The Curious Case of Benjamin Button may seem like a mixture of The Notebook meets Big Fish, but this movie directed by David Fincher, and adapted from the book by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a tale all of its own.
Clocking in around 2 hours and 47 minutes, Button tells the story of Benjamin (Brad Pitt), a man who is born old and ages backwards. Born a fragile, old man, he dies a small infant. While aging backwards, Benjamin meets a young girl named Daisy whose feelings for Benjamin are more than apparent. Later in his life, he finds an older Daisy (played by the beautiful and stunning Cate Blanchett) and they romantically get involved.
This movie is curious indeed--and in the good way. The film leaves you wondering about so many things such as 'how did this happen?' or 'this would never occur in real life.' But worrying about such things takes away from the movie's magic. Instead, you should focus on the glory of the magic of the great performances of Pitt, Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, and Taraji P. Henson. All deliver Oscar worthy performances and leave a Wow-factor. Henson, playing Queenie, cares for Benjamin like a mother and comes off truly believable as one would during the time period. It isn't until Benjamin leaves for Russia where he meets Swinton's character and they begin an affair. This may be Swinton's best work.
For a movie as long as it is, one will not find themselves looking at their watch, at least not in the two times I saw it. You will simply want to see this movie on life, romance and death again and again. Pay to see it? Yes. Should you see it again? You'll enjoy it even more if you do. Just don't forget the Kleenex.
