Fitzgerald's novels have been adapted into many films, with 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' being one of the most popular among fans. However, if you've read the original work, you might exclaim at the wide-reaching changes made by the screenwriter. The film appears like a person who has undergone extensive plastic surgery, with only the name and the core premise remaining recognizable. Originally, it was just a short story that Fitzgerald wrote for 'Collier's Weekly,' essentially resembling an observational diary: a man born as an elderly person, living his life in this world, getting married, having children, going to war, attempting to attend Yale and Harvard, slowly getting younger over several pages, until he returns to infancy, experiencing a long yet brief life.
However, after screenwriter Eric Roth, known for 'Forrest Gump,' worked his magic, the story underwent significant changes, becoming a parable of time. Brad Pitt, portraying Benjamin Button, became a character reminiscent of stories like 'The Man Who Lived Forever' and 'Orlando,' living his life in defiance of all scientific laws. Aside from the name and the core concept, the only elements of Fitzgerald that may have survived in the film are the everlasting allure of the American South. David Fincher moved Benjamin Button's hometown from Baltimore to New Orleans, and the protagonist, Benjamin, is still an affluent man, even though his true home is a nursing home where death comes and goes like visitors. Cate Blanchett, portraying Daisy on her deathbed, reminisces about Benjamin and their life, just before the arrival of Hurricane Katrina. Whether it's the narrative style or the magical story itself, it bears a resemblance to the works of Calvino and Borges.
In the early stages of planning this film, director Robert Zemeckis, who had previously directed 'Forrest Gump,' was also considered as a candidate to direct. However, he was more suited to shaping simple, sunny, and virtuous characters, and a character like Benjamin, seemingly incompatible with his aura. But suppose the dark and whimsical Tim Burton was to direct. In that case, it might dissipate the Southern charm that enveloped Fitzgerald's life, turning it into a complete fairytale with no connection to New Orleans, the setting of this world. Considering this, David Fincher, who had successfully brought the atmosphere of the past to life in the 'Zodiac,' seemed to be the best choice to direct this story.
In Benjamin's story, the comings and goings of people, the cycle of life, and death are captivating roles on the stage, but the backdrop, New Orleans, is something that people may not easily perceive but is even more critical. The soft Southern accents spoken by Pitt and Blanchett almost make you feel the scent of the Mississippi River and the taste of the Gulf of Mexico in the New Orleans night fog. This is what Fitzgerald loved, the taste of the American South, just as the beauty and stubbornness of Southern women continue to echo across more than half a century since Scarlett O'Hara in 'Gone with the Wind.'
To tell such a story, special effects are indispensable. Just as 'Forrest Gump' heavily used digital effects to place Forrest into various historical moments, leaving an indelible mark on film history, this movie has put a lot of effort into Pitt and Blanchett's appearances to emphasize the magic of time. The film's score, composed by Alexander Plat, is carefully integrated into every moment of the film, meticulously and worthy of praise.
The similarity to 'Forrest Gump' is where the discussion lies as well. Both films feature protagonists with imperfections who are born into significant historical contexts. However, Benjamin always strives to stay in the shadows of history. His life also intersects with war, and all his brothers die in battle, but in reality, they are only on the periphery of the war effort. It's similar to how Blanchett was once the favorite dancer of the renowned choreographer Baryshnikov but left the stage due to a car accident. Forrest Gump, on the other hand, is set as the person who always appears alongside prominent figures in historical photos. Forrest has the straightforwardness of the Alabama plains, while Benjamin is filled with the refinement of Southern white society, always seeming to have something unsaid in his eyes. In the novel, Benjamin was born after the Civil War, but the film changes his birthdate to the day World War I ended. Only in this way can you see David Fincher's New Orleans, a city that was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and caused immense pain to the jazz-loving population. Some may consider this adjustment to be taking the easy way out, but after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans indeed needed a film set in the city to remember its past glory. Borrowing a story from Fitzgerald, the spokesperson of the Jazz Age, and placing it in the Jazz Capital of New Orleans, what could be more appropriate?
"Some are born and grow up by the river, some are struck by lightning, some have extraordinary musical talents, some are artists, some swim, some know Shakespeare, and some can dance." At the end of the film, Benjamin says this in a voiceover. He, like all these people, is just a passerby in life. Their lives may be humble or unremarkable, but you can see their souls through Benjamin's eyes in the movie. This is perhaps David Fincher's most remarkable film to date.
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