Saturday, March 31, 2007

Stranger than Fiction....

" Like anything worth writing, it came inexplicably and without method."

What do I even begin to say about this film? I was actually going to write up a little "review" about immediately after I saw in theatres, but probably at the time I had more exciting things in my life than six research papers. Now, a Friday night movie is the best thing I have got...

Considering the content, it isn't too surprising that this movie won me over in the first ten minutes. The basic plot is that Will Ferrell actually hears a writer narrating his life but “accurately and with a better vocabulary". Literary humor abounded at every turn. Dustin Hoffman is a literary theory professor - can it get better than this? His rant just killed me: "I have written papers on 'little did he know', I used to teach a class based on 'little did he know', I once gave an entire seminar on 'little did he know'". The first time I saw this I just about died laughing. This is my life. Entire papers are written about four words. Oh just thinking about it right now makes me laugh at how ridiculous we English people are.

Okay, at this point you are thinking “Sharelle is an English geek”. And you are right, but you still need to see this movie. The writing is so well done. It may be a comedy, but the characters actually are characters. You feel like you meet them and know them better once the movie is done. Hypothetically, if I had watched the featurettes (which of course I didn’t do…ummm right) I may have seen an interview in which the wonderful Emma Thompson said: “I would love to serve this writing”. I found that inspiring. Thinking that actors are actually looking for good writing and they are willing to give themselves up for it. Okay, sorry for the digression once again, but the point is, every single actor in this film fulfills their role, and that is rare my friends.

So, do a service to yourself and rent this movie. It may not be Oscar-worthy, but it is clever, and honestly sometimes I think that is a greater feat. I loved it more the second time I watched it, seeing how all the pieces come together. And if none of this persuades you, it has Will Ferrell, Mr. SNL comedy himself and it turns out he can act. Go watch it, you won’t regret it. How’s that for a passionate movie review?

4 comments:

Lana said...

I hope you don't mind my posting, but I was browsing through blogs and saw yours. Stranger Than Fiction is SUCH a good film! Your review was spot on!

Alyssa said...

Yes, I also enjoyed this film. In fact, now I feel like renting it and watching it again... sounds like the perfect plan for a snowy night in Edmonton.

Danielle Alexandra said...

Really nice post! I enjoyed very much!
I am danielle from Bolivia. I hope you remember me! we studied together at Capernwray!
Well, God bless you and it is very nice to catch up through your blog.
I would like you to see mine if you want: daniellealexandracq.blogspot.com

Ben S. said...

just wanted to repeat my facebook comment - i LOVE stranger than fiction and just added it to my favourites. this is why i love sharelle.