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."
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