The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (soundtrack)

While composing the film's music, Desplat had taken inspiration from the short story, in which Benjamin Button (Brad Pitt) is born an old man and goes through his life aging in reverse. Hence, he created a "palindrome-like structure" for the music, where the themes can be played in the same way forward as they do in reverse. Desplat added that he wrote the film's music with the subtlety referring that "it would take the viewers backseat to the movement of the picture". In an interview to National Public Radio, he said "If I were to show off too much about my reverse thing, it would be disconnected from the picture and the story, and we have to be really, completely overwhelmed by the story before everything."[2]

While scoring the film, he chose the sounds from New Orleans during the 1930s and 1940s, but did not fully embody into period American music, instead he incorporated textures of jazz flavour into the score, as Benjamin Button passes through the era of jazz music. However, Desplat maintained the subtlety in the sound, by not having a "swinging large band music".[3] He took inspiration from Duke Ellington's musical works, which resulted in the "sweeping arrangements of piano, strings and horns".[4]

Desplat recorded the score in August 2008 at the Sony Scoring Stage in Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, California.[5] The Hollywood Studio Symphony orchestra consisting an 87-piece ensemble performed the music.[5] Fincher applauded his work and further said "Alexandre [Desplat]'s music is playful and witty. But I think it’s the oblique nature by which he goes at things. With composers, I think you have to hire somebody you believe in and then get the fuck out of the way."[1]

James Southall of Movie Wave wrote "I don't think I would quite place The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in the very upper-echelons of Desplat's achievements - it's probably a notch or two behind Birth and The Painted Veil on my scales - it's unquestionably one of 2008's standout film scores.  I'm not sure how many times Desplat will be able to return to this well - you'd struggle to say he has branched out into anything new here - but for now, he can keep returning as often as he likes as far as I'm concerned, because this is gorgeous!  The soundtrack album is a double-CD set, with one disc for the score and one for songs and dialogue; needless to say, I haven't bothered with the latter in this review."[6] Mfiles wrote "Alexandre Desplat's score complements this background and captures the direct simplicity of Button's approach to life, with a touch of the quirkiness of his reverse aging."[7]

Jonathan Broxton wrote "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button proves once more that Alexandre Desplat is one of the most exciting young composers working in film music today, and is well on his way to becoming one of the greats. He is clearly the heir apparent to John Barry and Georges Delerue, both of whom wrote mesmerizing romantic scores of great beauty and clarity, and whose penchant for simple, elegant orchestral writing is very much in evidence in Desplat. The effortless grace in his work never fails to enchant me, and has done so again. This is easily one of the best scores written in 2008, and could very be a major contender for awards when the season rolls around."[8] Filmtracks.com wrote "the score for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is surprisingly even tempered, highly consistent in its soft, pleasant variations on the Button and time motifs and rhythms. Fans of the composer will be thrilled by the resulting intimate nature of the score."[9]

Mark Morton of AllMusic wrote "Like Forrest Gump meets Alice in Wonderland, Desplat plays on the fantasy and drama inherent in the film’s theme".[10] Daniel Schweiger of Film Music Institute website, said "Even if Benjamin Button’s emotional detachment and length don’t allow it to become the classic film it could have been, the overall effect is mesmerizing- completely in the case of Desplat’s astonishing score. It’s the kind of musical stardust that makes you feel just how themes can be things of wonder, from the gentle stroke of a harp to the light tap of a piano key and the lush, flowing strings of an orchestra. And it’s a melodic never-never land that Desplat knows how to tread with otherworldly skill."[11] Paul Taylor of Lemonwire, had stated "Due to the blend of fantasy and drama in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, Alexandre Desplat was a perfect fit to compose the score. Desplat’s compositions have a way of capturing all of the magic and mystery of life. His level of attention, care, and restraint serve the story over anything else, always remaining subtle, and always supporting the scene."[12]

Far Out magazine mentioned Desplat's score for Benjamin Button as the thirdmost of ten, considering Desplat's best musical works. Swapnil Dhruv Bose, wrote "Taking inspiration from the subject matter and incorporating them into the score, Desplat’s compositions act as musical palindromes and become synchronous with the events on screen. Always subtle and beautiful, they are a crucial part of the film’s philosophy."[13]

Credits adapted from CD liner notes.[32][33]