The Curious Case of Benjamin Button | Jacquie Kubin reviews, In Theaters, Movie, Romance | DONNE TEMPO
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Fitzgerald’s Benjamin Button was born on just any day in 1860, while screenwriter Eric Roth time warps forward to the final day of World War I, a historically auspicious day to be born.
Both writers present the concept, and challenge, of being born old and learning to accept – not fear, life. That as wisdom is gathered, and life experienced, one really, truly lives.
In fact, one can just imagine F. Scott and Zelda, in a parlor filled with the days pontificators of wit and wisdom questioning just how life would be different, had we only known then, what we know now. What If we could experience life with wisdom earned at an age where we could take advantage of that knowledge.
How would we live? How would we love?
It is a question for the ages. The answer lies within an unattainable quest.
Screenwriter Eric Roth has taken the concept of “born old,” walking his characters Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) and Daisy (Cate Blanchett) through a life lived backwards, and treated it with deft care. He does not ignore details or everyday requirements, such as money. Instead he weaves the everyday mundane into the story, answering questions a less deft writer would have left unsettled.
At no time did the film reach for the obvious nor try to veil this character’s life in trite, apologetic terms. Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) accepts his life, seemingly understanding the significance of his reverse path juxtaposed against all those that he loves, allowing us to do the same.
The audience is able to allow that with his golden age beginnings also comes the peace that comes with accepting ones mortality. Benjamin Button was born ready to die. And able to live.
As we watch Benjamin Button reverse –age we witness as Daisy (Cate Blanchett) ages to physically meet him. In one scene, at the ballet bar, Benjamin states he is 49 and she is 43. For a brief moment they have landed together upon a timeline destined to tear them apart. If one thinks, and does the math, when Benjamin's physical age reaches 46, he and Daisy will be working toward that one brief day in their lives that their paths run parallel..
And then, from that point, Benjamin will continue to travel his path, as Daisy does hers. A bit of cinematic brilliance held in a brief moment of film.
Both Pitt and Blanchett handle their roles with amazing grace and insight coming together for one of the silver screen’s greatest love affairs. We watch a sharing of life that is nothing short of magical. Mesmerizing in it acceptance of the here and now of their worlds. Blanchett is simply gorgeous invoking the glamour of the 1940's era screen star with the optimism and verve of a 1960s performance artist.
Benjamin and Daisy share times that are filled with bursts of great joy and great sorrow. Leaving those watching wanting to live, for just one day, as they lived. With great undefined acceptance and grace.
Through wars, love, loss, joy, growth, birth and death, Benjamin Buttons travels a path diverse from all others. The wisdom of his “adopted” spiritually devout and faith driven mother Queenie (Faune A. Chambers) teaches him to accept his life with grace.
And that makes us able to accept Benjamin’s life and the choices he makes.
Choices that are seldom made for his benefit.
The cast is a true ensemble of actors that work together while Fincher allows each to step forward to center screen, illuminating how the people we meet, the actions they take, the chance circumstance of life can change who we are, how we live and how we love.
The film is beautifully shot by cinematographer Victor Hammer who manages to capture New Orleans as it ages over a period of time that spans just short of a century. We watch Benjamin’s transformation from an old man born in a time of great tumult to a life that expires as Hurricane Katrina does her best to pummel the town he called home.
Director Fincher manages to keep the pace of the film moving so that even at over three hours in length the post-Christmas audience was absolutely silent as they absorbed this incredible film.
— Jacquie Kubin
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures
Five Donne mandalas out of five
Web site: http://www.benjaminbutton.com/