The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Fincher directs long films of late, but his pacing is impeccable, and for a nearly 3-hour long film, I found that the film moved at a very natural clip with Fincher's flawless direction, and I think the key is the interspersing of humor at just the right moments that don't feel cheaply deployed. I think I enjoyed the first third of the film more, but the span of Benjamin Button's life told through the memories of Daisy, his one true love, and his journal made for a interesting look at one's age and its impact on relationships, and wisdom that comes with living life, and being open to embrace change and differences.

While I also thought of Forrest Gump while watching this film, the superficial parallels don't undermine the differences in character growth exhibited in this film vs. Gump's lack of character growth (which becomes his strength).

I really enjoyed how Fincher uses special effects to enhance the storytelling, not just become the story, and he and his crew struck gold again with the various ways they aged/de-aged all the main characters, as well as all the details of the historical backdrop for all the scenes.

Both Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchette shared very good on-screen chemistry, and deliver performances that bolstered the story, keeping the audiences invested in the various beats of their lives, showcasing the starstruck couple throughout their relationship.

I found the core of the story to be sentimental, but the film never seems overly maudlin or overly sentimental, rather it quietly simmers with hopeful enthusiasm for what life brings, even when circumstances make for interesting developments in Benjamin and Daisy's life due to Benjamin's condition that has him growing younger as he ages. It's worth a visit to the theaters to see this film.

I give it 3.75 stars, or a grade of A-.