I recently watched Stranger Than Fiction from Netflix. I somehow knew that I would enjoy it. I was intrigued from the very first trailer that I saw. The idea was fresh and piqued my interest. It kind of got my attention the same way that Being John Malkovich did. It seemed so odd that it had to be good.
I wanted to see it in the theaters, but it didn’t work out and it slipped by. After having the DVD in my possession for about a week, I finally slipped that bad boy into the player and watched it.
Will Ferrell refrained from running around naked or in his underwear in this film… A “comedic” tactic that he’s been driving into the ground. In Stranger Than Fiction, he plays it straight and he plays it well. He’s a strong dramatic actor and this film shows that.
Harold Crick (Ferrell) is a fastidious IRS agent living a life of great dullness until he realizes one morning while brushing his teeth, someone is narrating his life. Funniness ensues and Crick’s life drastically changes.
As it turns out, Crick’s life is being written out in a novel… A novel that he needs to get out of because the ending isn’t to his liking.
Stranger Than Fiction is smart, sweet, funny, and a damn good drama… I just didn’t like the ending. I’m sure if some Europeans wrote and directed the damn thing, I’d like it much better. European made films tend to be a little darker and more realistic. A little more refined than the classic Hollywood Frank Capra types of films that unravel with unbelievable happy endings.
For the record, I have never seen It’s A Wonderful Life. I’ve just seen enough to know that I didn’t like it and never bothered with it again.
Do I recommend Stranger Than Fiction?
I sure as hell do! It’s a great film filled with all kinds of gems. It’s just the ending that I didn’t dig… You may feel differently.
I gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Netflix. And as usual… The Netflix buddy call out… eugenebsims@yahoo.com
I know this is a rather short update… I’m still feeling very tired and I’m still missing some sleep. And to top it off, I drank quite a bit of alcohol last night at the Friday @ Five with Stratocruiser up on the Kress Terrace.
I’m waiting on a load of laundry to finish up its rounds in the dryer. And next on the agenda… The changing of the bed linens!
Ahhhh…. The exciting life of the Self-Proclaimed Bad Boy of Rock 92.
I'm not a fan of actors like Will Ferrell or Jim Carrey - they're generally too hammy and stoooooopid for my taste.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I adored Stranger than Fiction. You really need to switch to Blockbuster so we can swap buddy lists. ;)
Well, that is finally some good movie news on something I would actually watch. I've been holding on to a copy of that flack for months, with intentions of one day actually, know know, watching it. I just never got around to it.
ReplyDeleteI usually hate any movie Will Ferrell leads with a fiery passion, but for some reason this I have wanted to see this one since I first saw a commercial for it. (He is okay in a small role, but when he is the main character he just happens to be startlingly unfunny. It baffles me how people continue to sing his comedy praises. He is NOT funny. Then again people also think Nicholas Cage is a good actor, and I can't quite wrap my mind around that either.)
Will Farrell... I've come around to. Jim Carrey? NEVER! I just don't think the dude is funny. Just like Martin Short and Dana Carvey... They ain't funny!
ReplyDeleteIf you recall, I did enjoy Blades Of Glory... A very funny Will Farrell vehicle.
And who can forget Farrell's SNL stuff...? The tiny phone? And the classic Blue Oyster Cult: Behind The Music?
Eugene, have you seen Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind? It may change your mind (at least slightly) about Carrey. Plus, it has the bonus of being written by Charlie Kaufman, whose style was an obvious contemporary touchstone for Stranger than Fiction and who also wrote Being John Malkovich. Just a suggestion.
ReplyDeleteMy fave Carrey flick was The Majestic. It was a great little movie and a departure from the dreck that made Carrey a bazillinaire.
ReplyDeleteI liked Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind as well, though I do have a bias because I love Kate Winslet.
I need to watch Being John Malkovich, I have a copy of that lying around here somewhere.
I've never seen it, Josh. I know some peeps that are very high on that flick. It's on my Netflix queue.
ReplyDeleteI really dig Adaptation... I'm familiar with Kaufman's work. It's great stuff.
Thanks.