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Stranger Than Fiction [2006]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Much was written about Will Ferrell's first "dramatic role" as Harold Crick, an IRS auditor who begins hearing a voice narrating his life. But Stranger Than Fiction is hardly a drama. However, what Ferrell does--like Jim Carrey before him in The Truman Show--is handle a toned-down character with genuineness and affection: you believe he is this guy. Crick leads a lonely life filled with numbers and routines. While at first he considers the voice a nuisance, Crick decides more action is needed when it speaks of "his demise." Enter Professor Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman), who takes on the absurd notion with revelry, trying to find out what kind of book Crick's life is leading. It turns out that the voice Crick is hearing belongs to Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson), a very real--and troubled--author who is writing a book in which Crick is a fictional character. As usual with these things, the stuffed shirt learns to live a better life--Crick even falls for one of his audits, a brash baker named Ana (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Marc Foster (Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland) has the right tone for the film, using great urban scenes (the unnamed city is Chicago) with interesting visualisations of Crick's world of numbers. He also directs Ferrell, Hoffman, and Gyllenhaal to their most charming performances (plus Linda Hunt and Tom Hulce pop up in two funny scenes). Ferrell succeeds in being a romantic lead you can root for; a scene where he eats Ana's freshly baked cookies is totally delightful without a hint of sarcasm. Screenwriter Zach Helm has two personal traits with his story: like Crick he followed his heart (he stopped rewriting scripts and only worked on his own) and like Eiffel, the final results are not a masterpiece, but good, and entertaining enough. Britt Daniel of the band Spoon worked on the dynamite soundtrack. --Doug Thomas


Definitely A Marmite Movie
Review date: 2008-09-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

OK, so I may be alone in thinking this, but the obvious comparison for this movie is The Truman Show and yet, it's so much better than The Truman Show! Will Ferrell and Emma Thompson are excellent and convincing. The story resonates long after the film ends. The script and visuals are a treat. It's both thought-provoking and entertaining. It simply deserves to be seen.

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Reviews


Weird, wonderful, compelling and very funny
Review date: 2008-06-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is one of the best movies I saw last year. It's clever, funny and well put together. Will Ferrell sidesteps his usual more straight-forward choice of comic role (think Talladega nights, Blades of Glory, Old School) and becomes Harrold Crick the obsessive compulsive mega-intelligent but socially inept taxman whose life (and the laws of the universe) start to fall down around his ears. Howard starts hearing voices in his head - a voice to be more specific - that of a commentator - talking about what he's doing, as he does it. At first it drives him mad, and then starts to scare him as he wonders who is calling the shots - him or the voice? The subsequent drama and ever complicating plot become hilarious, sad and slightly worrying. Everytime you think you have it worked out, the rules change.

The plot is clever and challenging - it keeps you thinking all the way through without becoming so deep that you can't enjoy the funnies. If you're the sort of person that likes to work out the plot from the start then this will definately entertain you.

A definite must see movie.

Original, clever, but not spectacular
Review date: 2008-06-22 Rating: 8 out of 10

I enjoyed this film to a point and have given it four stars for originality and some great acting by Emma Thompson and Will Ferrel. But it was not as brilliant in my eyes as other reviewers on this page seem to think it was. I am not one for non stop action and I thought there were some generally funny and touching moments as Harold Crick begins to realise that his life is being narrated. BUT, dare I say it? I found it ever so slightly dull at times and the ending was sweet but a little disappointing. I am sure I will upset some big fans of this film, but I found it a little lacking at times. I am glad that I rented rather then brought Stranger Than Fiction as I am not sure I would watch it again.



Original, clever metafiction
Review date: 2008-04-21 Rating: 10 out of 10

Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is an ordinary Civil Servant. Going about his daily life he hears the voice of an author narrating her new novel. A shrink advises Crick to take prescribed medication but he's convinced he's acting out the novel's main character. The novelist Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson) is reputed for always killing off her lead character. So Crick is on mission to track her down before it's too late! Eiffel's writing assistant is played by the rap-artist Queen Latifah.

Employed by the Inland Revenue, Crick is sent to audit a baker who pays only 78% of her taxes. He instantly falls in love with the baker - the gorgeous but rebellious Anna Pascale (Maggie Gyllenhaal). What begins as a sort of love/hate relationship flourishes over time. Dustin Hoffman excels as ever. Originally he wanted the lead role in this movie but I suspect the directors were reluctant to cast him dating the stunningly cute Gyllenhaal, an actress 40 years his junior! So he has to settle for the eccentric Professor Jules Hilbert instead. He's an important character who helps Crick track down the elusive novelist. It's all very well cast. Even Crick's wristwatch becomes a character in the story!

If you're after something a bit different yet not too "off the wall", check out this film. I for one am very happy to award it the full five stars.

An Excellent Story About Illusions, Love, and A Journey To Discovery
Review date: 2008-04-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

I watched this dvd last night, and it was very enjoyable, in my opinion. It supposed to be a comedy, but it is more like a drama where Will Ferrell's character, Harold, tries to find out who's the voice narrating in his head and try to find her with the help of a literature professor (Dustin Hoffman) before his "imminent death" while the morbid author Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson) trying to figure out how to kill Harold (unknowning that he's real) with the help of her assistant played by Queen Latifah.

The cast of this film delivers an excellent story about illusions, love, and a journey to discovery. Personally, I really enjoyed this film.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Queen Latifah
Will Ferrell
Dustin Hoffman
Emma Thompson

Creators:
Emma Thompson (Primary Contributor)
Maggie Gyllenhaal (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
EAN: 5035822127234
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, PAL,
Release date: 2007-04-02
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 109 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2006
Language: English (Original Language)

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