Silly Story Well Told

Rating: 8/10 (2 August 2009)

Based on a story by Fitzgerald, a man is born old and gets younger as time passes. Given the silliness of the story, the filmmakers are to be commended for making an absorbing film out of it. Pitt is quite good, particularly in the early scenes as he plays an adolescent who looks like a little old man. Blanchett is OK as his love interest, but is not effective as a mumbling old lady. Benjamin's tale is told in flashbacks, as his love lies on her deathbed, but this framing mechanism seems too contrived. It is meticulously directed by Fincher. Although some superfluous scenes could easily have been deleted, it rarely drags despite the length of nearly three hours.