The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
January 11th 2009 03:29
IN MY mind, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button lies somewhere between 1994’s Forrest Gump and 2003’s Big Fish.
Loosely based on a 1921 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it stars Brad Pitt as the title character, who’s born geriatric in 1918 and gets younger as time goes by. His father, a button maker whose surname is Button, abandons him on the steps of a nursing home and he’s brought up – or should that be ‘down’? – by an old-age carer named Queenie (Taraji P. Henson).
While still at the nursing home, Benjamin meets a young girl named Daisy and the pair form an immediate bond. Much of the film subsequently revolves around the complex relationship between the two as they try to find a middle ground while ageing in different directions.
It’s a well-directed movie (hats off to David Fincher) and the performances are solid throughout. Cate Blanchett does a particularly good job as Daisy. You could be forgiven for thinking it’s her who’s getting younger as she looks incredible!
That said, I don’t think The Curious Case… really lives up to the hype that’s surrounded it since its release. I think it suffers from being overloaded by symbolism in some respects, although I do agree with one of the sentiments: “Ya never know what’s comin’ for ya...”
Loosely based on a 1921 short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, it stars Brad Pitt as the title character, who’s born geriatric in 1918 and gets younger as time goes by. His father, a button maker whose surname is Button, abandons him on the steps of a nursing home and he’s brought up – or should that be ‘down’? – by an old-age carer named Queenie (Taraji P. Henson).
While still at the nursing home, Benjamin meets a young girl named Daisy and the pair form an immediate bond. Much of the film subsequently revolves around the complex relationship between the two as they try to find a middle ground while ageing in different directions.
It’s a well-directed movie (hats off to David Fincher) and the performances are solid throughout. Cate Blanchett does a particularly good job as Daisy. You could be forgiven for thinking it’s her who’s getting younger as she looks incredible!
That said, I don’t think The Curious Case… really lives up to the hype that’s surrounded it since its release. I think it suffers from being overloaded by symbolism in some respects, although I do agree with one of the sentiments: “Ya never know what’s comin’ for ya...”
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