Director: David Fincher
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton
‘A Captivating Classic’
Not many actresses have managed to get a fan following as big as Cate Blanchett. Ever since her rise to recognition during the 1990’s, Blanchett has become an icon. Whether it’s lesbian lovers, political leaders or scandalous teachers, Blanchett has portrayed countless strong characters. Arguably, Blanchett’s best strength as an actress has been her undying commitment to her craft. She is one of those rare actresses that has always had a talent for stealing the show in supporting roles that have limited screen-time. Through her capability to portray strong characters that are compelling, Blanchett has created a legacy that’s lasting. Although she is best known for her iconic role in the Lord of the Rings movies, Blanchett has proven she can make great films in practically every genre. Throughout her career, Blanchett has made many memorable movies which are worth talking about.
I’m a huge fan of Blanchett and admire all the movies she has made in her career. However, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is my favourite. Released in 2008, David Fincher’s movie offered a beautiful portrait of men that age backwards in time. Packed with stunning production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best period dramas ever made. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance by Cate Blanchett, who embodies a woman that falls in love with an aging man facing tension. Ultimately, what makes “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” a masterpiece is its message. The film delivers a profound message about aging which would resonate with everyone. A riveting masterpiece about aging, there are several strong reasons why “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is worth seeing.
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” tells a fantastical story of an aging man that endures tension. Brad Pitt portrays Benjamin Button, an eccentric man that’s born with a unique talent of aging backwards. Raised as en elderly man, Benjamin ages in reverse. Benjamin grows up a lonely orphan without any companions that he can turn to for affection. However, Benjamin’s life changes when he falls in love with a friend in his childhood causing disaster. Daisy Fuller (Cate Blanchett) is a sweet girl with dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. Daisy immediately takes a liking to Benjamin, whom she grows up to fancy. As Benjamin ages in reverse, he finds his worldview begins to change. Faced with an aging issue that is frightening, Benjamin soon begins questioning whether his dreams in life are worth achieving.
David Fincher has always been fascinated with the theme of time. A terrific filmmaker, Fincher has often made engaging movies about time and its impact on people. His iconic film “The Social Network” offered a powerful portrait of the creation of Facebook over time. With “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, however, Fincher made his first romantic drama. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture lives of men aging backwards over time which endure adversity, but he succeeded immensely. Using captivating cinematography, Fincher captures an aging man embarking upon a dark journey to discover his true identity. Emulating Robert Zemeckis’ “Forrest Gump”, Fincher uses point of view shots to capture the hardships which aging men are enduring. For instance, the POV shots enhance the church congregation scene. During this unforgettable scene, Benjamin is given a chance to showcase his aging abilities to his church congregation. Through point of view shots, Fincher creates a portrait of aging that’s compelling. POV shots are tricky to use in movies. As Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring” did suggest clearly, POV shots enhance fantasy films. Thar being said, it works immensely. Using stunning visuals, Fincher captures the hardships which come with aging.
Another strong aspect of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” that merits appreciations is the production. From a technical perspective, the film is extremely well made. Fincher deftly uses stunning makeup to capture the hardship aging men are enduring. For instance, makeup elevates the reunion scene. During this moving scene, Benjamin reunites with Daisy in a strong meeting following several years of separations. Through captivating makeup, Fincher crafts a strong portrait of aging men that’s compelling. Furthermore, the musical score is exceptional. Alexandre Desplat’s commemorated music is key towards success of the movie. It gives the movie an intense atmosphere capturing painful burden that men aging backwards often bear. Through powerful production, Fincher captures aging men facing tension.
Storytelling is one of the central reasons why “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is a movie about aging that’s compelling. The film is beautifully written, and effectively employs non-linear storytelling to capture the hardship aging men are often facing. The film effectively switched back and forth between two distinct timelines: flashbacks of Benjamin’s conflicted childhood as an elderly man and the present-day scenes of his life as a youthful adolescent. For instance, non-linear storytelling enhances the opening scene. During this haunting scene, Benjamin recalls memories of his childhood as an aging man facing tension. Using compelling non-linear storytelling, Fincher crafts a portrait of aging that’s stunning. Non-linear storytelling is a tricky technique to use in films. As Martin Scorsese’s “The Aviator” illustrated, non-linear storytelling enhances commemorated biopic about renowned aviators. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through a bold screenplay, Fincher captures the lives of curious aging men facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Cate Blanchett delivers one of her best career performances as Daisy. Blanchett first earned appreciation for playing famous actresses in biopics. With “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, however, she took on her most tricky role. It isn’t easy to portray a woman that falls in love with an aging man but she succeeded tremendously. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most serious role. Blanchett has often thrived at playing emotional women under stress, and “The Aviator” demonstrated his strength as an actress. With breathtaking expressions, she captures the angst, grief and resentment of a woman that falls in love with an aging man. It’s a powerful performance by one of the most commemorated actresses in Hollywood today.
Brad Pitt is brilliant as a man born with ability to age backwards. Pitt has often excelled at playing cool characters with a sense of style. With “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, however, he took on his most complex role. As Benjamin Button, Pitt effectively uses his body language to create a portrait of aging that is compelling. Whether he’s thrilled reuniting with Daisy following years of separation or facing barriers that are frightening, Pitt uses his body language to create a strong portrait of aging. It’s a fantastic performance by one of the best actors today.
Finally, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” would achieve the appreciation of everyone for capturing aging men that face tension. Unlike most coming of age films, the movie discusses strong themes which everyone would relate to. It discusses relatable themes including aging, mental health and trauma that would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be fans of David Fincher to appreciate it. It delivers a heartfelt message about aging that resonates with everyone. Therefore, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is one of those rare films everyone would adore.
Fans of Cate Blanchett would absolutely enjoy “The Curious of Benjamin Button” and so will audiences seeking thoughtful entertainment. A riveting masterpiece about aging, it honours an actress that’s inspiring.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking film about the obstacles that men aging backwards are experiencing, it’s a riveting reminder about a commemorated actress that has built a lasting legacy through her abilities to portray characters that are compelling in unforgettable movies which are absolutely worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 