Mike's Corner

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was originally published on May 27, 1922. F. Scott Fitzgerald's story was inspired by a remark of Mark Twain's to the effect that it was a pity that the best part of life came at the beginning and the worst part at the end.

I read the short story hours before seeing the movie version, and can truly say that the movie is definitely a "loose" adaptation of the real deal. Both were good, but I can't figure out why they had to stray so far from the original. The only similarities between the two were the facts that his name was Benjamin, and he grew younger rather than older. That was it. Everything else was simply made up.

In my opinion (which doesn't matter much), Eric Roth (screenwriter) decided to take a great idea and make it his own. I hate that. It seemed like he said, "This is how I would write it."

So while I hated the fact that the story had been tainted, I loved the movie. The running time was 2 hours and 48 minutes, but it certainly didn't seem like it. There was a new adventure around every corner. Watching Cate Blanchett age and Brad Pitt get younger was like watching an impending train wreck: a disaster that you can't not watch.

I will not be surprised if Button wins many Oscars this year, but will be disappointed if it wins the award for Best Adaptation, but this is only my opinion.

Mike... the critic.