The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Dir: David Fincher)

Button is a movie that takes its time. It tells three different tales--the story of the titular hero who ages in reverse (Brad Pitt), an introductory yarn about a very special clock, and the framing tale of a daughter preparing to say goodbye to her elderly, dying mother (Cate Blanchett). That the stories are all connected should be no surprise, but what is surprising is how much time Fincher is given to weave his tale. This is a big, intimate epic. It's a sprawling movie that sets out to tell a life and grapple with mortality. The special effects are dazzling, but I was more astounded by the storytelling chutzpah. The director is working with a huge canvas.

David Fincher will fare very well in future critical surveys of his work. He has already made a perfect film in Zodiac and other than the serviceable Panic Room, his films are consistently ambitious, visually assured, and gripping. Button, however, is the first film he's made that will get the awards folks to take serious notice and likely find broad appeal among women. (His previous works also include Seven, The Game, and Fight Club.)

The film uses its special effects well and they strengthen the story as opposed to overwhelm it. Seeing Pitt as both an infant senior citizen and an elderly teen is fascinating, but it serves the story. (And seeing Brad Pitt look as young as he did in The River Runs Through It is mind boggling.) The film will be compared to Forrest Gump, both of which were written by the same screenwriter, but Gump frequently seemed to be about its special effects. In Button the make-up and computerized effects blend more seamlessly and accentuate the story. The logistics of the reverse aging will also please the sci-fi and fantasy geeks in the audience.

But the aging is a device used to tell a story about longing, regret, and trying to hold on to others in spite of the inevitable. It's a necessarily sad tale, but it also heartens the audience and gives us appreciation for our loved ones and own lives. And for that it's a movie to be cherished and admired.