The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Review

Director David Fincher seems to have drawn inspiration from Mark Twain statement, “Life would be infinitely happier if we could only be born at the age of 80 and gradually approach 18." His movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which is an adaptation of the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: A man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time.

The movie is an epic full of adventure, romance and ironies both funny and bitter about the inevitability and indignity of aging. The movie explores the human condition that exists outside of time and age – the joys of life and love and the sadness of loss.

A wrinkled baby riddled with cataracts and arthritis is abandoned by its parents. Manageress Queenie (Taraji P. Henson) takes care of baby Benjamin (Brad Pitt), who is in dying condition. As he grows up his health improves little by little. Accidentally he meets Daisy (Cate Blanchett) and falls in love with her. Benjamin turns crazy and sets out to see the world on a tug boat. On the other hand Daisy becomes dancer and rises to fame as a top ballerina. It seems that they never meet up again. But Benjamin returns and the movie gets a happy ending.

The movie can be consider as a technical achievement and the director and his team should be appreciated for the same. They have struggled very hard in integrating the digital make-up within a lush but grounded reality is considerable.

Roth has made an attempt to introspectively view the broad canvas of a life through the synthesis of intimate moments experienced every day, through events that may be as large as a world war or as small as a kiss.

Brad Pitt has played Benjamin, which is most daunting challenge. He has really lived up to the character. Even Cate Blanchett has done justice to her role.

However, the movie does not provide any great comic or tragic insight and it does not arise any catharsis. But it is interesting to watch once.

Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormond, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas and Tilda Swinton
Director: David Fincher
Screenplay: Eric Roth,
Producers: Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin.
Editors: Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall,
Music: Alexandre Desplat.