Movie Review - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (2008)

USA, 166 Mins

Dir: David Fincher

I was very intrigued to check out The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. Loosely based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1922 book of the same name, the film is a fantasy-drama starring Hollywood A-Listers Brad Pitt & our own Cate Blanchett. Pitt stars as Benjamin Button, a child born in New Orleans in 1918 with all the appearances & physical maladies of an elderly man, who ages backwards – actually growing younger as he ages. Blanchett plays Daisy Fuller, Buttons love interest throughout the film.

In the present day, the whole story of Benjamin is told through the eyes of Daisy’s daughter Caroline by reading Button’s diary at the request of a dying Daisy. Benjamin’s mother died in childbirth & was rejected by his father Thomas Button, so he is raised by Queenie, a worker at the nursing home where Benjamin was abandoned. And so begins an amazing tale, as Benjamin gradually transforms from a wheelchair bound frail man(?) at the age of 7, to learning to walk & become a fit & healthy (& increasing younger) man. He meets Daisy (Blanchett) through her grandmother who is staying at the nursing home when she is just 6 & immediately forms a special bond with her, though he is still for all appearances an elderly man at this point.  And so beginning a fascinating tale of adventure & love, as Benjamin begins a life journey that takes him to many places with many different experiences, all the time growing younger while Daisy grows older, until they reach a time & place in history where they are of similar age & begin a relationship. In between times, Benjamin has worked on a tug boat, had an affair with the wife of the British Trade Minister, met & befriended his real father, & been involved in & survived World War II.

They have a daughter together, but as time continues on, the once again growing physical age gap between Benjamin & Daisy – this time Benjamin growing younger & younger, while Daisy is getting on in age - becomes an issue, & Benjamin must make a decision on their everlasting, but ultimately doomed love while he still can……

The curious Case Of Benjamin Button has been compared with the likes of Forrest Gump, & with good reason – this is a very moving & high class film which was nominated for a swag of Oscars, eventually winning 3. An engrossing story that is well told through the eyes of Daisy’s daughter (Julia Ormond) & takes through many eras in American history which Benjamin experiences – World War II, the 60’s, etc.  Pitt & Blanchard in their lead roles are very convincing, & certainly bring their A game to the table in what would have been very challenging roles given the different ages they must represent throughout the majority of the film. We are much caught up in the special relationship that Benjamin & Daisy share throughout, but at the same time know that it cannot end perfectly due to Benjamin’s condition.

Well supported by a good cast, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is certainly worthy of your time, & has that special quality feel to it. Clocking in at nearly 3 hours, it certainly is a lengthy film, but very easy to get caught up in, so it really doesn’t feel that long. The digital effects which are used to de-age & re-age the main characters are first rate, as are the historical settings. There isn’t much to dis-like about his one, it’s an easy **** for me