Merrick here...


A few weeks back, Mastidon regaled us with tales of QUANTUM OF SOLACE's London premiere (HERE).
He attended BNAT X over the weekend, and sent in write-ups on a few of the event's bigger titles...the first of which appears below.

Here's Mastidon...

Hi Guys,

Mastidon here just having returned to the Austin Motel from one of the greatest cinema experiences of my life, BNAT X. As should come as no surprise, Harry pulled out all the stops for the tenth anniversary bringing us a great rebellious theme of films from past, present, and future. I want to focus my column on only one of these great films which is coming to you in the near future, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON.

Written by: Eric Roth & Robin Swicrod
Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and Julia Ormond
Opens: Dec 25th USA, Jan 29th Germany, Feb 6th UK
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

When I first heard about the concept of this film, you could call me more than skeptical. What immediately popped into my head was when MORK & MINDY decided to jump the shark and have a baby Jonathan Winters age backwards. What we got instead was a heartbreaking tale of love and loss with Brad Pitt's best performance in years. Combine that with great directing from David Fincher and it is easy to see why this film works.

Benjamin (Brad Pitt) was born on the day World War I ended, November 11th, 1918 in New Orleans. Abandoned by his father just after birth, Benjamin grows up in an old age home. Starting out as a man who seems to be in his 80s, he can't speak or walk. Slowly as he gets younger, his body improves. To the other residents, he is just another retiree. What he learns from them is life's most important lesson that it is over before you know it so enjoy it while you can. I love the lightning guy!

At the home, Benjamin meets the one true love of his life, Daisy (Elle Fanning age 7 who grows up to be Cate Blanchett). This film reminded me a lot of both FORREST GUMP and FRIED GREEN TOMATOES in many ways with the story telling and the interaction of Benjamin's and Daisy's lives meeting and diverging over time. Both of the films I own on DVD and have watched repeatedly. I can see myself doing the same with Curious Case as it shares the same spirit wanting you to relive the lives of these characters again and again.

My one gripe with the entire film is the final shot. I won't go into detail about it but I just found it a bit over the top. I would have probably given the film 4 1/2 stars if it wasn't for that. It just left a bad taste in my mouth breaking the spell of the rest of the film.

This film is all about appreciating what you have now. Take the little things in life and enjoy them while you can because they will be gone before you know it. And that is exactly what I got out of the last 25 hours, take the little moment of time and enjoying the hell out of it.

Thanks again Harry for an amazing day.

Until the next time....

Ciao,

-Mastidon