Curiously compelling cinema

Rating: 10/10 (3 January 2009)

I did not intend to watch this flick, at least on the big screen. Why? The premise seemed a bit absurd.
Well, I had family over for the holiday and they all wanted to go see it. So, off we went.
I have to hand it to Brad Pitt. He excelled. Cate Blanchett did, too (as always expected). There are numerous other outstanding contributions, including the oddly compelling and mesmerizing Tilda Swinton.
To an unsurprisingly large extent, this is a Forrest Gumpish movie, but its abundantly poignant moments are different enough to stand on their own. One can't help but get a sense that Eric Roth tenderly loves the South. To his credit, he weaves this story without resorting to excessive glossing and exaggerated stereotype.
To enjoy this film to its fullest, the viewer must suspend disbelief. Doing so is easy once it gets moving. So, relax and pay close attention. Oh, and be sure to take a leak right before taking your seat as the whole shebang (trailers and all) will consume about 3 hours of your life.