(David Fincher, US 2008, 166 min., DCP)
Director David Fincher’s adaptation of this F. Scott Fitzgerald short story is a big, bold swing befitting the director of Seven and Zodiac. Brad Pitt stars as the titular Button, a man born old and aging backward through the twentieth century. As he travels the world keeping a low profile, he occasionally reconnects with Daisy (Cate Blanchett), whom he had met in 1930. As their biological ages near each other a relationship seems possible, but the tragedy of two people moving in opposite directions makes it difficult. A star-crossed romance for the new millennium, the film shines with supporting performances by Taraji P. Henson, Tilda Swinton, and Mahershala Ali as well as a transportive score by Alexandre Desplat.