Just wanted to throw up my take on Brad Pitt's latest The Curious Case of Benjamin Button a good movie, worth of it's Oscar buzz. Make sure to check out Trav's review here http://punchdrunkcritics.blogspot.com/2008/12/curious-case-of-benjamin-button.html .
The movie starts out with the story of a blind clock maker who’s son was killed in WWI. He’s commissioned to make a clock that, unbeknownst to anyone at the time, he makes to run backwards. Reason being that if time runs backwards all the boys killed in the war including his son can come home. The story then transitions to a modern day hospital where an old woman is on her death bed. Her daughter is there with her and begins to read her a diary that is in with her belongings, the diary belongs to Benjamin Button and it is the story of his life. Basically Benjamin was born old and ages backwards to birth, his mother dies in childbirth and his father is so horrified that he leaves Benjamin on the stairs of a convalescent home down the street. The story then follows Benjamin’s life, loves, trials and tribulations all shown through the narration of the daughter reading to her dying mother in a New Orleans hospital. That’s all the story and spoilers I’m gonna give you.
First things first, this movie is long…damn long. That’s not to say it’s not a great movie because it is for the most part but you feel every bit of its two hours and forty minutes. Really though it doesn’t seem like there is much they could’ve have cut, all of the scenes seem necessary and add to the enjoyment and understanding of this unique life. The only segment of film that I really thought dragged and could have done without was the twenty minutes or so that they spent on his love affair with Tilda Swinton’s character. It just felt really boring and didn’t really serve much other purpose than to show that he had more than one love in his life. The only other real downside to the flick was the super creep factor that falls in during the early part of the love story. Given the gimmick of the movie, that Benjamin is old growing young, he at one point looks 87 but is only 7. It is at this point that he meets Daisy the girl that will become the love of his life. The scenes between the two until about halfway through the movie or even a little farther are just really pedo-creppy.
On the upside of things, I would be stunned if this isn’t at least nominated for as many makeup and sfx Oscars as are available. The scenes with Pitt as an old man are amazing; while I’m sure they used some kind of CGI replacement ala X-Men 3 the facial makeup is just short of stunning. Just as amazing, if not even more so is the younger, (or I guess older), version of Pitt late in the movie at visual age 17 or 18. His neck is a little thinner and shoulders slightly narrower, they truly paid attention to all of the little details and deserve recognition for that. Past the make-up, Pitt re-establishes himself as one of the last true movie stars. He plays the role with such an ease and charisma that it is impossible to not like and feel for the character. Though he does not go through the trials and tribulations that you think a movie like this will put him through, Pitt manages to make his rather routine (except for the whole backward aging thing), life captivating and engaging. Cate Blanchette’s Daisy, while a bit annoying at times turns into an endearing almost tragic figure. Blanchette manages to play her with just the right bit of emotion and goes from sweet girl to street whore and back to loveable woman all in a believable and quite enjoyable way. Rounding out the supporting cast, Jared Harris was great and quite funny as Captain Mike, Taraji Henson is warm and really captures that loving mom feeling as Queenie, Benjamin’s adoptive mother. These two really managed to bring quite a bit of humor into the film, which I wasn’t excepting but was pleasantly surprised to find. The scene in the brothel and the recurring “Did I tell you I was struck by lighting 7 times?” joke hit well and definitely had me laughing. The only thing I didn’t quite get was that it is set against the backdrop of New Orleans during hurricane Katrina (the narration not the story of Benjamin), there really didn’t seem to be a reason for it but I suppose that was Brad Pitt’s input since he was down there helping after the tragedy. Although strangely enough there was no dedication at the end of the film.
All in all I would say that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is worth seeing, not quite a must see but if it was on your list or you thought it looked interesting than it’ll definitely not disappoint. Just be prepared, for a marathon session, you really feel the close to 3 hour run time.
8/10
