Oscar Watch 2.0

Onto the next installment in my Oscar-y blog posts: the picture with the most nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

Once in a while, a movie is more than just a movie - it transcends into such an emotional event, it's hard to separate my personal feelings from the film's actual quality In my experience, this is not common. It happened in "Titanic" (all five times I watched it on the big screen.) It happened in "Moulin Rouge" and "Pulp Fiction."

And in some ways, it happened in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button." For the sake of this blog post, I will attempt to keep my personal feelings (i.e. this is my "favorite" picture) separate from my attempt to critique its strengths. (But, it really was "my favorite!" And my passions are hard to keep at bay...)

This film is directed by David Fincher, someone I've long admired for his unique vision and storytelling ability, though the stories he's told lean to the macabre. He helmed "Se7en," "The Game" and "Fight Club." He also directed the underappreciated "Zodiac." So, once I heard he was behind this fable, my intrigue rose.

This film is quite different from those others, but no less well-done. The look of the picture is superb, with some of the most interesting camera work and special effects in some time. Most impressive is that none of this is done to draw attention to the sublime work behind it. It is simply a part of the film and blends so easily into the entire story, it might be only afterward that you think back and wonder, "How did they pull that off?" Aside from this grand style of filmmaking, the subtle themes are the treasures - especially one recurring tale of lightning strikes. It is in the tiniest touches I found the biggest payoffs.

The plot is fairly simple: a baby is born an old man and ages backwards. As a child, he looks elderly, and he dies an infant. It is his life along the way, of course, in which we find the story. He has many adventures and loves, particularly his kindred spirit, Daisy, whom he meets as a young boy/old man and treasures forever. The premise is not only new, it is smartly portrayed.

Cate Blanchett, one of the most reliable and steadfast in her craft, plays Daisy. She is a real character, with flaws and mistakes. Brad Pitt is nominated in the lead role and while not many will argue against his handsomeness, I've had several disagreements over his acting chops. He, too, is often underappreciated and overlooked. This film certainly brings out the truth of his talent, aided by the special effects which allow him to age in reverse. It is a rich and layered job, with nuance and humor and real emotion.

Perhaps the biggest revelation is Taraji P. Henson, who plays Benjamin's adoptive mother and who earned a nod as Best Supporting Actress. Her warmth and unconditional love for this strange little soul on her doorstep breathes through the life of the picture, and she has some of the best lines. She is touching and lovely, and it's always a treat to see new faces onscreen.

All in all, this is quite the event picture. I, for one, felt breathless and teary-eyed at its conclusion and knew I'd witnessed something innovative. For sheer finesse behind the lense, this one will be hard to beat. The fact that it also packs a strong emotional punch makes it a strong contender.

I don't know whether this movie will end up "The Best Picture of the Year." But it is worthy to land on the short list. It's well-written, well-acted, and looks great. Its goal is to say this: any life is filled with drama and laughter and heartache and loss and triumph. The odd way in which Benjamin lives his adds only another dimension - it does not change the fundamental idea of what it is to fumble along the paths we choose. Like any good fable, it teaches a lesson in an easy way. The small moments lead me to love the film. I recommend it for all of the reasons listed.

But most of all is this: Who doesn't like a good fairy tale once in a while?