Reviewed August 25, 2021
Certainly one of the stranger films I’ve ever seen, this is the story about a man who is born old and ages backwards as time progresses. It’s first and foremost a love story, and a fantastically odd one at that, but the best comparison I would have is a 100% serious Forrest Gump film, without the fame and about half as many shoehorned events. Discussion below.
The Bad:
- The opening third of the movie is slow, even by the standards of the rest of the film. I actually was starting to lose interest a bit before the tugboat sequences started up. It all plays into the story and threads that go through it, but it definitely dragged.
- A few forced plot moments for extra drama with the will they, won’t they relationship that were a bit ridiculous, but it wasn’t too egregious
- I know it’s sort of meant to be, but the early parts of the film with a young Daisy playing with old Benjamin were creepy and while it aids the story, I didn’t like it. Not a true bad, just a “ugh this was so creepy and awkward”
The Good
- I don’t think I disliked a single acting performance in this film, and with as many characters as there are that’s impressive. Some high quality names in this one. Brad Pitt deserved every bit of his Oscar nomination, Cate Blanchett was marvelous, Taraji P Henson was so wholesome as Button’s adoptive mother, Mahershala Ali gave samples of his acting talent that has catapulted him into stardom, Tilda Swinton was inspiring as Elizabeth, Jared Harris as the boisterous Captain Mike shows the same energy he later brings to Moriarty, a very young Elle Fanning (bet you’ve heard of that name by now) was a great young Daisy, and many others did wonderful jobs.
- So I have a soft spot for the actor Jason Flemyng, who played Buttons’ father. He’s the most memorable mercenary in my favorite movie of all time, plays a dang good Jekyll/Hyde in an otherwise rough League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and generally pops up in small roles here and there. I thought his performance of a panicked father who realizes his son is still alive and tries to reconcile with him was possibly his best work I’ve seen.
- The early explanation tying Button’s life to the backwards clock was an interesting concept
- The setting of Benjamin growing up in a retirement home actually is a brilliant choice, because it allows him to feel normal and yet learn lots of wisdom as he grows up, and gives him a unique perspective on life that is one of the key themes of the film: learning to let go.
- The storytelling in this film is brilliant, and while it rambles, it never feels over-indulgent or excessive. It just…flows. Obviously I can joke about it being similar to Forrest Gump, and it is, but it’s a far more serious take on life.
- On a related note, the music is quite good and adds to many scenes.
- The story behind Benjamin’s first kiss, and how a simple kindness for someone far from home can lead to things (not condoning the adultery mind you)
- Will say they definitely earned the three Oscars for this film: Art Direction, Makeup, and Visual Effects. The aging is a bit wonky at some points, but it was also 2008, and mostly it holds up well.
- The dude that got hit by lightning seven times actually gets a scene for all seven as he’s rambling throughout the film. Nice touch.
- The battle with the submarine and the idea of taking out a U-Boat with a tugboat is so ridiculous but it works.
- You always wonder about the choices you did and didn’t make, and this movie spells that out as another one of its themes with a number of characters.
- The entire butterfly effect sequence was quite different tonally from the rest of the film but was exceptionally well directed.
- And on that note, David Fincher had another smashing success with this film. I honestly have never seen a Fincher movie that I thought was bad (yes, even Alien 3 which was mostly not his fault, that it is even watchable is a testament to his skills).
- Swimming the English channel
- The rough decision to abandon Daisy and their daughter because his age was getting younger and younger. Made sense, and the closure of it as he turned into a baby was heart-breaking.
- Princess Bride style narration breaks, and the realizations of Caroline that she was actually Benjamin’s daughter all along really added to it IMO. The storm part was a bit too metaphorical for my taste, but it wasn’t annoying by any stretch.
This one was a long one, but a heck of a watch if you’re in the mood for a solid drama and romance with a twist.
Getting Reel with Mr. Sunshine 