Empire's Stranger Than Fiction Movie Review

Plot
An IRS auditor becomes the subject of his own narration. Everywhere he goes he hears his life being commentated to him, which has a profound impact on his life.

The brainchild of hot new kid on the writers’ block Zach Helm, Stranger Than Fiction is perhaps best described as Adam Sandler’s Click for Guardian readers, or a watered-down version of Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind — neither of which is actually a criticism. Playing on the oft-explored collision between reality and fantasy (it owes a lot to everything from Pirandello to Woody Allen’s short fiction via The Twilight Zone), Stranger takes Charlie Kaufman-styled hijinks with logic and form but imbues the smarts with more heart than headscratching. The result takes a while to find its feet and isn’t wholly successful, but delivers enough strong performances, engaging invention and sweetly skewed charm to brighten up any dark December night.

Turning a dramatic device (the act of narration) into the plot itself, Helm comes up with some inspired, funny licks but never sells out his premise for easy laughs. In a genius idea, Helm has Crick (Will Ferrell) trying to solve his predicament by going to a literary professor (Dustin Hoffman on good form, in shaggy I heart Huckabees mode) who tries to analyse Crick’s anxieties via academic dissection — Hoffman’s Hilbert throwing question after question at Crick, trying to decipher exactly what kind of novel Crick is trapped in, is a comedic delight. Avoiding Frat Pack-style schtick, Will Ferrell is initially unnerving as the buttoned-down automaton, but he successfully nails each of Crick’s emotional states (bewilderment, anxiety, uplifting liberation) as the accountant’s existence blossoms and he starts to live the life he wants.

A filmmaker capable of blowing hot (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland) and cold (Stay), Forster details Crick’s mindset through interesting composition, a nifty sense of architecture to delineate boxed-in characters and a funky use of criss-crossing diagrams to lay bare the mundanity of Crick’s life. It is the less obvious approach — the easy option would be to create some highly stylised artificial world — but the slightly off-kilter feel does much to keep the reality and fantasy in cahoots with each other.

Yet some of the film’s best moments have nothing to do with all this meta-malarkey. The scenes involving Crick’s relationship with tattooed, militant baker Ana (a subtly sexy Maggie Gyllenhaal) are more likeable, original and tender than anything you’d find in most straightlaced rom-coms. There’s a shy, awkward conversation that takes place on the hinge of a bendy bus and sees Crick wafted back and forth as the bus makes corners; Ana breaking down Crick’s defences with the double-whammy of milk and cookies; the Christmassy lights that lend a touch of magic to their first date and, best of all, Crick wooing Ana with the perfect bunch of flowers. If the pair never totally convince as a couple (what does she see in him?), the detail and arc of their tentative relationship could melt the hardest heart.

The darker flipside of Stranger Than Fiction charts the agonies of reclusive writer Kay Eiffel, chainsmoking for England, searching for inspiration in the terminal wards of hospitals as she struggles to shake off her writer’s block and find the best way to kill Crick. Emma Thompson has a fantastic time playing the strung-out author to the limit, but always keeps Eiffel empathetic and likeable.

The problem with all such high-concept stories is that their endings never quite live up to the promise
of their premise and, as soon as we learn that Eiffel’s characteristic trope as a novelist is to murder her character at the point at which they are most happy, the question of how Crick’s dilemma will resolve itself hoves into view. For all his storytelling dexterity, Helm can’t conclude his tale with the courage he has at the start, and the ending will more likely annoy than delight. But by this time, both Crick and the film itself have earned enough goodwill in the bank to mitigate against any gripes. If only all postmodernism was so endearing and entertaining.

Criminally overlooked modern classic
Not since 'In Bruges' have I seen such an original and enjoyable film be completely ignored. The cast is terrific, the direction flawless, the script top-notch, and this is, by far, my favourite performance from Will Ferrel. Do. Not. Miss. It. ... More


Posted by !xHoTRoDx! at 14:03, 26 April 2010 \| Report This Post




This film feels like a Hollyindie (a Hollywood Indie) with a cast that includes Will Ferrel, Maggie Glyenhall, Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson and Queen Latifah, yet due to the nature of the plot and they way it is shot feels like an off-beat indie comedy. Its not an obvious choose for Anchorman to take a role in which he has to play a deadpan auditor obsessed with numbers and with a very dark backdrop of plot but it works and he pulls it off. The film is engaging and entertaining throughout, ... More


Posted by ukedge87 at 21:49, 10 October 2007 \| Report This Post



Surprisingly fantastic
I didn't expect too much from this film but when I sat down and watched it I found it to be a new addition to my top 10 all time greats. It struck the balance between funny and serious just right and Will Ferrell was so much better in this than anything he has ever done before. I hope he sticks to making things like this and not any more Ricky Bobby type crapfests ... More


Posted by paulgambrill at 17:16, 16 September 2007 \| Report This Post



Surprisingly fantastic
I didn't expect too much from this film but when I sat down and watched it I found it to be a new addition to my top 10 all time greats. It struck the balance between funny and serious just right and Will Ferrell was so much better in this than anything he has ever done before. I hope he sticks to making things like this and not any more Ricky Bobby type crapfests ... More


Posted by paulgambrill at 17:16, 16 September 2007 \| Report This Post



Suprisingly good!
I had heard good things about this and decided to give it a shot. I find Will Ferrell funny but sometimes his over-the-top antics annoys me. In this film, however, I thought he was brilliant. His performance was understated but conveyed the initial confusion and then growing acceptance of his position brilliantly. Emma Thompson was also excellent. The film is very funny and the ploy of having stats and diagrams appear in an almost natural way works well. Simply, I thoroughly enjoyed the film... More


Posted by jimbo82g at 12:28, 08 August 2007 \| Report This Post




Oooh no, a thunderous misstep in my humble opinion. A great idea was wasted by a studio who clearly didn't know what to do with it. What could have been a metaphysical drama is castrated to become a kooky love story, with the film suffering something of an identity crisis. The blossoming relationship between Harold and Ana plods along unabated, then suddenly we're back with Thompson's chain-smoking novelist as she visits a ward of terminally-ill people in search of inspiration for Harold's death... More


Posted by dunner05 at 15:22, 20 June 2007 \| Report This Post



Very good
I loved it. Its pretty amusing in parts, well acted and smartely scripted. But most of all this is a hugely original and clever look at fiction. ... More


Posted by mrdoom14 at 19:32, 01 June 2007 \| Report This Post



Luv iiiiiiiiiiiiit!
Brilliant movie, genius dialogue, with one of the most romantic line since EVER...'I got you Flours', loved it, one my fave flms of this year, which is weird as i hate Will Ferrell but dude totally amazed me! and Maggie...Oh Maggie...brilliant, can this gal do anything wrong! ... More


Posted by lolita37 at 23:52, 17 May 2007 \| Report This Post



Loved it
I loved this film from start to finish. I never quite knew what to expect next. The subtle humour worked beautifully, and Maggie Gyllenhaal was REALLY sexy in it. The script and acting were on top form, how could anyone not love this movie? Originality in film-making that I wish we could see more of (or is that statement a bit too ironic?) ... More


Posted by discodave101 at 11:46, 23 April 2007 \| Report This Post



Wills Golden Movie!
If you haven't seen this - don't hesitate to pick up and get it on! Original, funny and smart and just damn good entertainment! A Classic throughout! PS - Loved Maggies tatoos in this, shes turning into a real babe! ... More


Posted by angrymonkey at 14:26, 16 April 2007 \| Report This Post




Didn't absorb it as well as I could coz I was watching it on an aeroplane, but that didn't subtract from it's quality and I would still rate it and am definately going to watch it again :-) ... More


Posted by Bubba76 at 12:53, 15 April 2007 \| Report This Post



Stranger than Fiction
Movies about writers and about writing tend to fall flat on their face, because the Hollywood idea of writers are of intellectuals whose stories are almost always about some introspective look into the human soul or take a look at the taboo subjects or whatever. Not the other 90% of authors that actually write stories and books that people enjoy; you know, the ones that are actually readable? Emma Thompson plays such an author who is, of course, a genius with writers block. But the story she is... More


Posted by MBBarlow at 23:01, 27 March 2007 \| Report This Post



RE: Stranger than fiction
Watched it for the 2nd time today! Still fantastic, for me it has been the best film of the year! 5/5! ... More

Posted by The Mighty at 01:10, 17 December 2006 \| Report This Post



RE: Stranger than fiction
I was pleasantly surprised by this, I thought it was a nice, rather sweet little film and a pleasant change of direction for Will Ferrell, I particularly enjoyed his scenes with Gylenhaal and Hoffman. Maybe the ending could have been a bit better but it was overall an enjoyable, feel good movie. ... More

Posted by Indio at 21:48, 16 December 2006 \| Report This Post



Stranger than fiction
Absolutly brilliant! I loved this film from beginning to end! Even though I really do like Will Ferrell but this has to be one of his best films to date; doing a kinda of Jim Carey Truman show film that showed that Mr Ferrell can do drama as well as comedy! A great cast with Mr Dustin and Miss Emma Thompson (who gives a terrific performance by the way!) and the bit when Will sings on the guitar made me almost fall head over heals in love with him! ... More


Posted by Empo at 10:46, 12 December 2006 \| Report This Post



Stranger than fiction
Absolutly brilliant! I loved this film from beginning to end! Even though I really do like Will Ferrell but this has to be one of his best films to date; doing a kinda of Jim Carey Truman show film that showed that Mr Ferrell can do drama as well as comedy! A great cast with Mr Dustin and Miss Emma Thompson (who gives a terrific performance by the way!) and the bit when Will sings on the guitar made me almost fall head over heals in love with him! ... More


Posted by Empo at 10:46, 12 December 2006 \| Report This Post



RE: RE:
L: Sway However there were a couple of things about the movie which I can't help ponder. Firstly that Hoffman's character (who, by the way was brilliant, Hoffman is a genuis as this slightly off-the wall literature professor, every scene he was in was a joy to watch) should decide that Karen's career is more important than a human life. Surely that's stretching it a bit? I know I've just pointed out he was slightly-off the wall, but I don't feel it can justify his final decisi... More

Posted by The Mighty at 00:54, 10 December 2006 \| Report This Post



RE:
----------------SPOILERS AHEAD-----------------------/b] I /i] don't like Will Ferrell, so it was with much intrepidation that I went to see this movie. However the plot really appealed to me, and I wondered how it could all be done. Anyway I have to take my hat off to Mr Ferrell, because I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and he really made me like his character. What a transformation from the roles he usually picks. The humour in this film and which Ferrell di... More


Posted by Sway at 17:21, 09 December 2006 \| Report This Post




the best Will Ferrell film by far even if he has done a Jim Carey/Truman Show like performance ... More


Posted by moviemaniac2 at 20:00, 07 December 2006 \| Report This Post




Saw this a couple of days ago, and while it's based on a great premise, I didn't think the script came close to realising that premise satisfactorily. Starts off well enough with plenty of clever and funny moments, but as the film goes on, it gets less interesting as you realise the script writers are running out of ideas. The ending isn't very satisfactory either. Still, I'd give it a solid 3 stars, mainly because the main premise IS very good and original, plus the acting is good all-ro... More


Posted by BertyBasset at 02:02, 07 December 2006 \| Report This Post



RE: Stranger Than Fiction
] Stranger Than Fiction is a meta-fiction, which means it is a fiction about fiction, which also means it should be heading in the general direction of its own arse at a swift rate of knots. But, miraculously, no; director Marc Forster’s first stab at comedy is a clever little charmer, and one of the best films of the year. Howard Crick (Will Ferrell) is our protagonist, an IRS agent, and a very right-brain kind of guy, whose meticulously numerical daily rituals are recounted by ou... More


Posted by westsider at 21:34, 06 December 2006 \| Report This Post



Death and Texas !!!!......
Pretty easy to watch, and very clever Film indeed, much better than I expected it to be, good performances all round from the leading actors too....... ... More


Posted by n13roy at 18:32, 06 December 2006 \| Report This Post



RE: Sublime
I liked this. Will Ferrell performed admirely in a toned down performance and much like his work in Elf he is credible as an admitedly somewhat quirky romantic lead. The central pairing between Ferrell and Maggie Gyllenhaal works despite the obvious age difference between the two and features the best use of a bendy bus in the movies. The writing is good - particularly strong on the dialogue front although screenwriter Zach Helm struggles to keep the narrator presence going th... More


Posted by Groovy Mule at 13:14, 05 December 2006 \| Report This Post



Sublime
Who would have thought that Will Ferrell was this good an actor? At last a good, intelligent, adult film that doesnt pander to the lowest common denominator and treats the audience with a modicom of intelligence. The acting is superb, the script is sublime and the special effects (yes! special effects!) are used to delightfully entertaining effect. Good to see Emma Thompson back on the big screen too. Lets hope its not too long before we see her again ... More


Posted by duncan1964 at 09:28, 05 December 2006 \| Report This Post



RE: RE:
Fantastic film.Great perfomances from everyone. Especially Will Ferrel. I really believed in the character. He really can act. It was a great subtle transformation even if I did not 100% believe his relationship with Gylenhaal. As I came out somebody was saying they should have let him die but I thought Thompson's line about wanting to save a man who would knowingly walk to his death was very touching. ... More

Posted by King_Wah at 23:36, 04 December 2006 \| Report This Post



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Stranger Than FictionWill Ferrell hears voices, and not in a good way.

Stranger Than Fiction
Will Ferrell hears voices, and not in a good way.