On the day that Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, elderly Daisy Williams (nee Fuller) is on her deathbed in a New Orleans hospital. At her side is her adult daughter, Caroline. Daisy asks Caroline to read aloud to her the diary of Daisy's lifelong friend, Benjamin Button. Benjamin's diary recounts his entire extraordinary life, the primary unusual aspect was his aging backwards?? He was diagnosed with several aging diseases at birth and given little chance of survival. Unusually, he does survive and he gets younger with time. He is abandoned by his biological father, Thomas Button after Benjamin's biological mother died in childbirth. Benjamin was raised by Queenie, she is a black woman and caregiver at a home for seniors. Daisy's grandmother was a resident at this home and it is where she first met Benjamin. Although separated through the years, Daisy and Benjamin remain in contact throughout their lives. They reconnect in their forties when they finally match up in age??
Born 80 years old, Benjamin Button Brad Pitt ages backward instead of forward in time. He is weak and wrinkled as a toddler, unlined and unencumbered as a grandfather. His life moves against everyone else's current, including that of Queenie. She found him abandoned on the steps of a New Orleans nursing home. She mothers him and Daisy, the love of his life. She is a young girl when they first meet. Benjamin moves toward the moment when he and Daisy can finally meet as equals in the middle of life. He makes friends, takes to the seas and falls in love with a British expatriate. But, it's Daisy he ultimately seeks, despite the challenges that loom. They must continue their journey in a preordained and sadly in opposite directions.
This moving and memorable film is a compelling exploration of life, death and the enduring power of love. Despite such weighty subjects, older teens and those who may initially be interested in star Brad Pitt, will likely find it engrossing and even touching. Younger viewers could be overwhelmed by the mature themes. Expect some sexual innuendo and non-explicit clinches, swearing, a sequence that includes a bit of bloody violence and period-accurate moments of smoking and drinking. 5* (I really liked this movie)
166 min, Drama directed by David Fincher and written by Eric Roth, Robin Swicord and based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald with Cazte Blanchett, Brad Pitt, Julia Ormond, Faune Chambers Watkins, Elias Koteas, Donna Duplantier, Jacob Tolano, Earl Maddox, Ed Metzger, Jason Flemyng, Danny Vinsonj, David Jensen, Joeanna Sayler, Taraji P. Henson, Mahershala Ali, Fiona Hale, Patrick Thomas O’Brien, Marion Zinser, Peter Donald Badalamenti II.
Note: Imdb 7.8* out of 10* with 588,053 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes, 71% with 258 critics 80% with 690,774 audience scores, empireonline.com 5* Ian Freer, Common Sense Media S. Johanna Robledo, age 15+, 4* out of 5*, 1* positive role models, 2* positive messages, violence, sex, 3* language, drinking, drugs & smoking,
Special Note: The hummingbird is the only bird in the world that can fly backwards. Hurricanes spin counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. There are backward motifs involving clocks and other items. They tie in with the major thematic elements related to Benjamin Button living life in reverse. Brad Pitt said that it took five hours each day to complete the makeup required for his role.
Mistakes: In 1945 when Daisy and Benjamin are having dinner, Daisy is smoking a filter cigarette. Filter cigarettes were not available until several years later. There are several shots of Daisy dancing. The execution of the ballet is very modern and athletic, with long extensions and high arabesques. It was not appropriate for this time period since ballet had a very different style. In 1935 Benjamin walks out onto the street pursued by young Daisy. A modern day fire hydrant (with the anti-turn valve on top) can be seen on the street?
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