The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - A review

I’m not a big fan of magical realism. It always seems that the combination ends up being neither realistic or magical. Indeed, the only way to find the magic in the wild scenarios of the genre is to play them as straight and naturalistic as is possible. This begins to happen about one hour into Benjamin Button and there are certainly moments when the magic feels real and the movie achieves real magic. When it works - and by “works” I mean, actually achieves powerful emotional resonance – it connects you to your own life, loves and missed opportunities. There are indeed a couple of moments when you are watching a love story that mirrors any of your own, full of the necessity and terror of change.

But there’s a whole lot of standard issue manipulative formula to wade through before you get there, and plenty of standard shlock remains sprinkled throughout once you arrive. So much so in fact that the power of those special moments get diminished in a sea of attempts to soar emotionally. It’s as if Fincher and Co were throwing such a cacophony of darts at a board, that when they hit the target you hardly notice through all the noise and traffic of flying sharp things.

This is rather bizarre because the talents and skills of everyone involved are so very much in evidence. Cate Blanchett has never been more luminous or gorgeous and she elevates every moment of every movie she’s in by grounding it in inescapably recognizable humanity. BB is no exception. I can think of no other actress who will have as broad a repertoire of classic performances in her career and really she's just getting started still. Julia Ormond does a nice turn in a thankless role that she gives depth without overdramatizing. Taraji P. Henson turns a several stereotypes into a woman you care for – and root for. Tilda Swinson shows a giddy girly side we’ve often missed in her steely portraits of ice queens. And Pitt is superb in every way in an extremely difficult role technically and emotionally. Some may think him too reserved, but I think any ounce more of emoting out of him and the credibility of the film would have been forever lost.

David Fincher is one of my all-time favorite directors ever. I’m rather in love with his work and have been for decades now since he was tearing up MTV with his superior video skills which Madonna owes at least in part to making her a superstar. BB is unsurprisingly technically stunning. From fine make-up effects to CGI, Fincher’s accomplishment in making the film not seem ridiculous or like a special effects showcase is massive and must be recognized. There is little if any self indulgence in the technical mastery, in fact the technical mastery here is in making the film not seem as technically masterful as it actually is, if you know what I mean. And there are individual images which haunt and shots which will be dissected by film students and film makers as long as such things exist. When the film is at its very best, the shared dark humor of Pitt and Fincher (not as dark as FIGHT CLUB obviously, but there are little glimpses which delight) goes on display and the film feels original and fresh and yes, magical.

Again, the talents and skills of everyone involved are so very much in evidence. Ohhhhhh….wait. Okay – maybe everyone except the screenwriter, Eric Roth, who is best known for writing FORREST GUMP. I don't like FG either, both films, imho, suffer from construction and dialogue that is so paint-by-numbers-epic-kitsch that in lesser hands (than Pitt/Fincher or Hanks/Zemekis) both films would be entirely insufferable. In BB, Roth can barely be bothered to replace “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get” with the far lazier “You never know what’s coming for you” as if “fate” or “kismet” or “predestination” (the movie uses all three terms in one line - see what I mean by a lot of darts?) is a villain in life’s version of Friday the 13th. Which isn’t the point. Actually, I’m not entirely sure what IS the point of Benjamin Button, even though it’s trying to make a lot of them. There’s stuff about letting go, change, the evolution of love, maturity, missing people, missing opportunities, aging, destiny, communication, misunderstandings, pride, responsibilities to the less advantaged/beautiful, and probably many more themes I didn't get a chance to notice while I was noting all the others. I guess BENJAMIN BUTTON, much like a box of chocolates, is best when you take what tastes good to you and leave the rest. Maybe, like said box of chocolates, enough people will find pieces they like (and ignore the rest) to have the picture sail into Big Money and a Best Picture Oscar.

I, however, would have appreciated not have to pick through the yucky marzipan to get to the dark chocolate truffle.

But that’s just me.

Reserve today to see DeLisa at COMIX Jan 21st!!!!

New Venue, New Material AND A BRAND NEW DAY FOR AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

Come celebrate our new Commander-in-Chief AND see DeLisa (i.e. ME! :-)) Rock the House at COMIX Comedy Club on January 21st at 7pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wanna know if you'd think I'm funny? Check out the "comedy clips" hyperlink to the left over there -->

Cover charge of only $7. Instead of a two-drink minimum, they have a two-item minimum which means that a person can order a food item and a drink or no drinks at all if they so choose. And the food is YUMMEE, btw. For people to make a reservation – they simply call the club! Reservations required. Make sure you say you are planning to see DeLisa White! :-)

353 West 14th Street

(Just East of 9th Avenue)
call 212-524-2500 and let them know you're coming to see DeLisa White (that's me!) :-)

Directions via Subway:

The A, C and E will take you to 14th Street and 8th Avenue. So will the L train. Were located only half a block west on 14th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues. The 1, 2 and 3 lines will get you to 14th Street and 7th Avenue. Add another block to your route.

If you can't make it - tell a friend and have them come!!!! :-)

Would LOVE to see you there!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs,
DeLisa :-)

SAG Awards

SAG Awards are in and my major comment is that I would be very surprised if the Oscar list doesn't look virtually identical to this. Your thoughts?

SAG Nods

And the winner of the best holiday prank ever is....

Thank you, Mr. Stewart

Many people will post this, and many people should, so I'm going to be one of them.This issue has rarely been articulated as fairly and humanely as this representation (my personal attempt can be found on this site under the title "Faith And Reason.") Mr. Stewart elevates the conversation and humanizes it at the same time. Frank and difficult conversations are the mandate of any democracy and the only path to understanding...imho.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Mike Huckabee Pt. 2

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

To express your appreciation for Mr. Stewart's addressing this issue in such a civilized and empathetic way on the Daily Show, click here.

Golden Globe Nods are out

Click here for the official list

Commentary to come...stay tuned and/or add your comments below! :-)

But quickly - ONE nomination for MILK? And it qualifies to me as a SURPRISE that James Franco would be nominated not for MILK but for PINEAPPLE EXPRESS??

UPDATE: I have to say that it's a really weird irony that when I'm not angry about the nominations I'm a wee bit bored with them. So I'm going to be mad about MILK not getting more attention. I think that my predicts are holding up, SUPP ACTRESS excepted (although I still stand by that - I still think Winger may be the surprise of the season). Rather than rehash work that's been done well I will refer you to the EW commentary on the nods as I agree with their assessment with one major caveat: I think Streep will win in Comedy for MAMMA MIA canceling her out of the race for DOUBT and then Hathaway will waltz away with Actress and Winslet will rack up another "SHOULD have won."

FAITH and REASON

Looking out the window
All she can see
Are the dreams all made solid
All the dreams made real

All of the buildings and all of the cars
Were once just a dream in somebody's head
- From Mercy Street by Peter Gabriel

Of all the arguments emotional and intellectual for or against the existence of God, the most compelling ones that disparage both sides involve the perils of arrogance. Atheism is given a bad name by the few atheists who assume that the absence of a "God" gives them the solipsistic authority to judge any or all. Religion is given a bad name by those who assume the presence of God gives them a right to judge any or all on "his" behalf.

Frankly, I don't really care whether anyone "believes" or doesn't. I find in the course of my life that there is a spectrum of faith and reason and that wherever you fall on it there is a likelihood I have something to learn from you and something about you with which I relate.

But I admit I tend to have a sort of "reason" fetish. Give me good science and elegant logic. There is a glory in reason that is as just inspiring as any religious ritual. Bring on the smart stuff. Me luvvvves it. Prayer didn't put a man on the moon.

Or did it?

Richard Dawkins - as vocalist an atheist as they come - decries "faith" as an archaic notion that is only useful for children who have an evolutionary need to take unquestioning instruction from their parents. Once puberty hits, he explained to Terry Gross on NPR's Fresh Air, faith has outlived its usefulness and becomes dangerous.

The easy historical and contemporary examples of holy wars and religiously motivated persecution provide intuitive empirical arguments for this perspective. You have to forget charity and community and other societal benefits of religious affiliations that present another view, but the argument is often begrudgingly compelling even to people of faith who care about social justice and can see these potential pitfalls and the damages done in the name of religion.

I'm not going to argue for or against religion. Honestly, if religion or lack thereof helps you treat people better and serve your family, friends, community, country and the planet as a whole in a predominantly constructive/productive (as opposed to destructive) way then you can believe in the power - or lack thereof - of multi-colored gumballs for all I care.

But "faith", as a concept - faith as the belief in something that is not imminently provable, is - I think I can demonstrate - not without its uses post-puberty.

I refer your attention to the quote which begins this posting. It seems to me, that "acts of faith" are very often the driving forces of most - if not all - accomplishments in life. I don't think that "if you can dream it, you can do it." I can dream all I want about doing a triple axel at the Olympics, but I'm certain beyond any reasonable doubt that I can't ever do that. (fortunately I'm fine with that :-)) But I'm also pretty durn sure that if you don't dream it - you WON'T ever do it. When I look around me I see acts of "faith" virtually everywhere.

A job interview? Act of faith. Not so sure? Try going into your next interview and saying "I can't prove that I can do the job" and see how that works out for you.

I just started exercising again. MAJOR act of faith. I've never been athletic. What on earth makes me think that I'll be able to get in healthy shape? When have I ever been able to demonstrate that I can live and active and health lifestyle? Why would I try?

Faith.

I believe that I want to be healthy, that it will help me be happier, more productive, more on the survive and thrive contingent than on the sit on my couch and rot in a prison of my own body contingent. Of course as I go along, it gets better, easier, more fun - you feel better, it seems more surmountable, you gain momentum, you hold on to the little proofs that add up to new realities.
I do know that this arc of triumph exists because my reason tells me that faith in the seemingly impossible has paid off before. Heck, once upon a time a dude played golf on the moon!

In my own life, I've had faith in a whole bunch of other seemingly ridiculous schemes. For example, no scheme ever seems more ridiculous than “putting on a show.” If you don't believe in miracles, then you've never been through Tech Week. No one ever told me I could make a film. CERTAINLY no one told me I should be a stand-up comedian. I don't know that anyone ever even told me that I was funny. Like ever. But I've been walking on and off of stages trying to make people laugh for...well, some time now :-) and while I can't empirically say that I'm funny, I can say that I've made some people laugh and that the more I do it, the more frequently and consistently that happens. The dirtiest little joke of every creative endeavor in the world is that you will always be unsuccessful. To someone anyway. There will always be someone who doesn't get the joke, hates the song, loathes the movie, fell asleep during the play, etc. Shakespeare is the number one employer of actors on the planet and has been nigh onto 400 years. If you don't know someone who hates Shakespeare - the single most successful playwright in history - then you might be living in a cave with bad internet reception and won't ever read this anyway. The whole kit and kaboodle of creativity is that it's 100% subjective. And there are as many opinions as there are people. Surely, we all hold on to the good review, the sincere compliment, the unprovoked applause in our hearts and heads and play it like a record on a loop on discouraging days. But we could also play the heckler, the critic, the boo-er and the eye roller on that same loop. And sometimes we do. But those of us who can't seem to walk away from doing this kind of stuff keep doing it with copious amounts of reason - and reasons - to tell us to stop. And those who do walk away have often had copious amounts of reason/reasons to tell them continue. I often wonder how many great books we'll never read, great symphonies we'll never hear, great movies we'll never see because some genius walked away from their gift because they ran out of....

...faith.

It helps my faith in my ability to be healthy that there are doctors, friends, advisors, websites, magazines, athletes and all manner of examples that such a thing CAN be done. There's no evidence so far that I can do it, except that there seem to be people out there who can, and as an act of faith, I'm trying to be one of them.

Frankly, the greatest and most miraculous act of faith I've ever seen....is marriage. The most ridiculous scheme I've ever encountered is that of the healthy happy monogamous relationship. For crying out loud, the divorce rate is 50 freakin 50. People are SO different and change SO much so very quickly, it seems to me that odds of any two people finding each other and making a long-term "go" of it seem astronomical. It's ridunkulous.

I've never been married. Like anyone else, I've had moments of glorious bliss and moments of profound grief (and everything in between) that have colored the romantic road I've tread. But reason tells me that marriage as a concept is more absurd an endeavor than a Beckett play on acid.

Reason tells me that there are couples who have "made" it: my amazing parents, assorted relatives, special friends. But reason also plays the heckler just as often and our cultural obsession with celebrity gossip is no help. I do know that those who have "made" it and continue to struggle to make it - and it's quite obvious that however much it's worth it, i.e. A LOT - it remains a continuous struggle - have had the support of their own families, communities, their faith traditions, their legal and societal binds.

Reason also tells me that there are couples who have committed their lives to each other and the struggle of family and riches of love and home who have had no support at all from family, faith, community, society or the law. There are couples who commit to each other and to raising families who are not only not supported societally, but often discouraged, harassed, denied. Those couples are gay.

Reason tells me that if there were good excuses to abandon the ideals of marriage, gay people have plenty of them.

Reason also tells me that when I look for examples of commitment and love among my peers, the gay couples I've known and seen and love knock all my heckling loops out of earshot. Rather than being any sort of "threat" to marriage, it is gay couples who serve as an enduring paradigm of it. The desire of our gay friends and family to marry reminds me repeatedly of the value of it... as an institution, as a function, as an ideal and as an evolutionary necessity. Families care for each other. No human doesn't need that.

But families - are an act of faith. I still have faith that I may build my own family with some fella or other one of these days. The hetero couples in my life have given me many reasons to think about getting married one day.

But it's the gay couples who have restored my faith in it.

Critic's Choice & LA Critics Awards are out!

I'll stand by my predictions so far - in fact, I feel even MORE confident. And Winger may be left off this list, but all the peeps catching the Rachel Got Married screener for Hathaway's performance will remember Winger come Oscar time even if the critics and the Globes look her over.... :-)

Critic's Choice

LA Critics

UPDATE: Here's New York Film Critics. Ms. Penelope Cruz is starting to look like BIG TIME front runner, so this may be the first area where I'm wrong? :-)

Best. Endorsement. Ever.

Stunningly - the magic that is Shakespeare Teacher has endorsed yours truly's blog venture!!!! Check it out and check out what remains one of the most fun, most brilliant, most eclectic blogs on the sphere!!!

DeLisa Online
December 2nd, 2008
Regular readers of the blog will be familiar with my friend DeLisa, whether she’s posting a spirited comment, solving the toughest riddles, or even providing material, she’s been an indispensable member of the Shakespeare Teacher community since the very beginning.

But those of us who know her can attest that her contributions here only scratch the surface of what she could be offering to the hungry Internet. We have begged her to start her own blog. Finally, she has answered our wishes.

You can find the wit and wisdom of DeLisa on her new blog, appropriately titled DeLisa Online. Memorize it. Bookmark it. Subscribe to the feed.

It may very well become the second most intriguing blog on the Internet.

Early Oscar Predicts - Watch me be Wrong! Or right... :-)

The National Board and the Spirit Awards have stolen my thunder, but anyway HERE are my predicts at this point:

Picture – Benjamin Button (which looks disturbingly "heartwarming")
Actor – Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler (or Pitt if Rourke makes a PR gaffe ahead of time, which is most likely. Langella is peaking too soon...like NOW.)
Actress – Anne Hathaway (ANOTHER youngin' stealing Kate Winslet’s Oscar :(...boo. )
Supp. Actor – Heath Ledger
Supp Actress – Debra Winger (isn't it kind of bizarre in retrospect that Debra Winger doesn't have an Oscar already?)
Director – David Fincher (long overdue, but I expect the director of FIGHT CLUB - one of the greatest films ever made - shouldn’t win it for this Forrest Gumpian, sentimentalist piece)

And in the "consolation prize" categories:
Adapted Screenplay – Slumdog Millionaire
Original Screenplay – Milk

Btw – I saw FOUR CHRISTMASES with my parents, which was very, very cute. But can we talk about the fact that there are not one, not two, not three, not four, but FIVE Oscar winners in that movie??? Does that seem....well, kind of odd to anyone else?