A flawed yet technically brilliant achievement

Rating: 8/10 (16 February 2009)

When I walked out of the theater after seeing The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, I really had no idea how to describe it. On one hand, it is a technical masterpiece with jaw-dropping visual effects and perhaps some of the most realistic makeup in any movie I've ever seen. The process of seeing Benjamin Button (played with brilliant subtlety by Brad Pitt) and his lifelong love, Daisy (Cate Blanchett) grow younger and older, respectively, marks an astonishing revolution in the technology of the movie-making industry. There is not a single scene or moment that does not look just spectacular. Unfortunately, the visuals were so great that the story itself did not quite rise to the challenge.
The screenplay, written by Eric Roth and based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, has striking similarities to Forrest Gump, which was also written by Roth. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It certainly contains plenty of clever, original dialogue and touching scenes, but it's impossible to miss the connections to the 1994 Best Picture winner. Of course, there are many similar elements between the two movies (both show the aging and growth of a man who is, in some way, a bit of an outcast; they tell important messages about life and death while channeling several different eras in recent history), but the quality and tone of the film itself is different enough to make it feel unique. While Forrest Gump focused mostly on the intricacies of the characters and plot, Button puts more emphasis on the overall themes and morals of the story. In fact, the main flaw in the screenplay is not its similarities to Forrest Gump, but in its structure. Like Gump, the central story is told in a sort of flashback form and frequently returns to the present. While these scenes do occasionally help with the story and emotion, many of them, particularly at the beginning, feel unnecessary and interrupt with the flow of the story. If the script had stayed more focused on the actual plot, the emotion might have been stronger and, perhaps, it would've been easier to truly get to know and connect with the main characters.
Aside from the visuals, Benjamin Button does exceed in other ways. As mentioned before, Brad Pitt gives a terrific yet subtle performance worthy of an Oscar nomination. Cate Blanchett plays Daisy straight while bringing out the more troubled side of her character. The result is an interesting dynamic between the two actors and a convincing romance that never strays into formulaic or too-familiar territory. For me, many of the movie's best scenes were the ones showing their relationship and how it grows and changes over time as the two characters head in completely different directions only to inevitably meet up again. The supporting cast is solid with noteworthy performances from Taraji P. Henson as Benjamin's adoptive mother and Tilda Swinton, who plays a married woman with whom he has a brief affair, but the movie never really delves into the finer details of their characters, so that they never feel quite as deep or real as they could have. Even Benjamin Button and Daisy have an almost enigmatic aura about them and, even with the voice-over narration, we never truly get into their heads and find out exactly what they're thinking.
One other thing worth mentioning is David Fincher's direction. This is his first PG-13 rated movie and, being someone with films like Fight Club, Zodiac and Se7en on his resume, he is venturing into unknown territory. However, he seems confident with the material and he lends the film a unique tone that is alternately fantastical and somber. He manages to display the groundbreaking visual effects without ever making them distracting or overly showy. Even the makeup and CGI used to age Brad Pitt 80 years over the course of the film never say 'Here! Look at me!' We automatically recognize how revolutionary they are and they blend in perfectly with the film. Also, he has a way of making the quieter scenes both intimate and strangely detached at the same time. As viewers, we feel as though were merely observing the characters and we don't necessarily feel entirely absorbed in their world, but, partly because of the talented cast, we come to care about what happens to Benjamin and Daisy.
The film concentrates heavily on themes of mortality and living every moment of life to its fullest. While it occasionally comes on a bit too strong, it is really a moving message and it is delivered powerfully, making viewers start to reflect on their own life and achievements. It teaches us to cherish every moment, every opportunity and person that comes by because we never know when they might be gone. "Life is a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." And if Benjamin Button had anything to add to Forrest Gump's now iconic saying, it would be this: You should treasure every individual piece in that box, because before you know it, that box will be empty.