THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchette, Jason Flemyng, Tilda Swinton, Taraji P. Henson, Elle Fanning and Julia Ormond
Directed by: David Fincher
PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking
By John Delia
The film may be the best of the year with stellar acting, amazing make-up and CGI, superb directing and remarkable cinematography. I loved the odd yet touching romantic drama that held my interest throughout the nearly three-hour length. If you like films with wonderment at every turn, then The Curious Case of Benjamin Button should fill your fantasy.
The film, based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, centers on the birth of a child who is so hideous that his mother is forced by her husband to abandon it at a retirement home. A worker at the home takes the child in as her own and raises him. Aging backward, from his eighties the boy starts to grow in mind much like normal children, but still in the shell of an old man. As his life progresses we get to rummage though his loves, a stint in the war, his travels and the wonders of change all seen from the odd perspective of reverse ageing.
I found the film very fascinating as it played out showing the reverse aging process while the other characters aged normally. The film is brilliant in capturing the life of Benjamin as he catches up to his childhood with stopovers along the way.
Pitt does a terrific job of keeping in character throughout the film even under the most difficult circumstances of portraying Benjamin at challenging age levels. His ability project to me the believability of the character’s age progression, especially the younger (when he is old looking) years where he is learning life skills, shows genuine talent.
In support Blanchette as older Daisy who tells the story and Swinton as a forlorn Elizabeth Abbott who falls in love with Benjamin are excellent. The two pull the story together and make it romantic and interesting. I also enjoyed the acting of Fanning as the younger Daisy who befriends Benjamin while others shun the boy.
Topping the cast however, is Henson as Queenie the housekeeper who takes Benjamin in and raises him. With an endearing performance, her devotion to raising the odd looking boy is moving and admirable.
The film is rated PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking so be sure to take this into consideration when deciding to take immature children to see the film.
FINAL ANALYSIS: The amazing and enjoyable film has Oscar awards written all over it. (5 of 5 stars)