Last Monday I agreed to go to Glorietta to see ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ with Nicole and Renz.  I’ve seen the theatrical teaser for this movie a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve got to admit, my interest was piqued.

The premise of a man being born into this world in his seventies and growing younger, instead of older, was lifted from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story of the same title.  I’ve just finished reading said short story and basically I’ve found that aside from the concept, there were no other similarities between the two.

The treatment of the film, however, was meticulously done.  It was no doubt a feel-good-family type of movie; one, which I would’ve enjoyed watching during the holidays, had there been no foreign film ban during the Metro Manila Film Festival run.  

Brad Pitt’s Benjamin Button was very much reminiscent of his Joe Black: he had the same aura of naiveté around his old-man-Benjamin.  His facial expressions made old-man-Benjamin endearing, which was a feat, considering the sheer amount of make-up and prosthetics.  I actually found myself rooting for him when he took his first step.  Alas, I found myself rolling my eyes when the Brad Pitt version of Benjamin entered the screen.  There were just too many glory shots for my taste.

Cate Blanchett as Daisy was just divine.  She brought so much class to the character it was ridiculous.  I wonder if she used contact lenses though; surely her eyes aren’t that blue.  The acting was at par, of course, but it was a shame that she and Brad Pitt don’t have that much chemistry.  

The supporting cast was effective in their roles. 

Jason Flemyng as Thomas Button portrayed a father who was clearly tormented by his actions.  It made me go ‘aww’ inside when he offered to buy Benjamin a drink.  

Taraji P. Henson’s Queenie was just fantastic.  She brought so much spunk and humor into her lines that I was constantly giggling to myself whenever she was speaking.  She actually reminded me a bit of my mother, even though she doesn’t speak, sound or even look like her.  

Jarred Harris’ Captain Mike was a bit too stereotypical for me. I mean come on, an Irish Man who gets drunk every night and is a frequenter of brothels?  Isn’t this a bit insulting?  Also, I found his demise a bit too predictable.

Oh! And this movie is so awesome that Tilda Swinton even made an appearance.  Seriously, they could not have cast a better Elizabeth Abbott.  When she unflinchingly says ‘I tried to be the first woman to ever cross the English channel’ you’d totally believe her because you know in your heart Tilda Swinton has the balls to do it.  

I’ve heard comments that this movie is very reminiscent of Forrest Gump. Well that’s probably because the man who wrote the screenplay for that movie wrote the screenplay for this one as well.  Although you’ve got to hand it to Eric Roth for knowing how to tug at one’s heartstrings.

The director for this film is very much familiar with Brad Pitt’s acting method, which is a big part of the reason why this movie worked so well.  It came to me as a shock that the same David Fincher who directed Se7en and The Fight Club directed this.  Although in retrospect one can overlay the humor patterns of all movies and find very little difference, I think.

The lighting and the make up were great; I can’t, for the life of me, figure out how they made Brad Pitt’s skin so flawless during his supposed teen years.  I’m sure there were a ton of make up involved, but the lighting was so contrived that he actually looked like the Brad Pitt from Thelma and Louis. 

I’ve heard a lot of people telling me that the movie was too long.  Well two and a half hours are just sufficient for the telling of a man’s life story, don’t you think?  But then again maybe it was just all about the company you keep when watching movies like these; I was seated next to one of my best friends and we just could not stop squirming and making up inappropriate about the age differences between Daisy and Benjamin.

7.5/10, because it brought back the long-lost Brad Pitt fangirl in me.