The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
February 11th 2009 23:03
My sister and I are working our way through the Oscar nominees list, trying to see as many as possible before the big day. Over the weekend we saw the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, one of the most heavily nominated films this year. I was a bit reluctant about this one and I still don't really know why. I'd heard mixed reviews; I had been told that it was long, that it was a bit boring and that it wasn't what people had expected. It may have been the length that had me avoiding it to begin with, and it was very long (about three hours), but in the end that wasn't a problem.
If you've read the F. Scott Fitzgerald story by the same name, don't go into the movie expecting it to be anything alike because it's not. Aside from the name and the curious aging in reverse of Benjamin, the two are completely separate stories.
The story opens in a new Orleans hospital in 2005, just as Hurricane Katrina approaches. Elderley Daisy (Cate Blanchett) is on her deathbed, her daughter Caroline (Julia Ormond) watches over her and tries to give some comfort in her final moments. After telling a rather cryptic story about a clock maker, Daisy asks Caroline to retrieve a diary from her suitcase and read it to her. Inside the diary is the story of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), the man who aged in reverse.
It's not an action packed film, however there is a nice balance between conflict and drama. It's the sort of film that it's easy to get lost in which helpswith the length. It's very gentle, moves from point to point, storyline to storyline in a way that's easy to follow. The beginning is a bit slow and I found myself wondering where it was going, but once things start flowing it settles into a rythym that isn't really interrupted for the whole movie.
There's so much that's beautiful about this movie. The story telling is lovely, the characters are fantastic, believable and incredibly well played. Benjamin's adopted mother, Queenie (Taraji P. Henson) is one of the best in the film. It's very easy to see why Henson is nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. My sister, the film student was wrapped in the cinematography, and she is right, the film looks beautiful on screen.
I would highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet. It's not really something I'd go and see if you weren't in the mood to think, nor is it the sort of movie I'd recommend if you're looking for something action packed and fast moving.
If you've read the F. Scott Fitzgerald story by the same name, don't go into the movie expecting it to be anything alike because it's not. Aside from the name and the curious aging in reverse of Benjamin, the two are completely separate stories.
The story opens in a new Orleans hospital in 2005, just as Hurricane Katrina approaches. Elderley Daisy (Cate Blanchett) is on her deathbed, her daughter Caroline (Julia Ormond) watches over her and tries to give some comfort in her final moments. After telling a rather cryptic story about a clock maker, Daisy asks Caroline to retrieve a diary from her suitcase and read it to her. Inside the diary is the story of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), the man who aged in reverse.
It's not an action packed film, however there is a nice balance between conflict and drama. It's the sort of film that it's easy to get lost in which helpswith the length. It's very gentle, moves from point to point, storyline to storyline in a way that's easy to follow. The beginning is a bit slow and I found myself wondering where it was going, but once things start flowing it settles into a rythym that isn't really interrupted for the whole movie.
There's so much that's beautiful about this movie. The story telling is lovely, the characters are fantastic, believable and incredibly well played. Benjamin's adopted mother, Queenie (Taraji P. Henson) is one of the best in the film. It's very easy to see why Henson is nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. My sister, the film student was wrapped in the cinematography, and she is right, the film looks beautiful on screen.
I would highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it yet. It's not really something I'd go and see if you weren't in the mood to think, nor is it the sort of movie I'd recommend if you're looking for something action packed and fast moving.
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