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Australia the 19th? Ignoring my bias against Fox, the negative buzz against the film and Oprah's claim that it's the film of the century....they are holding it much too closely.

That's all that's left? Cripes, maybe The Dark Knight has a Best Pic chance for a nom after all.

Since you cite my fellow attendees of the Benjamin Button screening, I hope it's OK I give my own brief report. It ain't Gone With the Wind, though it felt as long. The script is indeed like Forrest Gump - Eric Roth is drinking from the next well over - but the film-making and actors are not well schooled in connecting (actor to actor, film to audience). Technically, it's a beaut.

I'm as surprised as Hallick. Really? That's it? And I had forgotten all about Rev Road since The Reader came back into play and started looking all amazing (as we should have never doubted).

Just a thought... if Paramount were so psyched to show off Benjamin Button, why would they hold the first major press screening on Thanksgving day? It seems like just the day that many critics and what not would be out of their home states, or back in their home states, and thus unable to make the screening.

samias, you pretty much nailed it.

David,

I'm curious to know why you (and other oscar pundits) are hearing this second hand talk of the movie being so fabulous, but the people who actually have seen the movie and share with us online are not so keen about it.

David,

I'm curious to know why you (and other oscar pundits) are hearing this second hand talk of the movie being so fabulous, but the people who actually have seen the movie and share with us online are not so keen about it.

Kami - The first press screening is actually on the 20th... the first DGA screening, which is the first after I am back in town, is Thanksgiving Day.

And DJ - I am not taking a position, actually. We are a short run from seeing the film itself... and in the end, that is all that matters. I really, really, really don't care what long lead people say or what studio buzz is or what the rumbling on the street is. Same with Australia.

Of course, on every film there is going to be a WIDE variation on what people think of the work on screen. I would still argue that Titanic was two very weak acts of melodrama saved by one of the best third-act action movies of all time. Flip side, I’ll still take all comers on the brilliance of Matrix Reloaded and Speed Racer.

Every season, this crap starts leaking out… almost always from people who you wouldn’t trust to suggest a DVD rental… certainly not critics or even real movie lovers (in some cases)… and even then, as I keep droning on about, unless you really know someone else’s tastes – pro or civilian – how can we be expected to see it as a worthy analysis?

If I had a buck for every time the buzz was dead wrong, I’d be… well, I’d be starving… only so many movies a year to get wrong…. but I personally feel like listening to buzz without very specific attribution is about the same as flipping a coin. That said, guessing that an upcoming movie will be bad will be right over 85% of the time, so it’s a good way to seem like you know something. It’s much more daring to anticipate in a positive way because you know you will be disappointed more often than not.

What we do know about Ben Button is that Fincher is brilliant, even when – as in Zodiac – I am not so excited about what he is after. But I always know what he is after. We know that Brad Pitt is one of our great character actors when he goes that way. We know that Blanchett is a master and that her role is more significant than in the book. And we know it is an epic.

I don’t think there is much chance of it being a disaster. But the leap from “good movie” to “great movie” is a big one. And one hopes.

In this case, some publicists who are amongst the most direct and honest are in love with the film in a real way. That doesn’t mean that they didn’t drink the Kool-Aid. But as with anyone you know and trust, you want to give them the benefit of the doubt before you decide for yourself.

No DEFIANCE, DP? Or have you seen already?

After five years, I still sure wish I knew what DP thought of Matrix Revolutions (except that he wouldn't 'take on all comers' over it, which is something, I guess).

Defiance closed AFI last Sunday... so it is already in media play...

Karina, thanks for the compliment. DP, I agree about your assessment of the principals' work til this one. I look forward to hearing what you think Fincher was going for and whether you feel Pitt approached this as a character role.

I saw Benjamin Button over the weekend at the DGA screening in NY. It is truly a masterpiece. All the snarks out there should grab their kleenex and see the film. I think Fincher will win the Oscar for CCBB...although he should have won last year for Zodiac...but Jake G. was the reason that film has not been viewed as the classic that it is.

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