A tale for the ages

 

 

A film that has the word curious in its title is naturally expected to be intriguing. F Scott Fitzgerald’s devilishly simple yet profound short story about Benjamin Button, a man who ages backwards, finds a great adaptation (credit to screenwriter Eric Roth for updating the story to run from 1918 to present day as opposed to the original’s timeline of 1860-1920) in David Fincher’s film, but only technically. The intrigue in translating the story onto celluloid were the artistic and visual challenges it presented (the story spans eight decades and the lead character is supposed to look younger every passing frame!) and both are met brilliantly. The real stars of this tale are the technical and special effects team who make telling the story possible. Brad Pitt, albeit aided by CGI puts in a masterful performance while Cate Blanchett showcases grace and gumption with equanimity in a role that’s unconventional to say the least. But the pacing of the film and a lackluster ending ruin the build up, which takes too long anyway. While the breathtaking scenes sweep across the screen, the storytelling seems to lack flair. From the outset, the film sets a languid pace and it never bothers to change gears even as Benjamin’s life does. As Benjamin says, ‘Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.’ Well, here’s a missed opportunity; some great source material squandered into an ordinary story about an extraordinary Benjamin Button.