Today’s quick review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. On her deathbed, Daisy Fuller (Cate Blanchett) recounts to her daughter the life of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), a peculiar man and the love of her life. Born with the body of an old man, Benjamin ages in reverse, spending his youth in a retirement home and becoming more youthful and vigorous as he grows up. His chance encounters with Daisy over the years eventually blossom into a deep and abiding love.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a romantic drama with a fantasy twist. Spanning the better part of a century of American history, the movie follows Benjamin throughout his long and storied life, from his abandonment as a wrinkled infant at the end of World War I to his youthful senescence decades later. His journeys take him far, but his heart remains with Daisy, a childhood friend he always finds himself drawn back to.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a coming-of-age story in reverse. Benjamin’s condition gives him a unique perspective on life, with the patience of an old man and the curiosity of a young one. The movie uses this concept to great thematic effect, showing the beautiful and tragic consequences of such an inverted life. The speculation is personal rather than scientific in nature; no attempt is made to explain Benjamin or his unique condition.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button makes for an odd sort of romance. The courtship between Benjamin and Daisy plays out over the course of decades as their ages tick toward one another. Their protracted love story has a sad, poetic quality to it that mirrors the joys and disappointments of life, but it lacks the escapism normally associated with romance.
Watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button when you are in the mood for a gentle, enchanting film tinged with sorrow. Sound execution and a unique premise make the movie well worth a watch, but its particular tone makes it a highly conditional one. Watch it only if you are in the right mood to appreciate bittersweet romance and biography with a dash of fantasy. Skip it if you are looking for an event-driven plot or an untroubled romance.
7.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 to 7.5 for solid execution of an intriguing concept; your score will be higher depending on your taste in drama.