Movie Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett
Director: David Fincher
Rating: B

"I was thinkin' about how nothin' lasts. And what a shame that is."

The curious case of Benjamin Button is this: He ages backwards. The age of his physical body grows in reverse, while his mind develops along the typical human course. Born with wrinkles, cataracts and arthritis, baby Benjamin is abandoned on Queenie's (Taraji P. Henson) doorstep. Queenie, a caregiver at the nearby nursing home, feels an aching compassion for the deformed child and takes Benjamin in.

I found Benjamin effortlessly compelling (and believable, thanks to the astonishing special effects) - his mind and his body are always at odds, his condition constantly displaces him in time and from his surroundings. Growing up, he has the frustrations of a child being raised amongst the elderly in a nursing home, trapped in an elderly person's body. And despite the fact that those around him are aware of his condition, he is still treated according to his physical age - like an elderly man and not a growing boy. Benjamin is also a very endearing character. He has the wisdom and patience of an adult, mixed with the wide-eyed optimism of a child - the contrast between his physical and mental development is reflected in his attitudes towards life. The film is textured with warm humour and empathy.

The most prevailing (and heartbreaking) theme is that of impermanence, this idea that "nothing lasts" - a concept that all the other characters seem to struggle with. Benjamin, on the other hand, is much more adept in dealing with loss and moving on. To Benjamin, time is no longer an adequate measure of the space in which a life resides. As a result, Benjamin and Daisy's love-story also takes a different spin. While most love stories are about emphasising "forever", Benjamin and Daisy's story forces them to accept that their romance can only last for a finite amount of time.

While I thought Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett did a fine job in their portrayal of Benjamin and Daisy, I'm not convinced there was anything particularly special or outstanding about their performances either (I secretly wondered if the film would have reached different depths with unknown actors?). Despite the interesting explorations of time and age, the script itself was a bit simplistic, and this shortfall was empasised by the fact that much of the story was narrated. The film dragged a little in the last quarter, probably because the perspective shifted from Benjamin to Daisy and by then the film's take home messages had already hit home.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a thoughtful reflection of time and impermanence and Benjamin is an interesting character to follow. While I felt like there was a shade of depth that was missing, overall it is a heartwarming film worth watching.