The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Review

Rated PG-13 (Brief War Violence, Sexual Content, Language and Smoking)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 46 Minutes

Cast-

Brad Pitt-Benjamin Button

Cate Blanchett-Daisy Fuller

Tilda Swinton-Elizabeth Abbott

Taraji P. Henson-Queenie

Mahershalalhashbaz Ali-Tizzy Weathers

Jason Flemyng-Thomas Button

Jared Harris-Captain Mike

Josh Stewart-Pleasant Curtis

Elias Koteas-Monsieur Gateau

Phyllis Somerville-Grandma Fuller

Rampai Mohadi-Ngunda Oti

David Ross Paterson-Walter Abbott

Faune Chambers-Dorothy Baker

Christopher Maxwell-Vic Brody

Joshua DesRoches-Rick Brody

Joeanna Sayler-Caroline Button

Donna Duplantier-Blanche Devereux

Julia Ormond-Caroline Fuller

Jacob Wood-Martin Gateau

Troi Bechet-Filamena Gilea

Richmond Arquette-John Grimm

Joel Bissonnette-David Hernandez

Don Creech-Prentiss Mayes

Ed Metzger-Theodore Roosevelt

Myrton Running Wolf-Dennis Smith

Paula Gray-Sybil Wagner

Rus Blackwell-Robert Williams

Directed by David Fincher

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," an atypical film in David Fincher's filmography.

If it's Christmas, then you know that's when all the movie studios start releasing their potential Best Picture nominees. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, is one such film and is based upon the short story of the same name written by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1921, though aside from the title and its premise, it bears little resemblance to the source material. This isn’t the first time Pitt and Blanchett have been together on-screen as they were last seen in 2006’s “Babel” directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. Despite its long running time, David Fincher's “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is one of this year’s best films, with the story leaving a lasting impression on its audience whether young or old.

'I was born under unusual circumstances.' So begins "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" as we see the titular character born in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 11, 1918, the day World War I ended. However, Benjamin (Brad Pitt) has the appearance and physical limitations of an eighty-five year old man. His mother dies shortly after and horrified by his appearance, his father, Thomas (Jason Flemyng), leaves him on the front porch of a nursing home with eighteen dollars. Adopted by the kind nurse Queenie (Taraji P. Henson) and Tizzy Weathers (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali), it soon becomes apparent that as Benjamin ‘ages,’ he is growing biologically younger. At the nursing home, he meets a little girl, Daisy (Cate Blanchett), and is immediately taken with her despite their massive age difference (by appearance anyway). Benjamin soon embarks on his own to make his mark on the world but through his travels, Daisy is always on the back of his mind as he yearns to be with her.

At its core, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is a celebration of life told from the point of view of a man who is different from everybody else and how the sum total of his experiences defines him. Much is made of how similar old age and childhood are but the most important message is the constant reminder of our own mortality and to cherish life while it lasts. Benjamin is not entirely sure what happens when he grows so young that he can’t take care of himself. However, he’s not going to stand around waiting to find out as he decides to live his life to the fullest. Life is often mundane yet it is the smallest occurrences that result in the biggest changes. This is shown as a hilarious running joke where an elderly man admits that’s been struck by lightning seven times! What really drives home this fact is an excellent vignette where a number of unrelated events from unrelated individuals all help contribute to a car accident. Just altering any of these, and anything is possible. Although Benjamin faces many changes, there is always one constant that has kept him going and that is love. It is this love that can help squash any doubts or fears one may have and while there is always that impending threat of Benjamin’s condition, the important thing is that he spends what time he has left with Daisy, because it will never come again. The only major flaw which has been repeatedly pointed out by critics is that its plot is too similar to 1994’s “Forrest Gump.” Unsurprising really, because Eric Roth was the writer for both and though many of the themes presented are certainly not new, it helps to be reminded once in a while of the ‘little things’ in today’s whirlwind society.

For a drama, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” features fantastic CGI and makeup that often rivals many of today’s summer blockbusters. Brad Pitt endured hours to make him physically look eighty-years-old and through the marvel of today’s technology, his head was superimposed over a body double. This is accomplished so seamlessly that the thought of all this being done by a computer never even crossed my mind. Likewise, Cate Blanchett is also de-aged, although whether its just makeup or CG is hard to tell. The production design is flawless as Fincher's film takes place in many locations, such as wintery Russia, where the snow sparkles, or the dizzying glamour of Times Square in 1950’s New York. One visually impressive scene took place in the dead of night and then explodes with blinding machine gun fire as a leaky tugboat tries to ram a German U-boat submarine during World War II.

The performances are of the highest caliber with Brad Pitt at his best despite being lathered in old-age makeup and forced to stare at a computer screen for motion capture for hours on end. He brings a sense of wonder to Benjamin but also a sense of sadness due to his appearance. In one touching scene, he tearfully asks Queenie ‘What’s wrong with me?’ after Daisy’s grandmother scolds him that he ‘ought to be ashamed of himself’ when she catches him with her granddaughter. Cate Blanchett is amazing as the love of Benjamin’s life, both spirited and daring. While I cannot predict whether either of them will win at next year's Academy Awards, I can say with certainty that they will get nominated. The supporting cast makes the most of their limited screen-time. Standouts include Tilda Swinton as Elizabeth Abbott, whom Benjamin has a fun but short-lived affair, and Captain Mike, played by Jared Harris, serving as his guide during his adolescence years, which include taking him to a brothel for his ‘first time.’

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” was released on Christmas Day to generally positive reviews with 72% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics agreed that the film ‘is an epic fantasy tale with rich storytelling backed by fantastic performances.’ However, common complaints include its length and similarities to “Forrest Gump.” I was sure that the film would debut at number one at the domestic box office but unfortunately, people would rather see the generic dog comedy "Marley & Me," which grossed $52 million while “Benjamin Button” settled for third place with $39 million. Its near-three hour running time did limit the amount of screenings per day. Some will no doubt grow restless at its length but "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is an amazing film that's full of wonder as it celebrates life and all its little moments. It doesn't matter if you're young or old, Fincher's film must be experienced and you will, without a doubt, leave the theater deeply affected by it.

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

"My name is Benjamin Button, and I was born under unusual circumstances. While everyone else was agin', I was gettin' younger... all alone."