A Tale of a Man who Lived his Life Backwards (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (DVD))

Member Name: Praskipark

Product:	The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button (DVD)
Date:	15/01/09 (290 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A haunting, beautifully filmed epic of time

Disadvantages: A little long maybe

Film Only
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This film, based on a short story written by F. Scott Fitgerald is an epic of time. It tells the tale of a child born suffering the weaknesses of old age who lives his life backwards, growing younger with every year that passes. A long line of screenwriters have attempted to put this story to film but Eric Roth takes the famous author's premise and creates a more elaborate, beautiful narrative than the short story could ever convey.

The film is set in New Orleans, a city known for its endless colour, gentle ways and exoticism. The time period is between the First World War and Hurricane Katrina.

Benjamin's (Brad Pitt) mother sadly dies whilst giving birth to him and his father (Jason Flemying) who makes buttons, is struck with horror when he sees how disfigured and withered the child's appearance is. Unable to cope with the image in front of him he relinquishes the child on the steps of a rest home where the lovely Queenie (Taraji P. Henson), a loyal and loving black employee takes him in.

Among the old folks Queenie brings the child up and he is not out of place with the other patrons. Bent, half-deaf, losing his hair, sat in a wheelchair and covered in age spots, the doctor is convinced that Benjamin's time is drawing to an end but how wrong he is. Suddenly there are signs of a youthful transformation. At this stage he looks like a man in his late sixties and is introduced to one of the resident's grandchildren. A girl called Daisy(Cate Blanchett) who is bright, enthusiastic and has a head of shocking red hair. Instantly, he falls in love. Benjamin pays the red headed beauty lots of attention and if she is flattered by the advances of this wisened, old man then she never lets on. Perhaps she senses that he is not as old as he looks.

As time passes Benjamin and Daisy hang on to this special bond. She is his rock - his only safe thread in a world that is changing and viewed in reverse.

Benjamin suddenly notices the transformation of his body. He grows younger and wants a taste of the thrills of the world outside. He takes on a job with an Irish sea captain (Jared Harris) who is a heavy drinker and you could say, a bit of a lad. He teaches Benjamin the ways of the world - the pleasures of the flesh and the world of intoxication. He travels to Russia where he has an affair with the wife of a politician. From this relationship he learns about not only love but lust.

While he lives out these new experiences he can't stop thinking of Daisy and his heart aches for her. She is now a successful ballet dancer in New York, determined, obstinate and selfish. Benjamin is shocked by her unconventional lifestyle and bare-faced sexuality. Every time he tries to re-create his childhood crush, he is knocked back every step of the way. Only when Daisy suffers a dreadful accident does her outlook change and eventually sees him for the man he is.

Summary
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I have never been one to rush out to the cinema to watch a Brad Pitt movie. I only watched Ocean's Eleven when they had finished filming Ocean's 13 so why the urgency to see this movie, you may well ask. I have to be honest and say I was intrigued by the title, the story line and the artistic improvisation and also I wanted to see if it was all hype and this would just be another movie to go go plop. I can now tell you that this is one of the most fascinating, clever and beautifully produced films I have seen for a long time.

The attraction for me is the film's reliance on exact calculations to make sure Benjamin and Daisy come together at the right time. They can only meet in the centre once. Apart from the timing, however, their romance pulsates a momentary poignancy at once celestial and tragic - physically, the lovers are going in opposite diections. As Daisy grows into an old lady he becomes younger, and at some point he will catch up to their love -child.

This ubiquitous impermanence acquaints every frame of the film which is harshly aware of human mortality. For Benjamin, death is an ongoing reminder, from the elderly rest home to the fighting fields of Europe. Like the lament of sci-fi immortals, Benjamin's upside-down life brings deep loneliness. It is a contrasting pleasure of pain and pleasure he has to endure. The moving nature of love and life and the urgent need to enfold it with enthusiasm when it is at last within his reach is one of the film's most lasting thematic elements.

Performances - Pitt and Blanchett are amazing - compelling all the way through the film. I was entranced by their charisma - I really believed that they were soul mates. Pitt's performance is one of beauty, zeal and gentle sympathy. How he managed to convey these emotions hidden under tons of make up I find amazing. Blanchett is like a good glass of wine, full bodied and on fire. She is dazzling. But the main star, in my view, is supporting actress Taraji P. Hensen who plays Benjamin's adopted mother. She is ferocious and dominant, fired by her strong faith, but yet has eyes filled with a gentle peace. A fitting personality to give the young Benjamin everything he needs to survive the challenges of his circumstances.

This is yet another collaboration with director David Fincher and actor Brad Pitt. The two seem to work well with each other. This film is is on a different course altogether to his previous work but it shows a director with an outlandish confidence and bags of imagination. Scene after scene is woven together with outstanding beauty and composition. The film is shot mostly in deep focus so you see the excessive detail. Finch and Caludio Miranda have made a film dripping in surreal, dreamlike and magical imagery. The soundtrack by Alexandre Desplat is an excellent accompaniment to the images on screen. The exquisite and unobtrusive sounds are a perfect compliment.

Interesting to see how computer wizadry and cinematic story telling work side by side in this film. I found it fascinating to see old-fashioned make up effects collaborating with computer tricks. When the modern Brad Pitt finally walks on screen after more than 60 mintes buried underneath make-up, he is like a beautiful Greek God. As he continues to age backwards, he is made to look half as old as his real life years of 45, by being air-brushed digitally.

Final Word
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Benjamin Button is a charming, enchanting story steeped in sadness but has a thoughtful serenity about it. Artistically it is a triumph. Haunting and a little colder than it should be at times. The film doesn't let the viewer totally in and sometimes feels remote. However, in my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful love stories I have seen for a long time. It will make you cry but haunt you at the same time. A truly magnificent film.

And to leave you with a final thought - I know we don't live our lives backwards but I wonder what it would be like if we did/could. To start with the ending having got everything out of the way. A haunting concept. I leave you with that one.

Running Time - 167 minutes (A Little long but it doesn't drag)

* Not sure if it is out in the UK yet but should be soon*

Summary: A Charming and Enchanting Love Story.