The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

It has often been said that life ought to go in the opposite direction. That we ought to get old age out of the way first and experience our golden retirement years as youthful and spry, able to truly appreciate them. "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" shows us what living in reverse might really be like. It's an examination of all that life has to offer from beginning to end regardless of the direction we're headed.
Daisy (Cate Blanchett) is dying in a hospital bed while a hurricane approaches New Orleans. Her daughter Caroline (Julia Ormond) is there to say goodbye and to read to her mother from the diary of a man named Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt). Benjamin tells us the story of his life, which began on November 11, 1918. He came into the world the very day the first World War came to an end. His father Thomas (Jason Flemyng, "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels") is horrified. His wife died giving birth to their son, a baby who appears to be in his eighties. Unable to come to terms with this, he leaves the child on a staircase where he is discovered by Queenie (Taraji P. Henson), a care taker in a New Orleans retirement home. Convinced by doctors little Benjamin will not be long for the world, she raises him and loves him all the same. Much to everyone's surprise, not only does the boy live, he begins to appear younger and younger.
Just as it begins to become apparent that Benjamin may live a long life after all, he meets seven year old Daisy (Elle Fanning). It is at this point that Benjamin's adventure truly begins. We experience the ups and downs of his life, through several decades. Years go by without seeing Daisy, though he sends her a postcard from everywhere he goes. By the time he finally sees her again she (now played by Blanchett) is a world class ballerina.
Based on a short story from the 1920s by F. Scott Fitzgerald ("The Great Gatsby"), "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" has a screenplay by Eric Roth ("Forrest Gump," "Munich") and is directed by David Fincher ("Se7en," "Fight Club," and "Zodiac"). The original story provides only the basic framework for Roth's amazing screenplay. What he and Fincher have created is a film that is epic yet thoughtful. It is a film about life, death, love, and everything in between. Mainly though it is about how time effects everything. Each of us knows his or her days are numbered. What is unique about Benjamin is that he can really count them. This is the trade off for aging into youth.
The film's deliberate pacing and quiet tone emphasize one of its central points, which is that life is to be savored and enjoyed in order for it to be truly lived. Benjamin is a man who watches sunsets, who continues to look at the world with wonder regardless of his age. Pitt's performance is outstanding. This is an incredibly challenging role but he makes it look easy. Not to be outdone is Blanchett, showing once again that she is one of the finest actresses in the world today. As we see Benjamin getting younger, we witness Daisy aging. There are several quiet moments in which Blanchett shows us the progression with simple facial expressions. This is a well cast film from top to bottom, with Henson and Tilda Swinton being particularly of note.
Every element of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" comes together beautifully. From the production design to the cinematography to Alexandre Desplat's beautiful musical score, this movie shines. It also boasts some of the best visual effects I have seen in a very long time. We don't think about them as being effects until after the movie is over. As we see them we simply accept them. It's a lesson for all filmmakers about the proper use of CGI.
As film's weakest year in recent memory nears an end, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" reminds us that great movies can come from anywhere, anytime. David Fincher, your long overdue Oscar nomination is coming. 10/10.