The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (movie)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Paramount, 2009
Directed by David Fincher
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton
Rated PG-13

Summary:
Loosely based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Benjamin Button tells the story of a man who ages backwards. Benjamin was born looking like a tiny old man; as life goes on, he grows into a healthy young man, and continues getting younger as years progress. As a young man, he falls in love with a young girl named Daisy. However, while she looks like a little girl, Benjamin looks like an old man. One day, though, the two meet while the same age—and they look like they’re the same age. Although Benjamin Button could easily be construed as a strange love story, the film has just as much to say about human nature, family, and the dynamics of relationships (not just love).

Review:
I’m a big fan of The Confessions of Max Tivoli, by Andrew Sean Greer, which seems to have influenced this movie as much as Fitzgerald’s story. It was fascinating to watch this premise come to life on screen. The special effects used to age/de-age Brad Pitt are incredible. The music is wonderful, and the cinematography is beautiful. The story can sometimes get a bit depressing (there’s no way to have a happy ending with a premise like this), but the overall feeling is more bittersweet. I’d recommend Benjamin Button to fans of beautiful films, Brad Pitt fans, Cate Blanchett fans, and anyone who liked Fitzgerald’s story or Greer’s novel.