This film is based on a story about a person born an old man, who gets "younger" as he gets older. When I saw the trailers I was not impressed, but I was baffled as to how, or even why someone would go about making this film. Before you see the film, it really is hard to imagine.
Story
As an old woman lies dying, and a storm is brewing, her daughter begins reading her a kind of diary written by the man who started his life looking like an elderly man on his deathbed. His story starts in the early twentieth century, when his mother died after giving birth, and his father could not bear to keep him so left him at a care home. The nurse there found him and thinking he would not live long, brought him in. Day by day he seemed rather than getting worse, to be getting better. The diary documents all his childhood memories and the key things that happened to shape his life as he "grows," the people he meets and his experience of watching others growing old and dying.
I could probably say more, but I won't. With this sort of film it may actually be better to only have a vague idea about what happens, although admittedly I was initially put off by the fact I simply couldn't see this film working. Well, I will say that it does work, and quite well too. The story makes a lot more sense when you see it for yourself, and although this really didn't sound like my kind of film when I saw the ads, I really did enjoy it.
It does almost seem tragic for someone to have to live this way, but thankfully the film is far from being all doom and gloom for Benjamin Button. In fact, I think that's part of the purpose of reading his diary, and
seeing things from his point of view. There is a fair bit of humour, and there are the "good times" from his first steps to his first job and first romantic encounter. To be honest, at times you almost forget about the age thing, then remember and think "wow, you really can make a life out of anything".
Characters/Acting
I was impressed with how well Brad Pitt played an elderly man, and even if the make-up wasn't perfect (it was very convincing) I still saw him as the character he was playing, rather than Pitt in a grey wig. I don't think his character was meant to be particularly emotional about his situation, because that would have been too much, and the surrounding characters instead reflect how his life changes and the way he sees things. As has always been my view of the few films I've actually seen Pitt in, I found his acting rather subdued even when something major happened. I don't want to be harsh and say it was bland, but there was a notable lack of any emotive of memorable lines from him.
Cate Blanchett was brilliant as Daisy, the girl he was probably in love with. Her character created an interesting contrast to Benjamin's situation, showing us how, I suppose the average person grows and develops, making Benjamin's experience of life seem all the more fascinating. Throughout the film her character developed well and she really captured this idea of an innocent and naive young girl with big dreams. Blanchett was much more passionate and fun than Pitt and I think this really helped to keep the film alive.
Between the two characters there does seem to be this emphasis on responsibility (or lack of) and this, I think, is linked in with age and how they both still grow together.I think the way the characters develop together is very well co-ordinated and effective, although really Daisy seemed the more passionate and exciting of the two. As I say, perhaps it would have been too dramatic if both had been this way.
Taraji P Henson, who plays Queenie, Benjamin's adoptive mother, brings in a lovable and heartwarming character, with some crazy traits of her own and very memorable lines. The connection between her character and Benjamin is strong, and seems to hold well through the duration of the film.
There are numerous other characters that have a presence at particular points along Benjamin's story, but I won't go into each and every one. They have their individual querks and significant parts that may be to do with lessons he learns or opportunities that come his way. These are better seen in the film, rather than me spoiling them here!
Film qualities
I often felt that everything was just a bit too dark to see all the detail what was really going on. But maybe this is just as well, because it keeps the appearance of Pitt vague and therefore hard to view over-critically and any imperfections less likely to spoil it. As such, to be honest he looked like a genuinely old man. I do think the make-up was good, and the transitions throughout the film were amazing, almost smooth and convincing (well, for a fantasy film). Just as Pitt youthened well, his friend from childhood aged, and she was much more visible, yet still convincing.
Admittedly I was watching this film on my friend's small widescreen from the far corner of the room and I have very poor eyesight, so this too may have affected my view of the film. However I did feel there was a strong contrast between bright and vivid scenes and more gloomy scenes, e.g. at sea, which was good but could get frustrating when you feel you might have missed something important.
Perhaps this is more because I only saw the film once and was preoccupied with specifically seeing how Benjamin Button would look at each stage of his un-aging process, but I really don't recall much about the soundtrack at all, other than being based on the time of the setting. Alternatively, perhaps it was just not that great.
Classification
I think the classification of 12 is spot on for this film. There is nothing in the film that is too explicitly rude, violent or offensive in any way that a reasonable 12 year old could not cope with. Probably kids a little younger would be alright with this film, but I doubt many would really like it anyway. Personally I would not have felt comfortable watching this as a child because I'm a deep thinker, but with a film like this most people over 12 are perfectly capable of deciding whether they really want to see it or not.
Conclusion
I think for me this film for me was one of those films that was worth watching just to see how it was done. I did really enjoy it in the end, even though it was not the sort of thing I would normally go for. In all honesty, I will not be going out of my way to see it again. I just feel that since I just wanted to know how it was done, now that I've seen it, I know and there is no need for me to go and see it again. For this reason I'm more likely to recommend you rent the DVD (I probably would have recommended seeing it in cinema had I seen it there and it was still out), or wait for it to come onto television. Recommended to see at least once.
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02.10.2009 16:53
Great review! Keep them coming!
08.07.2009 20:18
Can't decide if this is one to watch or not. Jo x
08.07.2009 03:01
very good review..