The best film of 2008; an instant classic!

Rating: 9/10 (11 January 2009)

Visually, the film is absolutely breathtaking. Fincher is no stranger to strong visuals and all of his movies feature absolutely stunning cinematography. As on his previous works, on Benjamin Button, Fincher works with a cinematographer mostly known for his work in music videos and commercials. Claudio Miranda, who also worked as a gaffer on almost all of Fincher's previous films but who hasn't worked very much as cinematographer on feature films, delivers absolutely breathtaking work on this film  it is definitely the best-looking and most gorgeously shot movie of the year, and a definite shoo-in for any cinematography awards, including the Oscar. With Fincher, you know that every single element of the visual language is carefully planned; from lenses to variations in aperture to depth of field to wonderful compositions to the best and most stunningly beautiful and amazing use of lighting in any film this year, using a combination of lighting temperatures, from hot and warm to cold and somber; creating sharp contrasts on the one hand and soft, lush glows on the other; sometimes bathed in light and sometimes dark and gloomy, from various sources including both superficial and natural, in-frame light. Visually, the film is nothing less than a work of art, and is one of the best looking films I've seen recently. And the fact that it was all shot digitally on the new Thompson VIPER camera, the same one Fincher used on Zodiac, makes it even more impressive, because it's easily the best-looking digital photography I've seen yet.
But there's so much more! While the film is undeniably rich in every way possible, much of its vibrancy derives not only from its visual prowess but also mainly from its impeccable story. The basic premise itself is so wondrously simple it can almost too easily slip into being taken for granted: A man is born at the age of 80 and ages backwards. It's a mind-bending concept that, in the film, is treated not much as a shocking anomaly but is almost taken for granted, and generally seems widely accepted. This basic idea is the foundation of the film, but it is also one of the only things the movie has in common with the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story it is based on. The bulk of the film's content comes from the brilliant, exceptional mind of Eric Roth, who is by far one of the best screenwriters working today and who has delivered deep, fascinating, incredible work on multiple occasions in the past. The most prominent of these earlier screenplays is his Oscar-winning Forrest Gump, and his Benjamin Button script has much in common with the former screenplay. Both feature whimsical characters with a unique condition, a condition that dictates their perception and experience of events as they make their way forward through time and history. Also, both feature a love story that lasts throughout the ages, over the years and years of the story. Finally, both films seem to feature a similar kind of attitude and nature to them: a quirky, wonderful combination of humour on the one hand, deep and profound drama and romance on the other, and intricate character development on the third. Its brilliant, unique, imaginative and wonderful fantasy-element concept of a man aging backwards; grand, encompassing scale and broad themes of undying love and life are what make it a good screenplay; but what makes it a great screenplay is Roth's impeccable attention to detail. He provides us with wonderfully well-developed main characters and lays out the foundations of their strange but wonderful romance, but every one of the supporting characters in the film also has a unique, terrifically well-developed personality: from Mr. Gateau, to Queenie and Tizzy, to Captain Mike to Elizabeth Abbott, Roth provides every single one of the characters that Benjamin encounters along his journey with a distinctive personality, and it is that very element that makes the film so worthwhile.
The phrase "instant classic" gets thrown around a lot, but in any given year I can only think of a handful of films that fit that description. Earlier this year, I would have thought that all was lost, and except for the two beacons of light from the summer, The Dark Knight and WALL-E, it seemed like 2008 wouldn't be remembered for anything else. Although the last few months have produced a slew of good films, the one that will be most remembered in years to come, and looked back upon as a classic, will be The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This movie has it all: humour and drama, strong and deep emotions, harsh sequences and delightful ones, a sweeping, epic romance, quirky characters, thrilling scenes and tranquil ones; the acting is top notch, the directing is flawless, the production value and cinematography are second to none, and the story is one of the best, most unique and delightful of any film this year, delivering a powerful and heartfelt message about the meaning of love and life. David Fincher has long been considered one of the best directors working today, and with Benjamin Button he delivers us the most dramatically and emotionally accomplished film of his career. Brad Pitt, another illustrious individual, also delivers the best work of his remarkable career. All in all, Benjamin Button is the perfect example of an outstanding entertainment, and while I still have a few more films on my list to see, overall I think it's safe for me to say that in my opinion, Benjamin Button is the best film of 2008.