David Fincher is best known for his gripping crime thrillers such as Se7en and Zodiac, earning him much praise. He also created the freakishly twisted cult classic Fight Club, but never has he explored the emotional aspects of Life, Love and Loss. However, with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, he does exactly that. It’s been closely compared to the film Forrest Gump (one of my favorites) in that both surround the childhood and adult life of outcasts, who through the fundamental love and support of courageous mothers and loved ones thrive with what they were given. Ultimately, they spread their wings and explore the vast world before them. A world they soon find to be both beautiful and brutal, but most of all, harshly misunderstanding of their abnormalities. Not only were both written by Academy Award winner Eric Roth, who coincidentally won his Oscar for his screenplay of Forrest Gump, but both are magnificent and mystical tales of the human spirit. How someone can overcome the most hindering of life’s obstacles. Fincher molds a beautifully written screenplay into a well crafted and superbly acted MASTERPIECE. Masterpiece with a capital ‘M.’
The film’s inspiration, F Scott. Fitzgerald’s short story, was originally conceived by the great Mark Twain. Who, through observations of the human life, realized that the best of it sadly comes in the beginning. “Youthfulness.” Here, in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, we witness the opposite. A life in reverse. A life told backwards.
In a hospital and on her death bed, Daisy (Cate Blanchett) lays bed ridden with old age and her daughter, Carolyn (Julia Ormond) by her side. Here, the film opens as Daisy remembers a story of a blind clockmaker (Elias Koteas) who, in the wake of his son’s death in WWI, makes the most magnificent clock ever maid. When unveiled, the clock starts to tick backwards. The undeniable theme in the film. Carolyn finds a diary hidden in her mother’s personal belongings and begins to read each entry. Thus, our introduction to…
…Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), who is born much like the rest of us were, as an infant. But that is about the extent of the similarities between Benjamin and a normal, healthy baby. His features and physical condition resemble that of a man, “well into his 80′s and on his way to the grave.” With his mother’s passing during childbirth and the grotesque reaction and abandonment he receives from his father, Benjamin is graciously taken in by Queenie (Taraji P. Henson), an attendant at a rest home for the elderly. Which turns out to be the perfect place to raise a child with Benjamin’s “Curious” condition. Due to his arthritic joints, cataracts and his dependence on his wheelchair, Benjamin is right at home.
Unlike everyone in the history of mankind, as Benjamin ages, he appears not older but younger. And still at a young age, though still looking well into his 70′s, he meets the lively red-haired Daisy. Immediately, this is a relationship that would be cherished. Benjamin and Daisy would remain extremely close all through childhood, though when Benjamin reached the ripe age of 17, he feels the urge to spread his wings and travel the world as a crew member aboard the tugboat ‘Chelsea.’ The crew stops off in Russia where Benjamin encounters his first REAL love interest when he meets Elizabeth Abbott (Tilda Swinton), the unhappy wife of a spy. Elizabeth shows Benjamin what it really means to be desired and truly lusted for. They share countless nights together and perhaps even fall in love in a strictly discrete relationship. A note: “It was lovely to have met you,” was all Elizabeth had to say before leaving Benjamin’s life forever. In the midst of War, the crew of the Chelsea are recruited to join and fight against Germany, which is the setting of the film’s suspenseful highpoint. A Nazi U-boat emerges from the depths of the ocean after sinking an Troop transport linear. Amazing, amazing scene!
Benjamin returns to his home in New Orleans where he reunites with his mother Queenie, and having been away for 9 long years, Benjamin’s youthfulness is much more apparent. Living home again, Daisy enters Benjamin’s life once more. But with out question, their feelings for one another are not mutual. Benjamin still lusts for her, but Daisy is looking to explore her own world with Ballet and her life in New York. The film hinges on the chemistry and romance that eludes Benjamin for most of the movie, but eventually find him. And this is where the film sours. The on-screen romance of Benjmain and Daisy.
Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett turn in perhaps their finest performances of their careers. Pitt truly and genuinely embodies the gentle and courageous Ben Button. We feel for him but like Forrest Gump, Benjamin never makes us feel sorry for him. Yes, it was sad and yes I sympathized but never felt sorry. Benjamin was never down and out and that was inspiring. Cate Blanchett, on the other hand was terrific. She played the moody and sometimes selfish Daisy. A young women finding her way in the world can be that way sometimes. Both passionate and romantic were the two leads. However, the surprise of the film was the role of Queenie played by Taraji P. Henson. The warm hearted care taker took Benjamin in and raised him as her own. She was the perfect mother. Though it was the surprise of the film, I still think the performance of the film would go to either Cate Blanchett or Brad Pitt. Both did phenomenal jobs.
The technical aspect of the film was mind blowing. Making Brad Pitt look extremely old and extremely young was crazy. The visuals alone make this movie worth seeing. The filmmakers literally took Brad Pitt’s face and CGI’d it onto the body of another actor and made him look well over 80 years old. Director of Photography, Claudio Miranda will be nominated for an Oscar in my opinion. With out question, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the most visually stimulating film of the year. It is sure to take your breath away with how beautiful it all looks.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttonis a great film. Deserving of almost every award possible and will leave lasting impression long after you leave the theater. David Fincher has done it again. I mean, I just don’t think the guy has a bad film in him. It’s just not possible.
Fincher is a goddamn Genius!
MADE all the way! Stamp that shit!
imdb: n/a
rottentomatoes: 86 %
MovieWiseGuys: 9.5/10
