Was looking forward to this film by David Fincher who’s directed movies of a different genre like Fight Club and Se7en. Two films that would always remain in IMDB’s all time top 50 list .
And I was not disappointed. Won’t discuss the story here as most would be aware of it and would quickly move to "why I liked the film" and why should you watch it"
His quest to explore the journey of life moving backwards on celluloid is captivating to say the least and would leave you with interesting and complex questions. Of certain events that you celebrate irrespective of your handicap, of certain events that you wish you were not part of because of your handicap.
It’s a philosophical journey that works because of a captivating screenplay. It’s poetry in motion. The narrative of the film absorbs you, slowly engrosses you and entertains you not in a very dramatic fashion but very a satisfying one with interesting references drawn such as giant clock moving backwards.
That’s the strength of the film thanks to Eric Roth (Screenplay) who has movies like Forest Gump, The horse Whisperer and Ali to his credit. One could draw several parallels to this one and forest Gump. One such as being in love with the woman he met in his childhood and various important events such as ending of World war I and pearl harbour that are knit nicely into this story.
There’s one sequence I thought was done well. The one where Daisy (Cate) meets with an accident. It’s one which tells you what if someone had not missed a taxi, remembered her coat, took off on time, something would have not happened. Watch it as I thought it was neatly done.
So that’s one of the strengths of the film, one where the story slowly draws you into his journey. The other is the "visuals". Some films are just made beautiful with an immense attention to detail and to how a film looks visually.
Don’t think you could call it cinematography as there is a technical brilliance to it I thought in various sequences such as the visual of an almost crippled child that Benjamin’s born into. The visual puts you off at the times and yet you wanna give that creation of god, an old child, a hug. Brilliantly done here I thought. The precision of the sets, costumes, make up, you get it..... is up there.
The third strength is the interesting relationships the movie explores about Benjamin and his mother and how his handicap doesn’t make a difference to her, about him and his dad who abandoned him in childhood and when he meets Daisy when she’s all marred and old. Should watch it as it leaves a strange feeling in you.
The performance: Forget Cate Blanchet as she’s expected to be brilliant but Brad Pitt is a welcome relief here who does a splendid job and nice to see him in these roles where it isn’t about his looks.
In an nutshell, watch the film for it’s a engrossing and pleasurable tale and appreciable technique. It’s not a glass of beer that you’d enjoy with friends but it’s a like painting, an art gallery where you’d have to spend some time(2.5 hrs) to appreciate.
Maybe, just maybe the film could have been a little shorter. But do watch it nevertheless.