The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008): review: 7.5/10

A foundling, born with the bodily condition of an old man, becomes physically younger as the years pass. He is captivated by a dancer.

This is an elegantly filmed fable with striking effects and much to divert, but little depth, reminiscent of Forest Gump in it's large scale and ingenuity.

Fight Club (1999): review: 8/10

An insurance evaluator seeks escape from his alienation, first by visiting support groups (for conditions for which he does not suffer), then through fighting.

This film is diverting: violent and comical- simultaneously a satire on consumerism, corporate values, therapy culture, the "mens' movement", and anti-corporatism.

The denoument is far too long, however, and the film could happily be reduced by 20 minutes.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007): review: 3/10

The last days of Jesse James and his gang, which largely focusses on the behavious of his young follower Robert Ford.
The story is told through a series of mumbling encounters in wintry Missouri.


The film can be judged a failure for the following reasons:


1. Pacing painfully slow.
2. Lack of examination of character and motive, with the exception of Robert Ford's, which is dwelt on to the point of exhaustion.
3. Few exciting moments: remarkable given that this is a gangster film.
4.  Pitt's silly hamster smirk throughout.
5. The cinematography is beautiful, especially in the train robbery scene but this is not, in itself, enough to justify such a long film.