Movie Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Rating: 6/5
Let me just say that if I was on the oscar jury this year - I'd have made an impassionate plea for this movie to win most of the awards.
A truly phenomenol path breaking though inspiring moving film with stellar performances, slick editing, brilliant cinematoraphy and prolific dialogue writing.
Light moments: Few, in all the right places.
Need a box of tissues: Yes.
Would I watch it again: Over and Over.
Overall:
This movie moved me beyond comparison. It may be one of the most influencing movies, I've had the good fortune to watch. Age is such a mind thing. Someones looks have nothing to do with how old they are mentally. They can be 16 but with a heart as heavy as a 90 year old ..or they can be 60 but can still summon the strength of an 18 year old to swim the French Chanel.
Its all a mindset.
I'm just going to quote some of the dialogues from the film instead of writing about it - because at this point, I feel that no amount of blog writing will be an adequate testament to the sheer philosophy and love for life expressed in the lines to follow. Every 10 minutes in the movie - I said WOW! ..here is why :

• "Some people, were born to sit by a river. Some get struck by lightning. Some have an ear for music. Some are artists. Some swim. Some know buttons. Some know Shakespeare. Some are mothers. And some people, dance. "
• "You never know what's coming for you"
• "Everyone feels different about themselves one way or another, but we all goin' the same way. "
• "You can be as mad as a mad dog at the way things went. You could swear, curse the fates, but when it comes to the end, you have to let go. "
• "Benjamin, we're meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us? "
• "Sometimes we're on a collision course, and we just don't know it. Whether it's by accident or by design, there's not a thing we can do about it. "
• "It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is you. "
• I was thinking how nothing lasts, and what a shame that is.... Some things last.

Some moments in this film simply took my breath away. One was when Caroline and Ben are conflicted about their future and not sure about where they are headed and the wake up early in the morning to see the sun rise. Its a spectacular golden ball of fire above a seren blue ocean that as asleep as they were few minutes back. And after the sun rises - after the fraction of those few heaven on earth minutes of yellow and azure - Something in Carolines eyes changes and as she looks at Ben - he says " And it was then that she realized - Nothing is perfect ..Forever"

The other moment was when Ben and Caroline meet at first and eat dinner and head to the gardens where she dances and he walks away much to her aggravation. When he realizes the significance of what he's done ..he says "Your life is defined by its opportunities... even the ones you miss. " ... and I cried for not the first time in the movie. It just hit too close to home.

And I have no words to describe the letter that Ben writes to Caroline's daughter. What a legacy.The kind of thought that leaves you weak in the knees and strong in your heart.

"For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again. "

This movie is a must watch. Dont miss it.