The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Today when i was reading the newspapers, i found this review and thought everything the review said was true. I so agree with you.
[Grade: * * * *]
Think of Benjamin Button as a long, languid poem. Though lyrical and full of vivid images, it can also be slow, and parts of it may seem unnecessary. Once you’ve finished the whole thing, however, you will finally understand its beauty.
The film, based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, may be one of the most unusual to hit the big screen in a while: the title character, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), is born an octogenarian and ages backward into infancy. Hence, the central theme of the film is time: how quickly it passes by, and how nothing ever lasts.
For Benjamin, however, time puts him at odds with everyone else; as he grows younger and healthier, those around him age and pass on.
This sad paradox is underlined by his love for Daisy (Cate Blanchett), with whom he has but a few years to spend where they are both physically and mentally equal. The movie is obviously a labour of love for director David Fincher (whose previous works include Fight Club, Se7en and Zodiac); every shot, every scene, is beautifully conceptualised and captured.
Pitt is wonderful in the title role, giving a believable and sympathetic performance despite being under layers of make-up for most of the film. Even with the heavy use of CGI and camerawork to make his condition believable, his performance remains the main focus.
Pitt’s chemistry with Blanchett is also great, and together, they portray the fragility of their relationship heartbreakingly well.
Among the supporting cast, Taraji P. Henson as Benjamin’s adopted mother and Tilda Swinton as one of his lovers are outstanding.
If you’re in the mood for simple entertainment, skip this one. If, however, you want a film that is intelligent, thought-provoking, and deeply affecting, give Benjamin Button a go. It isn’t easy going, but it is definitely worth it. – Sharmilla Ganesan
The film, based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, may be one of the most unusual to hit the big screen in a while: the title character, Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), is born an octogenarian and ages backward into infancy. Hence, the central theme of the film is time: how quickly it passes by, and how nothing ever lasts.
For Benjamin, however, time puts him at odds with everyone else; as he grows younger and healthier, those around him age and pass on.
This sad paradox is underlined by his love for Daisy (Cate Blanchett), with whom he has but a few years to spend where they are both physically and mentally equal. The movie is obviously a labour of love for director David Fincher (whose previous works include Fight Club, Se7en and Zodiac); every shot, every scene, is beautifully conceptualised and captured.
Pitt is wonderful in the title role, giving a believable and sympathetic performance despite being under layers of make-up for most of the film. Even with the heavy use of CGI and camerawork to make his condition believable, his performance remains the main focus.
Pitt’s chemistry with Blanchett is also great, and together, they portray the fragility of their relationship heartbreakingly well.
Among the supporting cast, Taraji P. Henson as Benjamin’s adopted mother and Tilda Swinton as one of his lovers are outstanding.
If you’re in the mood for simple entertainment, skip this one. If, however, you want a film that is intelligent, thought-provoking, and deeply affecting, give Benjamin Button a go. It isn’t easy going, but it is definitely worth it. – Sharmilla Ganesan
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