Movie Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

My expectations: HIGH.

Story: For the most part, excellent. Despite the fact that Benjamin Button is a three-hour movie, one barely notices the length. In fact, the story almost couldn't be told in a shorter time. Benjamin meets so many people, goes through so many adventures, that even a three-hour film only covers the bare bones of many of these. Unfortunately, this means that many characters are only developed in certain facets. Benjamin is the only one we get to know truly, and even then, we feel like there are pieces missing. Daisy, played wonderfully by Cate Blanchett, is only a cursory mention every now and then until the last hour of the film, unless one realizes that she is also dying in a hospital bed in modern times. But Benjamin experiences so many things - the open ocean, foreign countries, war, all manners of people - that one finds oneself wondering what happens next, rather than focusing on what is happening at the time.

Content: Dark and sad, for the most part. Interspersed are moments of humor, but one cannot shrug off the feeling of inevitable hopelessness that Benjamin goes through as he gradually realizes that he will not be able to become attached to anyone he meets. Expect to come out of this film feeling seriously depressed. But you should, because that means the message got through.

Acting: Cate Blanchett, once again, deserves an award for her performance. Somehow she is able to disappear within Daisy, and delivers a stunning performance over the course of 70 years of her character's life. Brad Pitt is not his best, but he is as good as ever, and adds to his repitoire of emotions and expressions. Benjamin is a very difficult character to play, and Pitt captures him very well.

Cinematography: Decent, somewhat overdone at points, but good enough. A relatively simple movie to create, but certain scenes are done well. The ocean scenes, especially, are beautiful, as is the general New Orleans area.

Story: A-
Acting: A+
Will you cry? Very likely.
Overall: A

Go see it. That's all I can really say. I think it's worth it to see on the big screen, because once you see it once, you don't really need to see it again. It is the desire to know what happens to Benjamin that keeps you riveted, and once you know the movie, it would be tough to watch it again. I know I won't watch it for a while. But it is worth all your money the first time through.