M Husain –
Genre: Drama, Romance, Fantasy
IMDb: 7.8/10, Rotten Tomato: 71%, Letterboxd: 3.6/5, Personal rating: 8/10
Screen Time: 2 hours and 46 minutes
Budget: 150 million USD
Box office: 335.8 million USD
Award: 3 Oscars (Art Direction, Makeup, Visual Effects), 3 BAFTAs (Production Design, Special Visual Effects, Make Up & Hair)
This movie is loosely based on a short story written by famous American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald. It is a story about a young boy who was born on the night of the last day of the first world war (11th November 1918). It was expected that parents would feel joy and excitement. While others were enjoying and partying outside on the occasion of victory, the father (Thomas Button) was crying. Why? Because his wife died while giving birth and he was terrified looking at the appearance of the child. So petrified that he ran outside with the baby in his hand and left it at the staircase of a retirement home for senior citizens. Caretakers of the old home found him and brought him in. In this way, the journey continued…
Even though the movie was released in 2008, it shows some wonderful creativity, an amazing concept, a creative ending, and simplicity. The whole movie feels like chapters of life one after another depicting a true story. Benjamin’s birth, first arrival in adolescence, first coitus, and first love all seem to float in front of your eyes. The ending would certainly startle you. How would you feel if you die on your wife’s lap?
You may think that is romantic, beautiful, and ultimate peace. But what you will experience at the end of this movie will startle you for sure. If you want to know what happens then you have to watch the whole movie. I can assure you it will be worth your moment.
The theme of the movie is rather unusual. But it is presented smoothly to feel thoroughpaced. And it shows extraordinary people can lead normal lives without being treated differently.
Even though the movie is fictional, it has profound depth and message. This is a message for extraordinary people and caring people around them to make them feel normal and safe. No matter what they face, caring people will always love them.
Brad Pitt established Benjamin Button as a powerful character in the movie, who struggles in his life, who has a strong sense of responsibility, and who is a motivating character for everyone around him. Co-actor Cate Blanchett was amazing too as Daisy. If you watch the movie, you would certainly feel like watching a real couple. Love and care for each other, dialogues, and movement were smooth enough to establish the relationship. Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormond, Jason Flemyng, Tilda Swinton, and Mahershala Ali are among the supporting cast members who did proper justice to their characters.
For Benjamin, life started backward. When he was supposed to get old, he was getting younger. He spent most of his childhood as a person who talks philosophical words and experiences from life. His dialogues are so enriched and resourceful that they will make people feel motivated.
David Fincher chose the old concept of environment where technology was not developed enough and lifestyle was not modern. He presented the city, people, vehicles, and clothes from the past. The lighting of the set was dim. It would not disturb your eyes or anyone with photo epileptic disorder.
Sound and visual effects are praiseworthy. Kirk Baxter Angus Wall edited scenes and dialogues perfectly to give real-life sensation. Computer-generated imagery or CGI is seen in the first 52 minutes to get Benjamin’s old look which is a wonderful piece of work.
Background music plays a vital role to create an environment and take the audience to the depth of the film. Melodious sounds and songs would mesmerize you and would catch your full attention. In-depth details are given by the sound of small things like the sound of opening a door, walking, the jingling sound of glass, etc.
It is a fictional concept. Yet the presentation by Director David Fincher is so good that it feels like watching a biography. The IT factor would be the concept of this movie. Giving a real-life touch from imagination and such a wonderful screenplay truly deserves applause. The movie can create an urge in people to know what happens next and steal attention until the movie ends.
