Stranger Than Fiction
If there is one thing I’m a sucker for it’s a story about a beaten down everyman. My DVD collection is full of quirky stories of people on the verge of giving up on life or love, but finds something to turn their life around. So you can’t be surprised that when I went to see Stranger Than Fiction I was a big fan. This is just one of those films that is right in my wheelhouse. I’m sure that says something about me, but let’s just ignore it and move on.
Harold Crick is an IRS agent whose life is entirely regimented. He works in a world of facts and figures where everything has to precisely add up. Consequently every action he takes is timed out to the minute. That is, until he begins to hear a voice in his head that seems to be narrating his life. At first, he begins to think that he has lost his mind and seeks psychiatric help. When that doesn’t work out he turns to a literary professor for answers. With guidance the two of them try and work out Harold’s problem. In doing so, Harold becomes involved with one of his clients. Things seem to be turning around until the narrator mentions that his death is imminent. This sends Harold into a race to find out the source of the voice in his head and prevent his own death.
There isn’t a bad performance in this whole film. Will Ferrell can definitely hold his own when switching back and forth between absurd comedy and the dramatic. He may not be on par with Bill Murray or Robin Williams, but he is much better than most people will give him credit for. Emma Thompson gives in an Oscar caliber performance as the morbidly depressed author and narrator of Harold Crick’s life. While on the subject of Oscars, Maggie Gyllenhaal is going to get nominated for something. As enjoyable as she is here as an anarchist baker, it won’t be for this, but with both Sherrybaby and World Trade Center under her belt this year, she’ll get something.
A friend of mine asked me, since it was such a strange premise, if this was like a Charlie Kaufman film. Sure, it’s weird, but it’s not quite like that. First of all, as much as I like those movies, with the exception of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I find them to be a little smug. I know that’s not cool to say, but Adaptation, Being John Malkovich and Human Nature just seem a little too pleased with themselves. However, with Stranger Than Fiction, unlike those others, I feel like the story comes first and the gimmick comes second.
Look, I don’t really have a lot of bad things to say about this movie. It’s a strange little piece of filmmaking. As long as you don’t go into this film thinking that you’re going to be seeing something like Anchorman you should be fine. This will definitely play more to the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind crowd, but I think anyone can get behind it.
The Grade
- Story: A
- Acting: B+
- Visuals: A
- Originality: A
- Enjoyability: A+
- Overall: A
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