Director Curtis Hansen received both the audience and the critics praises with his 1997 masterpiece "L.A. Confidential". In what seemed like an odd career move after that success, he went to direct this small low-budget comedy based on a novel about the misfortunes of a writer during one weekend. While the plot doesn't sound like a comedy, "Wonder Boys" is in fact a very good one, mixing drama and humor spiced up with a bit of satire with amazing results.
Now, "Wonder Boys" plot is wonderful in its simplicity. It is a character driven story that follows Grady Tripp (wonderfully played by Michael Douglas) as his wife lefts him in the beginning of what could be the worst weekend of his life. Tripp is not only a writer with marital problems, he has a writing workshop in the University of Pittsburgh, and has just found out that his job is in danger when his girlfriend Sara (Frances McDormand) tells him that she is pregnant. The problem? She is the wife of his boss.
If that wasn't enough, his editor (Robert Downey Jr.) visits him hoping that his never ending book is finished, and for bizarre circumstances, one of his students, James Leer (Tobey Maguire), joins him in a wild weekend that will change their lives.
Now, this is not cheap slapstick comedy, this is a brilliantly crafted character study that explores the life of Tripp, this common man that suddenly has to deal with the world he had been avoiding. Michael Douglas gives one of the best performances of his life as Tripp; he totally owns the character and is truly believable as this mature man that suddenly is forced to awake, as if he had been in a long coma.
The strange collection of supporting characters are outstanding and every cast member does a great job. Frances McDormand makes a remarkable performance, but Tobey Maguire as the genius James Leer and Robert Downey Jr. as his weird editor Crabtree really steal every scene they are in. Katie Holmes plays Hannah Green, another of Tripp's students who secretly admires him in more than one way; her part is small but she gives a fine performance too.
Hansen's direction is subtle, but very appropriate considering the story's setting. The movie flows very easily and it is never hard to understand the problems of the characters, in fact, it is very easy to feel identified with them. Truly, this is a very well crafted movie.
The most well known part of the movie is probably that its song won an Oscar. Bob Dylan's song fits perfectly the theme of the movie, things change and we must change with them, not isolate ourselves. The never ending book is the perfect analogy to this. Tripp continues writing a book just to have something to do, not because he really wants to finish it.
"Wonder Boys" was a very pleasant surprise, its light tone and funny dark humor are improved by the outstanding cast and their remarkable performances. It is a shame that this movie is not as well known as Hansen's other work because, this movie is of a very high level. 7/10. Very Recommended.
Now, "Wonder Boys" plot is wonderful in its simplicity. It is a character driven story that follows Grady Tripp (wonderfully played by Michael Douglas) as his wife lefts him in the beginning of what could be the worst weekend of his life. Tripp is not only a writer with marital problems, he has a writing workshop in the University of Pittsburgh, and has just found out that his job is in danger when his girlfriend Sara (Frances McDormand) tells him that she is pregnant. The problem? She is the wife of his boss.
If that wasn't enough, his editor (Robert Downey Jr.) visits him hoping that his never ending book is finished, and for bizarre circumstances, one of his students, James Leer (Tobey Maguire), joins him in a wild weekend that will change their lives.
Now, this is not cheap slapstick comedy, this is a brilliantly crafted character study that explores the life of Tripp, this common man that suddenly has to deal with the world he had been avoiding. Michael Douglas gives one of the best performances of his life as Tripp; he totally owns the character and is truly believable as this mature man that suddenly is forced to awake, as if he had been in a long coma.
The strange collection of supporting characters are outstanding and every cast member does a great job. Frances McDormand makes a remarkable performance, but Tobey Maguire as the genius James Leer and Robert Downey Jr. as his weird editor Crabtree really steal every scene they are in. Katie Holmes plays Hannah Green, another of Tripp's students who secretly admires him in more than one way; her part is small but she gives a fine performance too.
Hansen's direction is subtle, but very appropriate considering the story's setting. The movie flows very easily and it is never hard to understand the problems of the characters, in fact, it is very easy to feel identified with them. Truly, this is a very well crafted movie.
The most well known part of the movie is probably that its song won an Oscar. Bob Dylan's song fits perfectly the theme of the movie, things change and we must change with them, not isolate ourselves. The never ending book is the perfect analogy to this. Tripp continues writing a book just to have something to do, not because he really wants to finish it.
"Wonder Boys" was a very pleasant surprise, its light tone and funny dark humor are improved by the outstanding cast and their remarkable performances. It is a shame that this movie is not as well known as Hansen's other work because, this movie is of a very high level. 7/10. Very Recommended.