Difficult is the task of ridding yourself of previous knowledge of a printed novel before venturing into its screen adaptation. Not as taxing, however, with Marc Forster's adaptation of the best-selling Max Brooks novel of the same name. Stranger Than Fiction [2006] is one of my favourite films of the past ten years and I was interested to see how this zombie horror would translate onto the big screen. I had a lot of unrealised faith in Forster before I had started, having thoroughly enjoyed Finding Neverland [2004] and Quantum Of Solace [2008] - a Bond flick that I found emotionally taxing on our spy hero compared to most reviewers' opinions on it being a weak entry in the series.
After a harrowing look at the current nihilistic state of the world interspersed with ravenous animals in the opening credits we are invited to the home of the Lanes (Brad Pitt and Mireille Enos). Brad Pitt takes the lead role of Gerry Lane, a former UN employee - his exact job description never revealed but hinted at as being in the field in some manner - who is now a stay-at-home father to watch his children grow up. The casting here distracted me from paying attention to the story, Brad Pitt just doesn't look like he has aged. Maybe a little tired around the eyes, but Mireille's casting makes him look a lot younger than he is depicted. That's not a negative remark on Mireille's age whatsoever, but Pitt does look somewhat of a toyboy.
