Review on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Review on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Directed by  David Fincher

Cast : Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P Henson and others

Oscars Won: Best Achievement in Art direction ,Best Achievement in Make up and Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Genre: Drama

Tag line: Life isn’t measured in minutes, but in moments

I watched this movie just on the eve of Oscar awards and I must say it didn’t disappoint me at all being nominated for 10 categories in Oscars including Best Motion Picture and Best Actor in a lead role. The next day ,in fact while watching Oscars I was anticipating Brad Pitt to carry away ‘Best Actor in a lead Role ‘Oscar.

The plot unfolds with young Benjamin button born with really a curious case indeed and initially quite confusing for the viewer as to what’s happening with the protagonist. The complete age reversal concept is so fresh and incredible to watch at each stage as to how Brad Pitt turns younger as time passes. It’s amazing the way the makeup artists could show the progress so well of turning young so gradually and the Oscar is truly deserving for the makeup artist category. The romance between Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett is also well etched in the movie and in fact quite touching as the childhood romance blossoms in to long lasting love as they grow up, in spite of the curious case of the hero. The narrative style of the picture is well suited for a timeless classic like this and maybe a bit slow at places where the present period is shown in the hospital (where the daughter reads out from the diary of Benjamin button to her mother in her death bed).

The movie also holds on to the sensitivities of human emotions well throughout. The love of the mother (Taraji P Henson) to her adopted son(Brad Pitt) is quite moving as she goes about great lengths for her son to have a normal life as much as possible. The beauty of Cate Blanchett would enthrall anyone especially the graceful ballet performance shown in the movie. The story by itself is so unique that it holds the viewer’s attention the full three hours with great anticipation as to what one should expect next. The editing is also well done taking the movie in the proper pace without getting in to too many details unnecessarily but with enough interesting instances to hold our interest.

I must say hats off to the screen play writers who could come up with such a curious story by itself. Thanks to human creativity and imagination that could extend beyond any means and Hollywood has once again proven its ability to come up with ideas out of the box.

This is truly an Oscar movie and is worth giving your attention span for three hours.