PREMIER MOVIE REVIEWS - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Genre: Drama/Romance/Fantasy

Director: David Fincher

Certificate: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was rated 12A by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable for those of 12 years of age or upwards.  Persons under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Violence = moderate. Drugs = none. Sex/Nudity = moderate. Language = moderate.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

  Plot Summary & Review

A film I wasn't especially keen on seeing if I'm honest but on a whim decided to toddle along and was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed Davie Fincher's magical fantasy.  It's the simplistic, yet fantastical tale of Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) a man who once born, basically ages backwards.  It's a visual and emotional feast that draws you in from almost the very first minute, as Benjamin's tale is told by Caroline (Julia Ormond) the daughter of  Daisy (Cate Blanchett) who is the love of Benjamin's life, as she reads his diary whilst keeping vigil by her mother's deathbed.

Benjamin's life takes several twists and turns as his peculiar ageing process takes it's toll in one way or another.  However, it's his love for Daisy that is pivotal to the whole film, and somehow that one element justifies his very curious and often solitary existence.  It’s a film that speaks volumes about age and how we as a society deal with that eternally frustrating subject, and with some very sensitive and graceful direction from Fincher, coupled with some realistic and believable performances from both Pitt and Blanchett, this movie captivates on so many levels.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is by far the best thing Pitt has done for many a year, following on from his almost 'comedic' turn in Troy.  Both the visual effects and make-up are just amazing to look at, with Blanchett looking physically stunning for the most part.

You really need to watch this film with an open mind as it sets life out on a chopping board and dissects it into several pieces, leaving you both frustrated yet strangely satisfied at the same time.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
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At almost three hours it's not for the faint hearted, but I didn't feel it dragged too much as it's intrigue carries you along, helped in no small way by Pitt's hypnotic narration, and Alexandre Desplat's poetic and atmospheric score.  The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, its pace is gentle, with the odd flash of childlike humour, and you have to have imagination by the bucketful, but it's technical excellence, and moments of real beauty and tenderness will make the experience rewarding for some, but possibly not for the cynics among us.  In a word - Magical.

Reviewed by Mary Kate, Premier Movie Reviews 2009

Main Cast

Brad Pitt

Cate Blanchett

Julia Ormond

RATING

WORTH A WATCH

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