One Mans Affliction As A Metaphor For Love And Loss

Rating: 10/10 (30 December 2008)

First, I am struck by the originality of this story. I mean it's frickin' brilliant. But, the real brilliance is in the detail of telling a preposterous story that serves as a perfect metaphor for life's journey of love and loss.
There must have been tremendous hurdles to telling this in a way that was not sensational - to make it seem relevant and not fictional. Yet, the digital effects are so natural and the seamless transitions so well done they merely serve the story and never get in the way. Brad Pitt is shear perfection, Cate Blanchett is absolutely transcendent and elegant, and Tilda Swenson is so wonderfully loving that the viewer can't help but be drawn into the shear humanity of it all. Direction and cinematography are certainly up to the same high level. I would vote for this in just about every category for the year's best.
Bottomline: In a year where there are some very strong contenders for best picture I feel this is the one that rises to the top. If you miss it you will deny yourself something very special. A must see.