Brad Pitt & David Fincher on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) | Film Discussion

Brad Pitt and director David Fincher sit down for a deep conversation about The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), their long creative partnership, and the ideas that shaped the film. They discuss the technical and emotional challenges of telling Benjamin’s reverse-aging life, the film’s universal themes of love, loss, and time, and why New Orleans became an essential character in the story. Pitt opens up about fatherhood, the impact of Katrina on New Orleans, creative risk, working with Cate Blanchett, and how partnering with Angelina Jolie and raising six children changed his perspective on life. Fincher talks filmmaking, visual language, and why he and Pitt work so well together after Seven and Fight Club. A thoughtful, grounded conversation about movies, mortality, and meaning. 00:00 Intro – Fincher & Pitt Reunite 00:08 Why Benjamin Button? 00:31 A Man Aging in Reverse 01:03 Living in the Last Chapter First 01:36 The Heart of the Love Story 02:05 Love, Loss & Meeting in the Middle 02:51 Why Pitt Was Drawn to This Film 03:20 What Cate Blanchett Brings 03:36 Acting Opposite Better Actors 03:51 Brad on Kate Winslet’s Sharpness 04:12 Pitt on Character Dynamics 04:52 New Orleans Becomes a Character 05:49 Making the Move From Baltimore to NOLA 06:12 New Orleans After Katrina 07:02 “It’s Stupid” — Pitt on the Recovery 07:46 Brad Pitt on Fatherhood 08:23 Raising Six Children 09:06 What He Loves Most About Being a Dad 09:46 Death, Loss & Not Wasting Time 10:32 How Fatherhood Changed His Art 11:10 Keeping the Family Together on Location 11:36 The Pitt–Fincher Working Bond 12:09 Why Working With the Right People Matters 12:43 Time, Aging & What Pitt Thinks About Now 13:14 “I Won’t Be Here in 100 Years — and I Want to Know” Film Discussion is a curated interview archive and conversation series presented by Occupy Cinema. We spotlight the minds behind the movies—actors, directors, writers, and cultural critics—through thoughtful interviews, archival footage, and contemporary conversations. From Broadway to global cinema, Film Discussion explores the craft, politics, and impact of storytelling on screen and stage. Join our community of 800+ filmmakers: https://occupy.beehiiv.com/subscribe Instagram:   / filmdiscussion_   Facebook:   / filmdiscussionofficial   Buy us a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/filmdiscussion #bradpitt #filmdiscussion