"Living and loving: Two themes that never grow old"

Rating: 7/10 (5 December 2009)

Taken off of Scott Fitzgerald's short story, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; writer Eric Roth and director David Finchner take this fantasy and bring it to life. Benjamin (Brad Pitt) is born with old age and lives a life growing younger as everyone grows old. Even in this unusual circumstance a love story unfolds. A central insight in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the complexity of life and love.
The movie is expressed as a narrative of the life of Benjamin Button consisting of many flashbacks that emphasize how complex life and love can be. From the beginning when Benjamin is found by Queenie (Taraji Henson), a black woman who runs a nursing home, is unable to have children and takes Benjamin in as her own. Queenie represents the importance of life and maternal love woman have for children.
Other flash backs conclude life is full of opportunities, some missed some recognized. The dancing motif helps recognize those moments. Benjamin meets a cute red headed young girl named Daisy (Cate Blanchett), who comes to the nursing home to see her grandmother. After Daisy demonstrates a dance move for her grandmother, she is introduced to Benjamin for the first time. It's obvious that Daisy is going to be the one he falls in love with.
The flashbacks and dancing motif continue from New York City to Paris and is a constant reminder that love can be found but is just as complex as life itself. Fincher makes you wait but the love scene does happen.
Finchner's flashbacks used throughout The Curious Case of Benjamin Button illustrates Benjamin aging in reverse and is just as effective as the flashback Lasse Holstrom in Cider House Rules used for the main character Homer (Toby Maguire) to express the complexity with the coming of age. Both films establish a pre-destined path with their main characters that is easily recognized but effectively accomplished.
"Living and loving: Two themes that never grow old"