The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

This movie is like an artistic “Forrest Gump”. Once I learned that the same screenwriter, Eric Roth, wrote both films, I have not been able to fully separate the two films in my mind. Sometimes the relation of one movie to another is an assist but not in this instance. Some of the best cinematic work of 2008 can be seen in this film but the focus of the film was not as solid as it could have been. The story is fine but it seems to insist upon itself as a Hollywood masterpiece. As well made as it is, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is not as wonderful as other big screen wonders even though it wants to be. The movie is one that people should see but it is not worth owning.

First of all, the film contains symbolism that seems too obvious. A movie must feel unpredictable as the director leads his audience through its story. “Benjamin Button” has a lot of representation such as the train station clock and hummingbird that may work on paper but in the finished film, it felt forced upon the audience. One question I have concerning the symbolism is why the hummingbird shows up at the end. It works the first time but not the second. Another piece of criticism I have is that Eric Roth’s screenplay too closely resembles his Oscar winning script for “Forrest Gump”. The story similarities include the use of a framing device; in the case of “Benjamin Button” (the “curious” case if you will) it is Daisy and her daughter in the hospital. Other parallels include the narration, the fact that the films’ stories take us through the decades and the use of childhood storybooks in both movies. Also, the spring of 1962 scene mirrors the scene in “Forest Gump” when Forrest in mowing the lawn and Jenny suddenly is there. Benjamin, just like Forrest, encounters a variety of people throughout his life: the everyman meeting those who are unique. “Forrest Gump” however has fewer supporting characters come into Forrest’s life and because of that, you care more about them and they add more to the story. Too many cooks spoil the broth and that is what happens in a measure to “Benjamin Button”. Another reason why I feel “Forrest Gump” works so much better is that Forrest’s personality is so much more unique and special than Benjamin’s. At the same time, Forrest is still an everyman. Also, those working on “Forrest Gump” made it better such as Tom Hanks, Alan Silvestri and Robert Zemeckis. “Forrest Gump” almost made you believe that it was based on a true story while “Benjamin Button” is obviously fantasy. Eric Roth may have been trying to outdo himself as opposed to creating something more original. Finally, the symbolism and messages in “Benjamin Button” are harder to grasp than in “Forrest Gump”, even though the ones in “Benjamin Button” are written in a way that seems simple. The final montage of images for example seems to contain a clear message but when you try to understand it, it isn't that easy.

Other elements of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” are well constructed. This film deserved all the Oscars it won such as for the special effects and makeup. Old Benjamin’s face looks very real. Instead of motion capture, another kind of camera technology “copied” Brad Pitt’s facial acting to great effect. I love the design of Benjamin’s face during the start of the movie. You can tell that is based on Brad Pitt. I won’t be surprised if that is how Brad Pitt is going to look like in 25 years. The makeup also appeared absolutely real. The design of the film is also quite impressive. I love the changes that happen to the old folks home throughout the decades. Speaking of that, the depiction of different decades is very well done in that we see a glorified version of each. When it’s the sixties for example, you can really feel it and it is the same for every decade. I also like the design of the White Palace because it is like unto a palace or mansion and the hotel angle makes it even more romantic. The sound in the bar scene with Captain Mike (when he takes about being an artist) is typical of a Fincher film. It is a realistic approach because we can barely hear the main characters talking. Usually, a movie will lower the volume of background noise but Fincher wants those kinds of scenes to be such that you feel like you are in the bar trying to hear Mike and Benjamin. The best scene in the whole movie by far has to do with its editing and the way it was written. Benjamin travels to Paris and by way of a series of flashback images, we come to understand not only why he is there but we also see an amazing illustration of the chaos theory. I love how that whole sequence starts with the line “Sometimes we’re on a collision course and we just don’t know it.” I also love the music that leads up to the climax of that scene, which contains the line “Daisy and her friend would have crossed the street and the taxi would have driven by.” The editing and writing of that scene is fabulous. Story-wise, there are many other good aspects in “Benjamin Button”. Interesting how not only is Hurricane Katrina part of the film’s story but the film itself was set in New Orleans because of Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana’s production incentives in the wake of the Hurricane caused the filmmakers to choose that city as the central location of the entire film’s story. I like how in the Thanksgiving scene of 1930, Benjamin’s dad comes to see his son. It shows that he is at least trying to keep his promise to his wife. The date Benjamin has with Daisy after war is much different from the nights he had with Elizabeth in Russia. Daisy is talking way too much for Benjamin’s taste. I enjoy how Captain Mike’s last words help Benjamin deal with what his father did. I also like how we have mirroring scenes in New Orleans and New York between Benjamin and Daisy. In New Orleans, Daisy is the one who is smitten with Benjamin. In New York, it is the other way around. Neither time appears to be right for their love to work. I also like how in New York, Brad Pitt is aged just slightly from his real life age. Again, the makeup and design people didn’t cut any corners. Towards the end of the whole film, I am glad there is closure of Elizabeth. Also, I wonder how they made Brad Pitt young in that scene when Benjamin comes to the dance studio unannounced. I am kind of tired of movies always pretending that World War II started the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. As terrible as that tragedy was, it happened after Britain went to war with Germany. Also before Dec. 7, 1941, Germany invaded Russia. The War in Europe that started in 1939 was a massive conflict that indirectly caused the Japanese to attack the US. WWII began in 1939 and seeing as how Captain Mike & his crew are in Russia, you would think that the tugboat crew would have already been dealing with the war in Europe. The first mention of World War II should have at least been when Germany invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941. The cast members of the film did well. There was chemistry between Brad Pitt & Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson deserved her Oscar nomination. I also liked seeing Elias Koteas because he was cool in the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” franchise.

As the Oscars approached, I could tell that “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” was one of those movies that deserved all its nominations but not good enough to win all of them. Films that have double-digit Academy Award nominations (13 in this case) but are not found on the list of the top ten grossing films of the year usually do not win big on Oscar night. Mostly because of a “Slumdog Millionaire”, “Benjamin Button” won only three Oscars. This film has passed through many known hands up until it was made such as Frank Oz, Martin Short, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, John Travolta and Spike Jonze. The final outcome is good but not amazing like “Forrest Gump” is. The focus of “Benjamin Button” seems to be the design & look of the movie and not the story. The film also has a problem with self-importance. Director David Fincher did better with “The Social Network” I feel. On a positive note, this movie should be viewed at least once by fans of Hollywood.

3.5 Stars