Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Fight Club Director David Fincher and Brad Pitt Together Again
To understand the importance of David Fincher's contribution to the world of cinema, one must recognize and revisit the iconic films he has created in the past.
On December 19, 2008, Paramount Pictures and Warner Brothers (co-distributors) are scheduled to release David Fincher’s seventh studio film entitled ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’. Based on the 1922 short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the film will focus on the birth of an eighty year old man (Pitt) and how he proceeds to age backwards until he reaches the state of infanthood. If this story sounds bizarre and abstract to you, you're not alone. But, then again, one would assume that David Fincher would never attempt to associate himself with anything claiming to be normal or mainstream.
Fincher’s Early Work
As a child, Fincher became inspired and enthralled with the majestic quality of film (especially with directing) when he first viewed ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969). According to James Swallow, author of the book entitled, ‘Dark Eye: The Films of David Fincher’, Fincher was so determined to achieve his dream that he vowed to dedicate the rest of his life to the world of directing. After a series of small jobs in the industry, Fincher finally hit it big when (in 1980) he was hired by Industrial Light and Magic (owned by George Lucas). Here, he gained valuable experience and was lucky enough to participate in the production of such classic films as ‘Return of the Jedi’ (1983) and ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ (1984).
However, Fincher desperately wanted to direct and he soon moved out into the world of television advertising where he directed commercials for Revlon, Pepsi, Nike and many other established companies. Eventually, his passion took him elsewhere and he found himself transitioning over into the world of music videos. Here, he directed videos for Madonna, Aerosmith, George Michael, Michael Jackson and so on.
As time passed, a distinct visual style began to emerge (largely in part to his association with the flashy world of music videos). As it did for many music video directors, it caught the eye of Hollywood film studios (in this case, Twentieth Century Fox), who hired him to direct ‘Alien 3’. But the studio was not impressed with the overly gloomy, dystopian style look presented and demanded changes. Fincher initially refused and the fight continued on for months until Fincher finally decided to disassociate himself from the film. The film was a major box office disappointment and, to this day, many still blame Fincher for it. However, the version released was not what Fincher originally intended
The Dark World of Fincher
Having put the ‘Alien 3’ debacle behind him, Fincher got a second chance by the studio system. As a result, he has diligently (and, some would say, defiantly) moved forward to create some of the most innovative and interesting films of the past fifteen years. Known for films such as ‘Seven’ (1995), ‘The Game’ (1997), ‘Fight Club’ (1999), ‘Panic Room’ (2002) and ‘Zodiac’ (2007), Fincher has never truly attempted to steer away from the somber, melancholy tone that has typically come to dominate the look and feel of his films. His visual flair is artistically his own and he strives to create a sense of unease through the use of lighting and camerawork.
In fact, it is very difficult to mistake a David Fincher film. They usually contain very little natural light and the atmosphere is, more often then not, extremely unsettling which forces the audience to share the protagonists’ feelings of unease and paranoia. As well, by the end of the film, Fincher’s ‘hero’ has usually undergone some sort of life-changing trauma.
In a 1999 interview with Film Review Magazine, Fincher was quoted as stating “I don’t know how much movies should entertain. I’m interested in movies that scar”. Whether he is referring to the scarring of the characters within his films or of the audience voyeuristically participating in his dark and twisted tales is unclear. What is definitely accurate about Fincher’s films is that they leave an undeniable mark on each and everyone involved.
Conclusion
As December quickly approaches, it will be very interesting to see how Fincher decides how to handle the problematic story structure of ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’. In fact, it has been rumored that the films budget is listed at $150 million (largely due to the CGI needed to accurately depict Pitt as a man who regresses in age). However, with Fincher’s solid track record and his innovative stylistic approach, he will more then likely be able to achieve yet another unique picturesque film.
