THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for brief war violence, sexual content, language and smoking.
Runtime: 166 min

David Fincher is no stranger to labyrinth of darkness, from Zodiac to Fight Club, now he embarks on a lighter and epic side of labyrinth, the life journey of a man.
Viewing the nature of life through a reversed lens gives us another point of view. Perhaps by looking at life in backwards, at least in physical appearance, we might have a better understanding on happiness and the strength to let go.

This film is certainly curious and live up to its promises, Brad Pitt as Benjamin Button, a man who was born under unusual circumstances. He was born in 1918 as an old man - the size of a baby but afflicted with all of the problems of the aged while life around him is progressing naturally. The birth kills Benjamin's mother and, unable to cope with his son's monstrous appearance, Thomas Button (Jason Flemyng) abandons him to be taken care by Queenie (Taraji P. Henson), a nurse at New Orleans nursing home. As time goes by, Benjamin grows younger and met Daisy (Elle Fanning as Daisy at age 6 and Madisen Beaty as Daisy age 11 and Cate Blanchett in the older years).

Benjamin also become a witness of many historical events including World War II. Although unlike Forrest Gump who had to met extraordinary events, Benjamin, on the other hand, is an extraordinary man who experiences ordinary events that most could relate to, like falling in love and letting go some burden of life. As he grows younger, Benjamin grows into Brad we all know from media, the Brad from Troy until the younger Brad from Thelma and Louise.

But although it has Big Fish type of story and a very magnificent production value, at certain point in the film the audience felt unattached to the life of Benjamin. It was as if Benjamin was only a mere observer without any active role. Or perhaps this is what David Fincher wanted us to feel, we are observer of our passage, left to the mercy of fate and chaos theory.

With running time that can make you want to run to the toilet, remarkably, this film doesn't bore at all, it can keep the pace and entertaining. You just cannot help being melancholic and uplifted after the credits rolled and for some, the story is simply mesmerizing and worthy to watch.

In the end, we can absorb something grand and epic this film try to tell us, that life shouldn't be measured by wrinkles on our face but by moments that defines us as a man.