A Classic Tale Adapted For the Modern World

Rating: 8/10 (20 December 2009)

At the close of the first Wold War, a child is born... Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt), who extraordinarily happens to be physically about seventy years old despite having a child-size body. Throughout his life, he grows younger rather than older.
David Fincher just keeps growing as a director. While I'm very partial to his earlier, darker work ("Seven", "Alien 3", etc.) his latest projects just continue to amaze with his unique sensibility and with a wonderful cast of friends and crew.
There's really nothing bad that can be said about this film. The original story took place about sixty years earlier, but you would never know that... the screenwriter was so careful to make a new story while still respecting the old concept. I think F. Scott Fitzgerald would have approved.
Brad Pitt was wonderful as always (here's another person who grows all the time), Cate Blanchett was enjoyable, Tilda Swinton was tolerable (I don't generally like her) and we had some nice supporting roles filled by the likes of Elias Koteas. It's no wonder this film is in the top 250 on IMDb as of this writing.
I have to give special credit to the CGI crew. While I am not generally a fan, they did a great job. The "old" Pitt was decent, but I was really impressed with the younger Pitt. He was "Thelma and Louise" young all over again...