Che: Part One (2008)

This movie was so long that they had to split it into two parts!

Unless you are pretty familiar with Cuban history & the life of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, you probably won't understand a lot of this film. For example, one of the people in the film is named Raúl, but they never explain that he is Fidel Castro's brother, so the importance of his role in the Revolution is completely lost on the unsuspecting viewer. Many historical scenes are recreated like that, without context, without explanation.

I don't plan to see Part Two.

Interesting that one of the actors, credited as "Dinner Guest #1", is named Pablo Guevara. After a short Google search, I found nothing that links him to "Che". Coincidence?

Also, René Lavan from Azúcar Amarga is credited as "Cuban Diplomat #2". You have to look hard to find him, but he's there.

Che: Part One on IMDb

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Brad Pitt plays a man who was born old & dies a baby, his life unfolding in reverse. Cate Blanchett is hopelessly in love with him, through every stage of their lives.

This movie has gotten quite a bit of attention, but I'm not sure why. Brad Pitt has done much better work than this elsewhere. His character has no personality in this film, & Cate's character is just silly. Everyone says that they shed puddles of tears at the end of this movie, but we all knew that Daisy was going to die from the start of it (no spoiler here). I hope that it gets beaten at the Oscars for all of its nominations.

One oddity: IMDb lists all of the actors who played Benjamin Button, but doesn't seem to have the name of the actress who played the dying Daisy. Could it have been Cate Blanchett?

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button on IMDb