Based very loosely on the short 1920’s story by Fitzgerald, TCCBB follows the tale of Brad Pitt as he is born unwanted due to his monstrous appearance of somebody who has aged before they were born. Essentially ageing backwards, Button is born with the features of an 80 year old man. Written off as a child with days to live, the child staggers those around him by appearing to get younger as he aged.

Without giving too much of the plot away (I’m sure you’ve guessed most of it already), Button continues the tale as those around him get older, he inexplicably becomes younger.

Having drawn many comparisons to Forrest Gump, I found a much more intellectually stimulating story that questions so much of life that we take for granted; so much so in fact that I found myself wanting to go straight home and grip the hands of my girls in longing. I imagine those who have been affected by strong emotions relating to either birth of death will find it difficult watching this film without being moved by it’s tale of morality and it’s impending inevitability. We witness the two main characters, Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt, having a moment in their lives where for a fleeting moment, there is a crossover of ages where they are perfectly matched for each other. But it’s at that moment that we come to recognise the futility of our efforts in chasing ambitions that are not spiritual in nature, essentially ignoring the most important moments in our life and failing to recognise that every moment in passing is a memory either lost or confined to the vaults of the mind – forever.

CGI has been used to incredible effect, true to the age old statement that if you don’t notice the CGI, then the film has succeeded in the art of illusion. Seeing the elderly characters, an aged version of Brad Pitt in his 80’s, looking upon with the world with wonder as though he were seeing it for the first time, was a startlingly charming experience that inevitably made Pitt’s character immediately priceless and enjoyable. Conversely, seeing an 18 year old Pitt was also striking (Blanchett exclaiming “My God, you’re perfect!”), not only in the moment, but as an example of future possibilities using this technology – we should prepare to see a new Holywood blockbuster soon, starting Marlon Brando.

The inevitable ending was all the more difficult to absorb based on the love you had for not only the character, but the impact on those around him – the one thing we simply have no control over, regardless of power or money, is time. No story does a better job than this in reminding us about that fact.

Every so often a film comes along that has you philosophising the if’s and the why’s of a film after a viewing. I’ve no doubt this will provide a basis for social commentary for a long time to come.

I once joked to a close friend of mine that my children leave me no opportunity to sleep as they invade our bed in the night, only to have me relegated to the spare bedroom. I was told, in ways only experience can do so, to cherish those moments as there will come a time, when your kids will simply not want to even see you.

I will take my hat of to this film for reminding me how precious the moment is, and to stop living in either the past, or the future. Please go hug someone you love.