A brilliant film, Fincher and Pitt do it again!

Rating: 10/10 (29 December 2008)

Let me start off by saying I am a big fan I am a big fan of the David Fincher/Brad Pitt combo. Se7en was outstanding. Fight Club is on my personal top 10 list. I was going to see this movie, regardless of what it was about. Those two films alone were enough to make that decision for me.
When I first saw the trailer, it was obviously very far removed from the aforementioned films. It was a very different concept for the dynamic duo to tackle. However, I was not terribly worried for two reasons. One, I think that both are masters of their craft. And two, I thought the concept of the film was fascinating. A man who is born old and ages backward. I had never heard of anything remotely like that. It was instantly thought provoking. I was going to see this movie, with high hopes.
I had heard from certain sources that had seen the film prior to its release that the film turned out quite boring, and that there were better options out there. I had also heard that the film was brilliant, and would cement Fincher's legacy and be a serious Best Picture Contender. I was very pleased, that upon viewing the film, it turned out to be very much the latter.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was genuinely captivating throughout every one of the 168 minutes that it was on screen. Every shot was beautifully done. The effects were so seamless and stunning. It can not be easy to make portray a 7-year-old you looks 85 on screen. The special effects and makeup department deserve to be commended.
But even more praise should go to the cast of the film. Each actor owned their character. Each one playing a role in Benjamin's life, keeping the story fresh, at times humorous and never boring, a rare feat in a film this long. Brad Pitt, who I believe is one of the most under-rated actors working today, proved to me once again how great he is. There are too many characters to mention here, but I simply must mention the terrific job done by Taraji P. Henson in the role of Queenie, the mother who took Benjamin in on the night of his birth. It was her role that made the film move me from the very beginning.
The story itself unfolds as a lesson in love and loss, from the very beginning. It does a brilliant job of portraying its theme that we will suffer losses throughout our lives, they will be very difficult, and we must press on. This film will captivate your mind. It will not be soon forgotten once you have left the theater. I am still mesmerized. As I sit here and write down my feelings toward the movie itself, I can't help but think about the deeper meaning, the issues that the film brings up. I know a lot of people that feel like a movie can't be great unless it makes you feel like this after you see it. I am certainly not one of those people, because not every film aims to do this. However, after seeing this film, I can see where they are coming from.
I strongly urge you to see this film. It is one of the five best I have seen this year. I would certainly call it a must see. I feel so much better off for having seen this film. David Fincher tackles an unfamiliar genre with ease and completely knocks it out of the park. If The Dark Knight does not win the Oscar for Best Picture (and I assume it will not), I would have no problem with seeing this film be recognized as this year's best picture winner. It was that good.