So, I'll admit I was very much behind the bandwagon and this was my first viewing of Benjamin Button. And I'm very glad I finally did and think that I viewed it at the right time for me to appreciate it (however I'm still very much in support of Slumdog Millionaire as Best Picture for 2008...you'll hear more about that later I'm sure) and I can definitely see/agree that Benjamin Button deserved a best picture nomination for 2008.
First off it is very easy to see why Button took home 3 Oscars...in Art Direction, Makeup, and Visual Effects. I don't think I can put into words the brilliance that went into the artistic side of being able to attempt to pull of this film, and to be perfectly honest after viewing it I believe I could make a strong case that Button should have won for costumes as well for the number of decades and locations that are encountered in the timeline of the film.
Personally, my favorite little effect came with the man who was struck by lightning (his claim was seven times but by my count it was six that we see...feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) but that was a fun little thread through the movie and I enjoyed the effects used to create those little scenes almost as an homage to film in an earlier life. I also enjoyed the "aged" effects in the opening story of the blind clock maker and how natural these effects fit into the story and did not feel entirely out of place.
This story, originally by F. Scott Fitzgerald is beautifully adapted for film (however the story does run 2 hours and 40 min+ so you will need to set aside a solid chunk of time to sit down and watch the film but it is worth it). A lot of Brad Pitt's (Benjamin) narration seemed very elegant and natural and reading his words through the journal was a good excuse to introduce excellent narration into the film.
*I will take this time to mention the the film has view similarities to the original story but does the story justice in its film interpretation*
The story is that of an unusual love story but for me the love story isn't necessarily the focus of this movie...maybe that's just because I'm a guy! For me the story really comments on how age isn't a limitation and we shouldn't be confined because of age, but how there is always an opportunity to start a new chapter of your life and an inspiration that no matter what your age there is still life to be lived.
The second major part of the story, of course, is the fact that Benjamin is living his life backwards physically, however mentally he goes through a natural progression: ie when Benjamin is born his body is that of an elderly person but his mind is that of a newborn. I think this is an interesting commentary on how the beginning of our lives and the ending are so similar, but sometimes in the end of our lives we have lost that child-like enthusiasm we have for life as our spirit has been beaten down and we have let go before our ending time comes.
Also, I have a soft spot in my heart for New Orleans so it pleased me to see the movie set in this location (which makes sense will the work that Brad Pitt and family has done for the city in its post-Katrina rebuilding efforts and making the rest of the country aware of all of the work that is yet to be done).
But also I think it was very interesting how the actual hurricane played a part in the movie as well as the last image you see is flooding and hearing an audio clip about levies breaking in the 9th ward. Since this is one of the last images and impressions you get from this movie it is interesting to see what it actually may be trying to comment on that. There are a few theories floating around about that, and honestly I haven't settled on my own opinion and may need to watch this film a few more times before I settle on something so I will leave you to figure out this answer for yourselves.
The other interesting question mark that I am pondering and is probably left for future viewings is that of the hummingbird and the role that it plays in the film, I may have wrote it off if it hadn't appeared twice.
But I suppose that's one of the many pleasures of a great film, you can't digest it all in one serving, it takes multiple viewings to truely appreicate all of the magic captured within it.
My only real gripe about the film comes in the hospital scenes, and this may have just been me/my situation but sometimes I found it very hard to hear/understand the woman in the hospital bed. Now I understand that she is old and in actuality probably would speak in this manner, but I found myself reaching for the caption button so I could fully grasp all of what she was saying.
Overall, I give it 4.5 stars...a little lengthy but worth it, and again truely worthy of its Best Picture nomination.
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