The curious case of Benjamin Button

The curious case of Benjamin Button



As you may or may not know, one of my favourite films is Fight Club. Another film I rate quite highly is Seven. So, it was a bit of a no-brainer when I found out that Director David Fincher and Hollywood mega-star Brad Pitt were teaming up once more to make this film.

From the outside, Benjamin button doesn't look much like a David Fincher film. The man who brought us aliens bursting out of dog's chests, Gwyneth Paltrow's head in a box and men who pick fights with themselves doesn't seem the right fit for a sprawling fantasy story.

The titular character Benjamin (Pitt) is born with the physicality of an old man, but the mind of a child. Through the film his body grows younger, but his mind ages as normal. We see the world through his unique perspective as he tries to live with his affliction and seeks out adventure.

Abandoned by his father on the steps of an old folk's home, he's raised by a young black woman, Queenie, and her suitor. Growing up among the old people he watches them die as he, himself, grows ever more youthful. When he reaches the mental age of seventeen, He joins a tug-boat crew and leaves his adoptive home for a new life at sea.

At the centre of the story is a twisted love story. Benjamin falls in love with ten-year old Daisy, when he's physically an old man (It's handled well, but still quite creepy). Throughout the film, the two lovers always find their way back to each other for brief spells before separating again. As Daisy grows up to be Cate Blanchett and Benjamin grows younger to be Brad Pitt, the two meet in the middle, shag, and she gets pregnant.

The story is intercut with a dying Daisy telling her daughter all about Benjamin and reading his diary. This becomes rather grating after a while because the modern day footage interrupts the gloomy hues of the diary story. Plus, there's no sympathy for the daughter as her character isn't allowed space to develop.

The whole love story doesn't really work either. It seems to take unexpected twists just for the sake of it. Benjamin refuses to have sex with Daisy so she goes off in a huff. Daisy has a new boyfriend, so it's Benjamin's turn to be huffy. By the time they do get together properly, you're left wondering why it took so long and if you really actually care.

The other movies that this most resembles are Big Fish and Forrest Gump, inasmuch as they tell the story of a man's life from beginning to inevitable end. The reason why it's two forebears are so much better than Benjamin Button, is that they're larger than life events happening to unwitting characters. Benjamin Button is a larger than life character who leads an almost ordinary life. Great entertainment it does not make. The two and a half hour running time feels like four hours because it takes so long for the meandering script to arrive at its destination. For a condensed example, watch how long it takes to get the message home about fate by telling us about Daisy's car accident.

On the upside though, Brad Pitt is excellent portraying a man with the mind of a child. His shy little old man will have audiences awww-ing from the very start.
Another positive to come from this, is how far CGI has come. Not only do they make Brad Pitt look like an old man at the beginning, but they turn him into a twenty year old later on too.

It seems that Pitt can live up to any task he's presented with, whereas, Fincher should stick to what he knows.

Verdict 5/10
Not nearly entertaining enough to justify the running length.