CriticSociety- film reviews

Review

Wonder Boys

Director

Curtis Hanson

Year

2000

Rating

Reviewed by

a.k.a. Jacinda

Review date

Saturday, December 23, 2000

When I first heard about the making of this movie I remembered a very odd novel I had read several years ago. I knew the book by Michael Chabon but, to be honest, I didn't remember much. Although I had a vague idea of some odd characters, I had to grab the book again and read the summary on the back. It said something about a chaotic weekend "involving a tuba, a dead dog, Marilyn Monroe's ermine-lined jacket and a squashed boa constrictor." What kind of story do you expect now? It's hard to sum it up but I'll have a try.

The main character is Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas) who is teaching literature at university. He was once declared a great novelist with his second book not being finished yet although he had already written about 2500 pages. No need to worry about writer's block! The story is a weird journey of this professor including all the elements mentioned before (except the snake). I don't know if this is really a story about the midlife crisis of a man but Grady in a way has to settle down with things as his girlfriend (Frances McDormand) gets pregnant and his editor (Robert Downey Jr.) arrives in town to talk about his next novel. You will also find Tobey Maguire in one of his most cheerful roles ever and Dawson's Creek's Katie Holmes in a small supporting role.

I don't want to give away too much of the story. Actually, I can't really explain what happens - you simply have to see it for yourself. I only have to state this: Michael Douglas deserves an Oscar for portraying Grady trip exactly as I had imagined him when I read the book. Curtis Hanson is a master of adapting novels. I still remember LA Confidential as one of the best films in the past years. Wonder Boys can't be compared with it, but it has some of the weirdest characters and situations I've seen lately (reminding me a lot of John Irving). The dialogue is witty, the cast is outstanding, the script is intelligent. What else can I say?

Michael Douglas received a Golden Globes nomination for Best Dramatic Actor. I can't wait for the Oscars...

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