Continuing with the Oscar nominations for Best Picture, last Sunday night I took in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Of the five films nominated, I thought this one would be the one I would like the least. It turned out to be one of my favorites.The film tells the story of a man born old and living backwards...getting younger and younger as the years roll on. His story begins in 1918 and moves forward to present day. The first hour of the film is typical period piece, shoo in for and Oscar nom fare. As we get into the World War Two years, the tone becomes a little more stark. Right about at mid point (the film is almost three hours) you realize that this is a movie about the relationships that one has in one's life. In particular, how the people you love are dynamic...in a constant state of change...and are highly unpredictable.
I have been going through some tough stuff with one such relationship in my life recently and, as usual, the reason why I love films as much as I do was fully illustrated in this narrative. The relationship between Benjamin (Brad Pitt) and Daisy (Cate Blanchett) was nothing short of extraordinary. I have always had questions in my head, for my whole life really, about relationships....questions like why does love seem eternally unfilled...confused...sad..and ultimately lonely?
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button answers these questions quite well which, as films often do, made me feel a lot better about the aformentioned relationship.
And it is a very nice tapestry of Americana, from a rabid historian's point of view.
3 comments:
i haven't seen this film. i want to. you've encouraged me to see it. our guy jon (stewart) said it was boring :) obviously, he has a problem with 3 hours, which doesn't have to mean boring. they say the worst killer for love (recently also mentioned in a study) is emotional distance (not physical.) two people could live together or see one another often or be together but not share the same path or heart space. and two people could be far apart possibly by force of circumstances and be closer than beneath eachother's skin. so, it's really a matter of connection (life and chemistry) and i think, sharing a sense of purpose and deep respect, that makes you love a person for WHO they are as well as how they make you feel, beyond habitual ties or physical exchanges, that makes the best foundation for lasting love. whatever. thank you mark for the tip, i'll check the film out. jt.
Gran Torino is the best movie ever.
Yeah Gran Torino was great. Mark, if you haven't seen it yet, I'll see it again.
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