The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Based on an obscure 1921 short story by The Great Gatsby’s F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is an epic tale of love, loss and the fleeting nature of time. Born as a hideously wrinkled baby in 1918 with the features of an octogenarian, Benjamin ages in reverse, and we follow his life through events both heart-wrenching and uplifting.

Borrowing a plot device from 2004’s The Notebook, the story is told in flashback by a middle-aged woman named Caroline (Julia Ormond), who reads excerpts from Benjamin’s diary to her bedridden mother, Daisy (Cate Blanchett).

After Benjamin’s mother dies in childbirth, his angry father abandons the frail infant at a nursing home. An employee named Queenie (Taraji P. Henson) takes pity on him, and raises the child as her own. A variety of characters affect Benjamin’s life in different ways, none more so than Daisy, the granddaughter of one of the residents. As the only other child he knows, Benjamin becomes instantly captivated by her. But her apathy causes the perpetually lonely hero to head out into the world at 17. Joining the crew of a tugboat run by a boozy Irish captain (Jared Harris), Benjamin travels to Russia and has an affair with a British diplomat’s wife (Tilda Swinton), before enduring a harrowing attack by a German U-boat. Daisy, meanwhile, becomes a dancer, eventually landing a role on Broadway in “Carousel”, a similarly-themed story of tragedy and redemption. It is not until their ages match in the 1960's that the star-crossed lovers “meet in the middle”, but they are destined to share only a brief moment of bliss before he grows too young for her, and she too old for him.

As the passive misfit who takes whatever life has to offer without resentment, Brad Pitt gives a bravura performance that is both subtle and rich. Having always needlessly struggled to prove he is more than just a pretty face, Pitt effortlessly displays the ravages of old age as convincingly as the zeal of youth. The always mesmerizing Blanchett gives many sides to Daisy, but it is a shame the story begins to drag whenever the largely uninteresting character shows up. Though Swinton delivers a solid performance, her sequence adds little to the saga, and should have been omitted to cut the near three-hour running time.

The film’s many similarities to 1994’s Best Picture Forrest Gump come as no surprise, since both adaptations were penned by Eric Roth. But the screenplay bears little resemblance to the original Fitzgerald story, save for the basic premise. Roth has updated the proceedings to the 20th century, and improved the narrative by imbuing it with poignancy and passion. There are many thought-provoking themes in his exploration of the human experience, including fitting in and the inevitability of death. But the script is marred by constantly cutting back to the incoherent ramblings of the elderly Daisy, and a needless subplot about the approach of Hurricane Katrina.

Director David Fincher (who previously worked with Pitt on Fight Club and Seven) has created a truly wondrous experience. Yet, the ambitious film is not without flaws. What could be a magical fantasy is muted by an absence of colour, coupled with Fincher’s tendency to focus on dimly lit scenes set in murky shadows. Further, most of the film takes place at night, perhaps in an effort to hide the elaborate makeup. But the age progression (or, in Pitt’s case, regression) of the principals is truly astounding, due in part to digital manipulation.

With superb production values by frequent Spielberg collaborators Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, the fable is enhanced by Jacqueline West’s striking costumes and Victor J. Zolfo’s marvelous set design. It is unfortunate Alexandre Desplat’s score is not particularly memorable -- aside from the haunting strains of Scott Joplin’s beautiful waltz “Bethena” -- and much better use could have been made of period tracks that capture the essence of the changing decades.

Nevertheless, the tearjerker teaches us about living in the moment, as life’s dreams and disappointments are shaped by random incidents beyond our control. Once you suspend your logic for the ludicrous concept, the story becomes a fascinating emotional journey not to be missed. Though unnecessarily long, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will linger in your heart, like the diverse cast of people who pass – all too quickly – through our own, short lives. Rating: 8 out of 10.