Let me set this precedent: I like epic films. I love the grand imagery, watching a character evolve over the course of the movie, the spectacular costumes…I love it all. I would put The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in this category, because the movie represents a time period through the life of Benjamin Button. Benjamin Button is born old. He has arthritis. He has wrinkles. His eyesight is poor and he can barely function. Not a good way to come into this world. Benjamin’s mother dies when he is born and his father, traumatized by Benjamin’s look and his wife’s looks, abandons him at the footsteps of an old folk’s home…fitting to say the least. The maid finds him and takes him in. She raises him as her son.
The curious thing about Benjamin is that he is getting younger, not older. Benjamin Button throughout the majority of the movie is played by Brad Pitt. During Benjamin Button’s childhood he meets the granddaughter, Daisy, of one of the residents. Daisy is played by Cate Blanchett. They form an instant bond that last throughout both their lifetimes. Even apart, they are never far from each other’s minds even though they are never quite the same age physically.
The imagery in this movie is amazing. In most epic films, the scenery takes the main stage. In The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, people’s faces are the focus of the film. We see how time wears away the youth of each character but Benjamin. Their lives are measured by their faces. The gracefulness of youth is soon replaced with ragged movements of old age. For Benjamin, it is the reverse and this becomes his curse.
The inconsistencies in this film are innumerable, especially the ending. In a movie obsessed with age, I think that they could’ve dealt a lot better with Benjamin’s decline into youth. I never could quite figure out if his bold was old and his mind was young or when his body was young was his mind old? The movie hinted at an answer, but then Benjamin’s character would defy this presumption.
Lastly, this movie was long. It reminded me a lot of Seven Years in Tibet. Once Brad Pitt’s character made it to Tibet, it was a great movie. However, three-fourths of the movie was his journey to Tibet and that was way too long. Same with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, he spends far too much time in old age and it takes him forever to become young.
Although the movie was long and there were some plot problems, I loved the meaning of the film and the tragedy within it. I couldn’t help but feel said when the movie wanted me, too, and happy when I was expected too. The movie definitely makes you think of life and death, and the journey in-between. My recommendation is to watch it at home so that you can take plenty of bathroom breaks.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is based upon the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I read the short story and found the similarities between the book and movie slim to say the least. The adaptation is very loosely based; but the movie is worth the trip to the theatre nevertheless.
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[...] 5, 2009 by Tracie May brings us The Curious Case of Benjamin Button to DVD. I saw this movie in the theaters and I really enjoyed it. I had to ignore the glaringly obvious plot problems, but once I decided [...]