L'étrange histoire de Benjamin Button

With Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton. Directed by David Fincher.

The movie is adapted from a short story by F.S. Fitzgerald. "The curious case of Benjamin Button", or the story of a man who lived his life backward. Benjamin Button was born in 1918, "the day the Great War ended, a good day to be born", except that he was a 80 years-old baby. From his birth to his death, he just kept growing younger. But how to fit in the world when you're the only one getting younger, while everyone else is getting older ? How to deal with this bizarre truth and accept to let go, watching your loved ones leave, the way it's supposed to be ?

It's a beautiful movie, really sensitive and touching. The transitions from one age to another are really smooth, natural, just like it would be if the character was getting older. It amazes me to see the transformations technology made possible. It's not just make-up or just special effects, it's more like a mix of both that makes him credible at all stages. Brad Pitt played for the most part of the movie, and when it was not possible (for the childhood as an old man or also for the teenager for example), it's still his face which was superimposed on the body of his doubles. The storytelling reminds of Forrest Gump (experience of life, the learning journey, the way back home, etc.), Eric Roth being the sciptwriter for both movies. Just one critic maybe, it's probably too long, eventhough it's really fascinating from the beginning to the end (still, it last 2hours and 44 minutes). Benjamin Button will probably receive more than one award on Sunday 22nd : it got 13 nominations, including the ones for the best movie, best actor and best director oscars.