At first I wasn't very eager to view this film, because of lukewarm reviews from my friends. Some people complained that it was too long, others it wasn't long enough. Some friends told me it was Forest Gump all over again while others said that it was a generic story that doesn't really explain Benjamin's bizarre case of aging backwards. With all this in mind I ventured to a screening with no expectations what so ever. Now I must be pre-menopausal or just plain crazy but for the duration of the films (which is 166 minutes, hardly long at all) I kept pocketing tissues and crying my eyes out. It felt awkward but then I began to think about how great a film it was.
In my opinion (and others have different opinions) a great film is one with beautiful cinematography and follows an interesting case or story, underlining an interesting theme, great acting, moving music and realistic/un-cliche'd lines. I'm going to make the bold statement now....The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is my favorite movie of all time. I know! People are probably rolling their eyes and shaking their heads but I can give you numerous reasons I fell in love with this cinematic masterpiece.
Something about the scenery of this film and numerous places it takes you drew me in. Each and every place featured offered a different portion of Benjamin's life as he learned something from various people in life. My biggest fear in life is dying because since I was raised Lutheran and became openly gay, I started to question both what I was taught and what people speculate as "eternity." I sympathize those who are lying on their death bed or face death head on, because no one actually knows what happens and being alone during one of the most vulnerable moments in your life is the scariest thing. If I had to pick a major theme for the film, it would be "letting go, in the end." Both Brad and Cate Blanchett's characters say it numerous times and the film follows life and death so closely as we watch Cate age, and Brad get younger. It was one of the saddest and most beautiful things experienced on screen.
Another factor I enjoyed was the torn romance between Cate and Brad with age between the two of them. While Brad grew up surrounded by old people who kept passing away, but sharing a part of them with him, Cate lived her life with Benjamin in and out until she was faced with a dying Benjamin Baby. It all sound pretty ridiculous, but the story was incredibly complex and well written. Something about the era they both lived through always fascinates me and I find different time periods so much more romantic then the present.
With the different periods came the brilliant score and popular music that seemed to just flutter throughout the film and its scenes and strike some sort of emotional cord. I could have listened to the soundtrack alone and start to bawl my eyes out but luckily they didn't over do it with a sad symphony.
Now I will admit that a cliched aspect was the daughter reading a journal to her dying mother, but since I was so interested in the actual story and out come of things I completely ignored it and thought of her like the old man from Princess Bride, a simple catalyst.
Other than that, the acting was effortless and nothing seemed forced. Brad did a phenomenal job with the material he was given because most of the time he would simply sit back and observe. Maybe that's another reason it hit so personally, because I'm the type of person who learns and loves experiences. I could write and dream all day about things that happened in the past, but I never actually look forward to the future. Maybe that's some sort of curse writers are born with, but the cast did a great job. I've never really thought twice about Cate Blanchett until this film. Every time she was on screen she simply glowed and exuded a youthful persona, even when she was older.
Verdict: I could keep talking about many things I enjoyed and I'm sure most people will disagree with some of my statements, but this was an amazing and life altering film (for me.) I have a hard time showing my emotions, especially to others but this movie literally moved me enough to cry through 3/4 of it. It deals heavily with "letting go" and the bitter outcome of life vs. death but afterwords you really learn something and look at your own life. I'm happy for all the things I have, especially love.
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