Loosely adapted from the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it follows Benjamin (Pitt), an extraordinary orphan raised by a black woman named Queenie (Henson). Benjamin was born to a rich family who panicked and gave him up after noticing he was born old.
Through the remainder of the film Benjamin grows younger while everyone else grows older.
He leads an adventurous life – one originating from a nursing home in New Orleans, to working on a tugboat during the Second World War and traveling the world in search of new life experiences.
The entire film is a flashback through the perspective of Benjamin’s journal, which he left behind for his one true love Daisy (Blanchett). In the beginning of the film, Daisy, on her deathbed, and her daughter Caroline (Julia Ormond) read the journal in a New Orleans hospital only hours before the arrival of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a visually exhilarating film, full of unique cinematography and lighting, as well as amazing special effects. The first third of the film features a computer-generated version of Pitt’s face transposed onto a smaller actor to portray the older Benjamin. Later, the same graphics are used to make Pitt look younger.
While the adapted storyline is both a creative and refreshing take on life, aging and death, at times the film is long and tedious.
Pitt delivers a good performance, nothing near brilliant proportions, but the Benjamin Button “show” is essentially stolen by its two female co-stars. Blanchett never fails to bring a simple, yet profound emotional poignancy to her characters, and the charismatic Henson – who also appeared in 2005’s Hustle and Flow – tenderly encapsulated the most important figure in Benjamin’s life.
The Character of Benjamin Button Makes The Dread of Aging Relative
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button emphasizes leading a full life, one never left or wondering. In a message to his estranged daughter Caroline, sent later in life, Benjamin says it is never too late to start over again if life isn’t turning out as expected.
Aging is major theme of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The film demonstrates that it’s not important how to age – by growing wrinkles, losing beauty or youthful abilities – because a full life is not about vanity but full of experiences and caring people.
Benjamin’s friends tragically pass away as he grows older. At the age of 43, Benjamin and Daisy realize they’ve met in the middle of their lives and from that day forward their relationship will never be the same.
Daisy goes on to marry another man capable of raising their daughter and Benjamin eventually dies as a helpless infant without any recollection of the events of his life.
Director David Fincher Profoundly Changes Short Story of Benjamin Button
David Fincher – known for Fight Club, Seven and The Game – sat in the director's chair for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. He was nominated for an Academy Award for the film, but it won three Oscars for art direction, makeup and visual effects.
In 2008 media interviews, Fincher and screenwriter Eric Roth admit that only the basic premise of a man aging backwards was taken from the short story.
The remainder of the plot and events in the film are fabricated for the audience’s entertainment. It’s epic both in its material and duration – the film tops out at close to three hours – but doesn’t resemble the original short story by Fitzgerald.
Enjoyable Rating: 6 out of 10 for a visually stunning, yet long journey through the life of a man who ages backwards.
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking.
Minutes: 166
Cast:
- Brad Pitt as Benjamin
- Cate Blanchett as Daisy
- Tarajie P. Henson as Queenie
- Julia Ormond as Caroline
- Tilda Swinton as Elizabeth Abbott
If You Like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button You’ll Also Like: Big Fish or Gone With The Wind
Mckenzie Cassidy - I'm a reporter for a community newspaper in Southwest Florida. I have broad interests in education, books that include poetry, fiction ...
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