Based off the F. Scott Fitzgerald short story, The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttonhas a very simple premise: a man is born old and dies young. In the movie, the being-born-old part is surprising and oddly miraculous, although his age is completely superficial. Benjamin (Pitt) is not born wise. He just looks old and has a child’s mind. This leads to misunderstandings both comical (going to a brothel with Captain Mike (Jared Harris)) and painful (being chastised by Grandma Fuller (Phillys Somerville) for his late-night rendezvous with young Daisy (Elle Fanning)). But he still has to learn everything like the rest of us, and the nature of his condition doesn’t drastically change his life experience. Growing up in an old folks home and surrounded by natural causes of death is an unusual but not radical experience. He’s seemingly different, but easily relatable.