Filed under: movie review | Tags: cate blanchett, Drama, f. scott fitzgerald, movie review
Life Lived Backwards
Starring: Brad Pitt / Cate Blanchett / Taraji P. Henson / Tilda Swinton
Rating: PG-13 (Mild Adult Themes)
Basis: Short Story: F. Scott Fitzgerald
Release Date: December 25, 2008
I know I’m a little behind schedule on this one since it’s been in theaters since last Christmas, but honestly until last week I just wasn’t in the mood for a incredibly long drama. Once I finally broke down and saw it I barely noticed the running time which is quite an accomplishment (one I hope that Watchmen can achieve this weekend). The film is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald (screenplay by Eric Roth) and the cast is far from unknown. Of course the other half of Brangelia is the main focus as Benjamin and the amazing Cate Blanchettt plays his love interest.
Basically to put it short but sweet the movie is about an infant whose body at birth is that of an incredibly old man. The poor child is abandoned by his terrified father after his mother dies in childbirth, and left on the doorstep of an elderly people’s home in New Orleans, Louisiana. Taken in by Queenie, a black woman who worked at the home, Benjamin is loved dearly by her and raised as her son. He goes through his life and his incredible adventures while all the time aging backwards. He meets Daisy at a young age who’s grandmother lives in the elderly home and they stay in contact throughout the years. They finally meet again in their forties when they are the same age and fall in love.
The story is narrated by Daisy’s daughter Caroline who is reading from Benjamin’s diary to her dying mother on the eve on Hurricane Katrina’s arrival in a hospital. Through the diary both Carolina and Daisy learn of all the challenges and experiences of his life that are both amazing and somewhat sad.
The Older Man
I found the movie very moving and even though I’m not known for being much of a sappy kind of girl I though it was both inspiring and a bit depressing at the same time. I was able to relate to many of the themes in the film as I would imagine most people would and loved the plot design and underlying metaphorical meaning of the story.
Daisy & Benjamin
As I stated before I didn’t mind the length of the film because I was so engulfed in the story that I didn’t notice how long I was there and I haven’t experienced that in a lengthy film since the LOTR’s trilogy. The acting by both Pitt and Blanchettt was as always excellent and I was pleasantly surprised by both Taraji P. Henson (Queenie) and Tilda Swinton who played Elizabeth Abbott, who Benjamin has a love affair with in his early twenties.
Bottom Line: WONDERFULLY MOVING DRAMA
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Wonderful review, i was lucky enough to catch this in theaters last month, wonderful movie and I think it got robbed at the oscars.
Also, I have an anime/asian film blog, check it out if you have the time!
Comment by cello85 03/03/2009 @ 7:47 pm