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I liked this movie a lot - it had elements of similarly themed films where fictional worlds intersect and influence the real world and vice versa, such as The Hours and The Purple Rose Of Cairo. Yet it takes this concept in a new direction and touches on the philosophies of choice and fate - if the story of our lives is already written, can we change the script? Does knowing what the future holds influence our lives or are we just following a predestined course whatever we do? As you might expect Marc Foster gives good and capable direction and there are lots of elements of the movie that were really very enjoyable. Some scenes are maybe drawn out too long, but for the most part he manages to keep the film flowing smoothly. The 'mathematical images' which beautifully illustrate the clockwork mind of Harold Crick are a great idea and reminiscent of the Ikea scene from Fight Club. The acting on the whole was of an excellent standard. Will Ferrell's dry delivery was absolutely perfect for the role of a man with his fate in the hands of a seemingly unknown force. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman and Queen Latifah all give very respectable performances as does the relatively unknown Tony Hale. Yet I felt that the gem in this movie had to be Emma Thompson's performance as the neurotic and fidgety author Kay Eiffel who seems to become increasingly unstrung as the movie progresses. I was expecting a generic Hollywood romantic comedy yet the storyline was sufficiently quirky and engaging, and performances were superb.Read full review
Stranger than Fiction is a story about a dull IRS agent named Harold Crick whose life is turned upside down when he starts hearing a voice narrating his life. Will Ferrel shines in this lead role as a man who makes a transition from a dull and routine life to a vibrant and colorful one. The supporting cast is very strong with help from Dustin Hoffman and company. The story for this film is unique, fun, and memorable. Harold is an obsessive routine follower, counting the number of brush strokes he uses each morning as he cleans his teeth. Then, one day, his life is turned upside down as he begins to hear a voice narrate his every move and thought. He audits a beautiful and socially rebellious young woman who he falls in love with, and meets up with a quirky college professor who provides wacky advice. You'll be inspired by Harold as he struggles to find his way through ordinary and not so ordinary perils that confront him day in and day out. This movie has a lot of everything from comedy, to romance, to drama. It's a sure fire winner with any audience. Pick it up today!Read full review
We all have our quirks, and we're all worth loving. While that is not the Grand Message of this movie, its certainly in there. Now, some might find this film "a little slow" - but that's because they're not really paying attention. And I guarantee, if you pay a little bit to this gem the payback is awesome! The not-giving-anything-hugely-important-away-premise is: Harold Crick (Ferrell) is a lonely-but-self-respecting IRS auditor who realizes that an articulate English woman's voice is narrating his every move from inside his head. You see, Harold is a bit of an odd duck, too, and he compulsively counts and measures things in the background chatter of his actually creative mind. This is brilliantly illustrated in the movie through sophisticated computer graphics superimposed over the action while Harold moves through space, and for as long as he bothers to mildly preoccupy himself with such trivia - its a refreshing homage to compulsivity like this. Along the way, he meets a radical baker (Maggie Gyllenhaal at her best) who he "unprofessionally" falls for. But she doesn't want to have anything to do with him...and besides, he's got to get rid of the English woman (Emma Thompson) first! Superbly directed by Marc Forster (the brilliant director of "Finding Neverland" and the largely unseen masterpiece "Stay") there are some great actors in the smaller roles: Dustin Hoffmann, Queen Latifah (as a dead-serious publisher's "hit-man") and cameos by other greats like Tom "Amadeus" Hulce and Linda Hunt). If you previously dismissed this as "another dumb Will Ferrell comedy" - you've got a pleasant surprise waiting for you.Read full review
Actually I rented this movie with a free movie rental from my local Movie Gallery. While we were trying to decide which movie to see, my eight-year-old "baby" sister, Mariah, almost threw a fit because she did not want to see another "dumb" movie. Because it was my free movie rental, I was the one who got to choose. She ended up enjoying this movie. Will Ferrell stars as Harold Crick, a mundane IRS agent/mathematician, who "little does he know" that Karen Eiffel, a writer's-block-suffering novelist (played by Emma Thompson) is writing her latest novel about HIM, perplexed about how to kill him. Queen Latifah is a wise-cracking, smart mouth of an author's assistant sent by the publisher to help with the writer's block and novel's plot. Of course, "little do they know" that Harold Crick is an actual person. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a creative baker who Harold Crick is supposed to auditing, but ends up falling in love with him. Dustin Hoffman add a cuteness but seriousness dimension to this flick as Professor Jules Hilbert, a literary genius who is trying to help Harold Crick out of the dilemma of being killed in Eiffel's story (and thus be killed in real life). I loved how this film taught about the inevitability of death, the simpleness and continuity of life, and choosing to live the type of life you want to live. Will Ferrell delivers an outstanding performance without his irritating, immature, annoying, and often crude humor so typical of most of his roles. (Sorry to all you Will Ferrel fans, but I usually do not like the type of characters he portrays.) Will Ferrel "grew up" in this movie. This movie has a surprize ending that will keep you guessing till the end! Definitely a fun, different movie!Read full review
(For a plot synopsis, please click the link above. This review is a critique of the work, not a summary.) Stranger than Fiction is far and away the best movie I have seen in months, possibly in the last year. I am utterly blown away. I mean, rarely do you find such a wonderful blend of humor, wit, meaning, and quiet humanity all in the same film. As a comedy, it is wry and ironic. There is little physical comedy, and no toilet humor (not that I dislike either, but sometimes a change of pace is welcome). Though the film is clever, it is understated - a simple premise sets up the action , and from there the characters do all the work. And what wonderful characters they are! Will Farrell is an amazingly good straightman in this film, something I never would have guessed from watching his oft over the top antics on Saturday Night Live for so many years. He plays a wonderful character with a subtle charm. Maggie Gyllenhaal (whose name I hope I spelled correctly) is wonderful as ever, and plays a character a bit more recognizable as a role you would think to see her in. Emma Thompson puts in, as usual, a very believable performance. And though her character is difficult to like at first, due only to the situation she's unwittingly put herself in, it is hard to be unimpressed with her acting. Queen Latifah, in a very serious role, is also good. So are Dustin Hoffman, and one of my favorite character actors, Tony Hale (Buster from the television series, Arrested Development). I cannot recommend this movie highly enough. It is one of the few movies I've seen in the last few years that has truly earned its ending. It's not wrapped up in a little bow, and it does not come from nowhere and for no reason. The choices the characters make may surprise you, but it does not feel contrived; knowing the characters, as you do by the end of the film, their decisions make sense, and their motives are clear. This is one I will watch again and again. I can't guarantee you'll enjoy it as much as I did, but I can hope.Read full review
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