vision, the end result is a rather enjoyable, albeit a somewhat overly long and predictable film that trips over its own many uncanny resemblances.

The most damning flaw in the film, however, is Cate Blanchett, cast in a role that comes off as far too self-centered and uncaring; not the type of thing you want in a leading lady and supposed love interest (not to mention that there is utterly no chemistry between Blanchett and Pitt - at least not enough for us to really give a crap about them.) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is peppered with some genuinely heartwarming devices that fit snugly into the overall scheme of things, but those are countered by a fistful of moments that rise to the occasion, only to be punctuated by some truly mouth-gagging spoon-feeding from Fincher. Worth a single viewing, but don’t be led to believe you’re seeing anything fresh and new. Disappointingly straddles a fine line between B- and C+. The first half of the film is the strongest and it overall falls short in too many places for me to lift it up any higher in good conscience. And while its technical achievements take filmmaking to a completely new level (more on performance capture some other time), breathtaking and innovative visual effects cannot alone shoulder the weight of an entire film where story holes persist and chemistry lags too far behind. It did, however, provide the wife and I with an enjoyable (and rare) post-Christmas, sans Goulash tot movie night out.

In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, what was old is new again (or vice versa), and in the Cinema Goulash recipe box we’ve gone digging for something with a little of both. Cheese gets better with age, and my favorite is Smoked Gouda. Now for the new – hmm. Got it! Today the Goulash is going to offer up what we call Queenie’s Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese with Baby Peas:

1 (16 ounce) package seashell pasta
1 10-ounce package of frozen baby peas (2 cups)
2 1/2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground white pepper
8 ounces smoked Gouda cheese, shredded
1/2 teaspoon Garlic salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 10 inch casserole dish. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook until a roux forms. Stir in the peas, milk, salt, garlic salt, and pepper; cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is smooth and thick and coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in cheese. Combine cooked pasta and cheese sauce; transfer to prepared dish. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until heated through.