Just after reading a couple of time travel or at least time-effect books, I go watch this movie, which is a time-effect movie. Loosely based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, this is a movie about a man, Benjamin Button, who is born an old man in the shape of a baby, and becomes younger as life goes on. Of course, there is a love story here, and he meets the lover midlife, when they are both in the same age range.

This is a completely improbable story, of course. Life does not work that way. If you have a hard time dealing with such a concept, you might have a difficult time with this movie, since the premise is always in front of you.

There is no lasting message, no moral, only wildly entertaining twists, improbable situations, and at times heartwrenching emotional situations. Since I love time-effect stories, I loved this one and I was very entertained. I would recommend the movie to anyone.

But it’s not a classic movie or great movie, and while it will probably win some awards, it’s going to do that not by its own merits but rather from the lack of better candidates for the awards.

Both Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett do a very good job. The acting, the cinematography and the music are good. Overall, a great way to spend an afternoon at the movies, as long as you don’t expect any major lessons.

Rating: ***