The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a ‘fairytale’ movie – similar to Big Fish, where a dose of fantasy is mixed with reality. I enjoyed both films immensely, and both managed to touch my heart. The movie, based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, traces the life of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) who was born under unusual circumstances as an old man and then moved younger with time, and how his relationship with a girl named Daisy (Cate Blanchett) developed along the way.

The movie was loose in the middle, and could’ve been edited better to make it a more compelling (and much shorter) movie. However, I enjoyed the European feel to this American movie – the softer tones adapted throughout the movie, as well as the ‘Amelie’-esque scenes along the way. I enjoyed the photography as well – beautifully done indeed. Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Brad Pitt were all great, including the actress who played Queenie (Taraji P. Henson). The music, provided by Alexandre Desplat, also helped to bring the emotions forward – lush, but not weepy. I’m a fan of Monsieur Desplat’s music after his composition for The Painted Veil.

It’s rare that a movie touches me deeply thesedays, however The Curious Case of Benjamin Button managed to do just that. I’m not too proud to admit that I shed some tears – just thinking about life, my brother, death, relationships, and destiny.

There’s one memorable quote – among others – in the movie:

For what it’s worth, it’s never too late, or in my case too early, to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit … start whenever you want … you can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that stop you. I hope you feel things that you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life that you’re proud of and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.

That’s one of the scenes in the movie that made me shed my tears. How true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFtTEALMV30