We had an idea of what to expect when Mirjana told the girl at the candy bar what we were seeing, and she said "Well, it's different . . ." When Mirjana said "Different meaning good, right?" the girl replied "I guess, if you like that sort of stuff". I suppose that's why they have her working the candy bar and not the ticket sales window.Anyway, the movie is about Harold Crick (played by Will Ferrell), an average guy with an average job who one day starts to hear a voice in his head narrating his every move. After meeting with a psychiatrist and a literary professor, he realises he's become a character in a book which is currently being written. The only problem is that the author (and narrator, played by Emma Thompson) is famous for killing off the protagonists in her books, and so he has to chase her down and convince her to let him live.
I read a review of this where it was compared to Being John Malkovich but to me it seemed closer to another Charlie Kaufman movie, Adaptation. In fact, the script would have seemed brilliant if it wasn't kind of done before in that movie.
I've never been a huge Will Ferrell fan. I loved Anchorman, but that's about the only one of his comedies I really like. I saw Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby a few weeks ago, and other than the following scene, came away a little disappointed.
Ferrell is really good in this though, kind of like when Jim Carrey did the Truman Show. Also worth mentioning is the always lovely Maggie Gyllenhall, who gives Ferrell a reason to fight for his life as an unlikely love interest.
Anyway, I would give this 7.5 out of 10. If you're interested, here's the trailer . . .
1 comment:
hello hunter. what were you thinking??!! the movie was GREATER than your review. sure, it has similarities to kaufman movies but the script and acting were fantastic. sometimes there is great pleasure in watching a film that provides you with scenarios and situations you can identify with. for example, as discussed on the way home, i too have counted the number of steps taken from my house(from front door) to get to work. i cant remember how many (steps)it was - but i did it a couple of times to get an average. i did this experiment out of boredom experienced by undertaking the same routine day after day. also in the movie the narrative voice that harold hears, again is something i have done (and continue to do - but maybe not so much anymore because now some guy made a film with it and it might appear that i was/am unoriginal and just copying). Emma Thompson did not narrate my life. i did. but i chose to do it using an english accent. i tried a spanish person speaking english but it was getting me confused. (i just had a thought - how about narrating your life through subtitles, so i could have had the spanish version with english subtitles. the fact i dont speak spanish complicates the idea..) anyway what i am getting at is i would encourage anyone to actually try this. Go on. it is a great way to work out why and how you do things that you do. when you master the art of narrating a situation to yourself while actually having a (live) conversation with a person, i think you too would wonder why you never did this before. or maybe you wont. see you at work. ps i tried to find karen at rsvp and i couldnt. you are more patient let me know if you do.
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