STRANGER THAN FICTION
CAROLINE: On a rainy Sunday, post-brunch, we finally saw a movie with Will Ferrell whereupon he was not nude.
RYAN: And whereupon I think he gave his best cinematic performance to date.
CAROLINE: Hmm.
RYAN: I actually felt like he was not acting. He was really believable and so not over-the-top, very understated and comical. Jim Carrey is to “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” as Will Ferrell is to this movie.
CAROLINE: I agree, I thought he gave a very understated performance, and I mean that in a good way. I enjoyed watching him and having him not be up to his usual antics. He was playing straight, as it were – and the movie is “Stranger Than Fiction.”
RYAN: And it co-stars Emma Thompson in a fine performance.
CAROLINE: She’s always amazing.
RYAN: She is. And Maggie Gyllenhaal.
CAROLINE: Sister of Jake. You know, I think I like her more and more with each film I see her in.
RYAN: At first I was kind of like, “Oh God, she’s playing the same kind of working class role as always,” but then she was good.
CAROLINE: There’s something about her voice that’s a little gravelly that I like.
RYAN: Ok, that’s fair. You can like that about her.
CAROLINE: Thanks.
RYAN: I was very saddened by the lack of Kristin Chenoweth in this movie. I knew she was going to be in it, and you can kind of hear her voice in the background of a couple scenes, but that’s about all you get.
CAROLINE: Yeah, she’s really not even worth mentioning so let’s continue. The movie is sort of…existential. I guess that would be the word I’d use if I were to get philosophical. It’s not my favorite movie of the year or anything but I definitely enjoyed it. It had it’s funny moments, it had some serious moments and hell, there’s even a love story.
RYAN: I definitely was entertained but I don’t think this is a movie you have to see on the big screen. I definitely could have seen myself watching this on cable and being just as touched as I was here. But considering our options this weekend, we were really looking forward to this because the trailer was brilliant, and it’s a good movie. Though it’s a little slow in parts.
CAROLINE: The slowness didn’t bother me. It’s got a very smart, interesting premise and I don’t see how you couldn’t like this film. It’s sort of in the vein of Charlie Kaufman films, like that one “Adaptation” with Nicolas Cage which I actually couldn’t stand.
RYAN: Right. It’s slow but not too long. And there are two things I have to point out – one was the scene about cookies which is brilliant, because I love cookies.
CAROLINE: Yeah, that scene made me hungry.
RYAN: And the second is the scene that had that gorgeous multi-colored lamp in it, which almost stole the scene. No matter what was going on in the scene, I couldn’t stop looking at the lamp.
CAROLINE: Um…are you gay?
RYAN: Come on, it’s a gorgeous lamp.
CAROLINE: There was also some really cool camera-work. There’s a scene in the beginning where Will is brushing his teeth and you get the vantage point from inside his mouth. It’s crazy.
RYAN: Yes, and the first shot of the entire film is breathtaking too.
CAROLINE: It was like Google Maps.
RYAN: Very “Contact“-ish. Bottom line?
CAROLINE: I liked this but I’m really curious to see how it’s going to do at the box office because I don’t think it’s got a lot of buzz, sadly. I just wonder if people think it’s too “out there.”
RYAN: I think it’s a must-see for any Will Ferrell fan. If you liked the trailer, I think you’ll like the movie. Don’t go in expecting to see the best movie of all time, but it’s great.