Stranger Than Fiction Is A Great Movie!
March 17th 2009 03:10
Okay, that title needs some work, I know. But I wanted to say it straight up. Marc Forster's (of Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland fame) Stranger Than Fiction is terrific. It stars Will Ferrell as IRS auditor, Harold Crick. And has cameos from Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Buster from Arrested Development!, and the wonderful Emma Thompson as author Karen (Kay) Eiffel. The storyline goes: Crick leads a very ordinary and precise life until he begins hearing a woman's voice narrating his life. Turns out it's Eiffel writing a book. She narrates, "Little did he know that this simple seemingly innocuous act would result in his imminent death," speaking about Harold. And this line drives the plot for the rest of the movie.
I wasn't originally inclined to see this movie because the ads didn't sell it right. It seemed quirky and a bit strange, but not interesting. I thought it was another comedy starring Ferrell that would ultimately be a good time but a bit of a flop. So, I had no negative feelings towards it, I just didn't want to spend $10 on it in the theater.
But on a friends recommend, I decided to check it out. And it was a great movie! Although a few times, I thought the movie was slipping into cliche; but then it just as quickly slipped out of it. The script (written by Zach Helm) was thoughtful and funny, and I must say without spoiling anything, he made the ending work, which I wasn't sure he was going to be able to do, but Helm (and the actors and the director etc) pulled it off.
Ferrell carries most of the film, but Thompson is just a stand out as compulsive, neurotic and witty writer Kay Eiffel. She plays a writer to a tee, although some characteristics of the writer are stereotypical, Thompson completely refreshes the role. It's funny (dry humor) and completely spot on. I suppose the humor comes from the truth in it. And her ability to care about her characters so infinitely, every detail, is just remarkable. The viewer gets right inside the author''s mind, and thus inside Harold's mind.
This movie really makes me appreciate writers, a group of individuals who are drastically unappreciated. Stranger than fiction had very interesting visuals that helped keep the film stimulating, but it could have been used a bit more throughout the film.
Overall, I definitely recommend seeing this film.
I wasn't originally inclined to see this movie because the ads didn't sell it right. It seemed quirky and a bit strange, but not interesting. I thought it was another comedy starring Ferrell that would ultimately be a good time but a bit of a flop. So, I had no negative feelings towards it, I just didn't want to spend $10 on it in the theater.
But on a friends recommend, I decided to check it out. And it was a great movie! Although a few times, I thought the movie was slipping into cliche; but then it just as quickly slipped out of it. The script (written by Zach Helm) was thoughtful and funny, and I must say without spoiling anything, he made the ending work, which I wasn't sure he was going to be able to do, but Helm (and the actors and the director etc) pulled it off.
Ferrell carries most of the film, but Thompson is just a stand out as compulsive, neurotic and witty writer Kay Eiffel. She plays a writer to a tee, although some characteristics of the writer are stereotypical, Thompson completely refreshes the role. It's funny (dry humor) and completely spot on. I suppose the humor comes from the truth in it. And her ability to care about her characters so infinitely, every detail, is just remarkable. The viewer gets right inside the author''s mind, and thus inside Harold's mind.
This movie really makes me appreciate writers, a group of individuals who are drastically unappreciated. Stranger than fiction had very interesting visuals that helped keep the film stimulating, but it could have been used a bit more throughout the film.
Overall, I definitely recommend seeing this film.
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Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
I see you liked this film too - it really is a great writers film isn't it, and who knew Will Ferrel could act? - cool post - if your interested , here's my review here