Stranger Than Fiction (DVD)
March 1, 2008 · Print This Article
When Stranger Than Fiction
The film stars Will Ferrell
This film also features Dustin Hoffman
Stranger Than Fiction is contrary, at once both satisfyingly simple and delightfully complex. The themes are cleverly layered and tease the audience into having “aha” moments during every other scene. This film shows us how to live, to feel alive, and break out of stale habits. It explores self, relationships, and craft. The chemistry between Maggie Gyllenhaal
I’m a writer, and that made this film even more appealing to me. As Emma Thompson struggled to finish her novel, I got right in there and struggled alongside her. Every twist and turn was strangely familiar and I found myself nodding my head in agreement and understanding at the hardships that every writer faces.
Even if you’re not a writer, you’ll love this film. You’ll be rooting for every single character and when it’s over, you’ll have twice as much respect for the actors. And I don’t know who write the screenplay, but what a gem!
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I think it’s important to note Ferrell’s transition from funny man into a more serious role. He nailed the part in my opinion, which is even more impressive when you consider that he is playing the polar opposite of what we are used to. He’s usually the over the top, goofy guy, and in this film he is rather seroius, and, his part requires him to be kind of mundane. I was impressed, and this is coming from someone that was harboring a negative view before the movie started. I was completely reader to rip his perfromance to shreds and give it a big thumbs down, and he won me over.
I loved this film. I loved the clever way they used CGI to try and get across what a math nerd Ferrell’s character is.
Its quirkiness reminded me of Being John Malkovich.
Surprisingly, I liked this film, too. I can’t stand Ferrell, and think the movie would have been much better with someone else in his role, but he was good enough to not hurt a clever theme.
@Nick, I completely agree. I’m not a huge fan of the kind of comedy that Ferrell usually does and I was pleasantly surprised with his role in Stranger Than Fiction. It really showcased his acting chops. Thanks for pointing that out!
@cellobella, I have yet to watch Being John Malkovich but I’ve heard good things about it. Gotta get to that one of these days…
@Scott, I thought Ferrell was perfect for the role, even though I’m not a huge fan of his either. I was dismayed that he did those two goofball comedy sports movies right after Stranger Than Fiction. Seems to me, he could have expanded his career from his role, but he just want back to his old tricks.
Melissa: I can’t say Ferrell was bad for the role in the context of a vacuum, but given my dislike of him generally, I have a tough time getting past it. I think I would have LOVED the movie with someone else. Had I never heard of Ferrell before this movie, I’d probably view him differently in it.
I really liked this movie, too, though I don’t think it would have hurt if Will Ferrell had, I don’t know, smiled once in a while? I liked him well enough, but it seems like he’s got too acting settings: High and Low. He needed to bring this up to a simmer–I didn’t feel that there was really that much going on beneath Harold Crick’s exterior, at least not until the end. But, it doesn’t matter, I loved it anyway. Emma Thompson was brilliant and Dustin Hoffman’s literature professor? He made me laugh–more concerned that the correct author wasn’t on his list than that he’d helped solve this man’s dilemma. Loved that.
That said, I saw this in the theater with my parents who both hated it, but I think that the previews were misleading with the wrecking ball crashing into his apartment, him shouting at the voice in the sky–they thought it was going to be more of an outright comedy than it was. I liked the layers of reality and fiction playing together and while it wasn’t entirely what I expected, either, I had no complaints and left the theater happy. (grin) But then, neither of my parents writes, either.
@Scott, I think as a viewing audience, we often assign particular character types to actors, and no matter what they do, we can’t shake the image in our own minds. That’s why I think smart actors choose roles that are very different from one another, because then it’s harder for them to be typecast.
@Deb, Hmm, I thought Ferrell played Crick perfectly. However, during the beginning of the film, I did feel the same way as you. I kept thinking, what’s Harold Crick’s problem? Doesn’t this guy ever smile, do anything fun? Geez, he needs to get a life. And then he did.
Well, yes and no. Harold Crick had to very clearly NOT be having fun, because that was the point, but it was like the only way Will Ferrell could reign in that manic energy of his (that I usually find annoyingly over-the-top) was by acting as if he was made of wood . . . as if, if he didn’t completely control himself, all that crazy stuff would burst out. Except that that didn’t fit the character at all . . . up until he heard he was going to die, he didn’t realize what depths he had. He thought he was content in his drab life. He might still have cracked a polite smile once in a while….
Deb, that’s true. He almost came off as inhuman during the first part of the film, but I enjoyed that portrayal. I can see how some wouldn’t like it much though.
Melissa,
I agree with you, and let’s face it, mostly Ferrell plays the same character over and over, so this was different. For me, though, because I find his “claim to fame” persona so annoying, I can’t get past it. That’s just me. That said, I would separate Ferrell from Jim Carrey, in my mind, as Carrey has played the same part repeatedly, too, but was superb in flicks such as “Eternal Sunshine” and the movie where he is mistaken for a war vet by a small town (the name escapes me).
i LOVED this film! i watch very little tv. so i had not seen trailers. we caught it on our flight to italy last year. the cgi overlays were GORGEOUS! it was a sensory delight. i was able to overlook my prior knowledge of will ferrell as an actor. i’ve actually been wanting buy the dvd for my small library.
Yeah, this one was really good. Very nice idea for a comedy. I haven’t seen it in a while so I can’t recall any exact problems I had with it but I do remember the really nice devices they used for Harold’s character, like the counting habit.
I like how you’ve set your reviews up on your site too, by the way.
@Scott, Yep, I think that’s why people find Ferrell somewhat annoying - he just plays the same character over and over. It gets tiring. Jim Carey, in my opinion, is even harder to watch, but he’s been around much longer, or so it seems.
@renee, This would be a good one to own, I totally agree. I also noticed the aesthetics of the film and found them very pleasing. Mostly drab with these bright pops and splashes of color, if I remember correctly…
@Delores, Brilliant for a comedy, I think. Thanks
More reviews coming soon!
I’ve never been a fan of Will Ferrel, but this movie, I think he manage to have a decent performance. I was surpised to find Emma Thompson and Queen Latifah working so well together. The scenes featuring them together were some of the movie’s highlights.
Maggie with her tattoo was fab! I love this actress!
@Jed, I think Will did a great job as did the rest of the cast but I have to agree with you — Maggie stole the show. Now if only she’d do more films…