'Benjamin Button' Comes to Marshall

Leading the pack with 13 Oscar nominations, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" has been a curious phenomenon. With a nearly three hour running time and the strange premise of following the life of a man who lives it backwards, from old age to infancy, the movie has pleased audiences and critics alike. Now it seems to have pleased the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well.

In the major categories it received nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Brad Pitt), Best Supporting Actress (Taraji P. Henson), and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also received many technical nominations, including nods for the wonderful cinematography, art direction and costume design that evoked all the eras in an entire century, as well as nominations for the make up and special effects that had Brad Pitt aging from a shriveled old man to his typically ugly self.

Marshallites will get their chance to check out this awards darling for themselves when it opens at the Marshall Cinema this weekend. Here's my review of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", originally published Dec. 27, 2008.