The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Director: David Fincher

Cast: Cate Blanchett as Daisy, Julia Ormond as Caroline, Faune A. Chambers as Dorothy Baker (as Faune Chambers), Elias Koteas as Monsieur Gateau, Donna DuPlantier as Blanche Devereux, Jacob Tolano as Martin Gateau (as Jacob Wood), Earl Maddox as Man at Train Station, Ed Metzger as Teddy Roosevelt, Jason Flemyng as Thomas Button, Danny Vinson as Priest Giving Last Rites, David Jensen as Doctor at Benjamin's Birth, Joeanna Sayler as Caroline Button, Taraji P. Henson as Queenie, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali as Tizzy, Fiona Hale as Mrs. Hollister

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a near epic film in almost the
same way Forrest Gump was. I am not particularly a fan of David Fincher
and his work. Yet I strongly admired The Curious Case of Benjamin
Button. This film is about a man named Benjamin Button who leads much
of an ordinary life under not so ordinary circumstances. The one thing
that separates him from any other human being is that he ages
backwards. Despite such large differences between the audience and
Benjamin Button, the film finds a way to connect with a large variety
of people in a way that does not seem to happen so often.

The acting was very good throughout the movie. Especially that of Cate
Blanchett who seems to be turning out one great performance after
another. She plays the role of Daisy, Benjamin Button's real love
interest from start to finish. In fact she played so well it might have
been a partial downfall to the movie. Her performance out shined that
of the main character, played by Brad Pitt. Although Pitt was very
solid in his performance I do not believe he deserved an Oscar
nomination (rather Blanchett deserved one) for his role of playing
Benjamin Button. He was not a necessity to the movie and did not add
much to it. He was not bad but he wasn't spectacular. Throughout though
many of the different actors and actresses lit up the screen.
Especially Tilda Swinton who was wonderful to watch as Button's short
lived love interest. Her presence was magical and a joy to watch. I
would have loved to see just a little bit more of her character.

The directing of David Fincher in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
was of what I believe to be his best work to date. The screenplay of
Eric Roth was written very well as he has had experience with these
type of movies. In many scenes the dialog and great direction combined
for some epic scenes.

Ultimately I enjoyed this movie very much but something felt missing
from the movie. Something seemed left unsaid that was vital. I felt
that the great downfall to this movie was that Brad Pitt didn't give an
amazing performance and did not take control of the movie rather
Blanchett stole the show from him which made Button seem less important
to me. Despite that though it this film was done very well and I would
recommend it to all. Its an important story that makes us self reflect
and think deeply. It displays how we need to live with our mistakes
because they are part of our life. We need to appreciate what we have
rather than wonder "what if...?".