01 January 2009

Review on the Run: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.



I hate comparing great films to other great films, because they don't need to ride on the coat-tails of what came before them. Having said that, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a great drama in the tradition of Forrest Gump. It's the story of an extraordinary man trying to lead a normal life. Such is the strangeness of his situation - born prematurely aged, his body grows younger as his mind gets older - that every 'normal' thing Benjamin does seems like a bonafide miracle.


Benjamin Button touches on themes of life, death, time, aging, and coincidence. It's a long movie on paper, but in dealing with the passage of time, it never feels long. I kept wanting to see what was around the bend in the life of this curious man. There are many moments of levity, but the second half of the film feels heavy on the heart, and it hurts. The grounding of the narrative and the performances by Pitt, Blanchett and company really make you buy into Mr Button's weird and wonderful tale.


When the credits roll, watch all the elderly people leave the cinema. You'll find yourself wondering how young they are.
 
OVERALL SCORE:




5 out of 5 Red Tri-planes

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