The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Posted on January 30, 2009 at 10:31 am by lkeddie | Permalink

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Released 6th February 2009

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This is one of those rare and magical films that manage to be a sumptuous epic in grand cinematographic scale, spanning different decades, whilst delivering a wonderfully introspective character study that is so compelling it is hard not to believe there is any truth behind it. The tale is simply spellbinding to watch unfold - even if the ending is clear from the start, it is the curiosity of how the central character, Benjamin Button, will actually turn out that fuels the curiosity and captivates you.

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It is a story filled with courage, determination and passion that is truly inspirational because Button is a born fighter who displays no malice at his unique and unfortunate circumstances, and just relishes each new challenge with an untarnished, wide-eyed innocence. At the same time, the film is laced with charming humour, thanks to some of the larger-than-life characters that enter and manipulate Button’s developing world.

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The equally fascinating element to this tale is ‘living life backwards’, and how someone elderly copes with the emotional and physical challenges of a younger person for the first time. In this respect, the story continually keeps you guessing. Even though it is an ‘extraordinary’ situation, the setting in a retirement home as Benjamin’s own home makes it, somehow, ‘ordinary’ and believable. It will be interesting to see what different audience generations make of.

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Brad Pitt is sensational and in fine Oscar-winning form, alongside a marvellous supporting cast of Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton and Taraji P. Henson. Each remarkable actor manages to portray the full emotional depth of their character - their thoughts, opinions and dreams, whilst being part of the intricate educational framework that shapes a growing Button. The film-makers make full use of each of these characters to the extent that their presence on screen is often of greater significance than Button. It is their views and actions that trigger Button’s next steps, and propel the story to its inevitable and sad conclusion.

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will fill you with hope, joy and warmth. Don’t miss it for one of the best fairy-tale experiences this year has to offer so far.

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By Lisa Keddie

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Synopsis

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“I was born under unusual circumstances.” And so begins The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story, set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918 to the 21st century, following his journey that is as unusual as any man’s life can be. Directed by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with Taraji P. Henson, Tilda Swinton, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas and Julia Ormond, Benjamin Button is a grand tale of a not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys of life and the sadness of death, and what lasts beyond time.

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Film Facts

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Official UK site: http://www.benjaminbutton.co.uk/

UK Release Date: 6th February 2009

Director: David Fincher

Writer: Eric Roth

Cast: Brad Pitt (’Benjamin Button’), Cate Blanchett (’Daisy’), Tilda Swinton (’Elizabeth Abbott‘), Jason Flemyng (’Thomas Button’), Taraji Henson (’Queenie’), Julia Ormond (’Caroline’), Elias Koteas (’Monsieur Gateau’), Ed Metzger (’Teddy Roosevelt’)