JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
WonderBoys (2000)
Wonder Boys
DVD Cover
Writer:Michael Chabon & Steven Cloves
Starring:Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jnr
Picture: Widescreen-Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital
Based on Author Michael Chabon’s, (Spiderman 2 Story) insightful bestseller and adapted for the screen by Steven Kloves (Harry Potter 1-5) Wonderboys is an intelligent drama brimming with comedy and words of wisdom.
Seven years ago Grady Tripp, (Michael Douglas) wrote an influential first novel that gained international acclaim and became a best seller. Today, he is struggling to deliver a second and teaches his craft at a Pittsburgh University.
His young trophy wife just left him and Dean Sara Gaskell, (Frances McDormand) the boss' wife has just told him she is pregnant with his child.
It’s the weekend of Bookfest and to make matters worse Grady’s gender crossing agent Terry Crabtree (Robert Downey Jnr) is coming to town.
Throw in one James Leer, (Tobey Maguire) a sexually and emotionally confused teen looking for a role model. Katie Holmes in cowboy boots and you can see why this one time literary genius now tokes on spliffs and wanders around in a tattered pink dressing gown.
Directed by Curtis Hanson (LA Confidential, Bad Influence) the film is driven by the smart, witty script. Full of well rounded, eccentric but believable characters thrust into emotional growth. The cast has a ball creating these textured individuals and the film rises to a whole new level because of there dedication.
The well selected score compliments the low key cinematography letting the humour, drama and subtle character traits have the spotlight onscreen.
John Doe’s View: 9/10
The film many critics feel deserved the 2000 best picture Academy Award and I agree with them. I'm not a huge fan of the supporting cast normally, but they all bring something to the table.
Michael Douglas (Traffic, The China Syndrome) really is a treat to watch in this film. Leaving his ego at the door, he shines in this very real character’s slippers. Robert Downey Jnr’s, (Chaplin, Kiss Kiss bang Bang) energetic performance is as usual sly and brilliant.
Tobey Maguire (Pleasantville, The Ice Storm) is pitch perfect and Frances McDormand (Blood Simple, Almost Famous) creates another strong, compassionate female that is complex but easy to empathise with.
Never failing to make me laugh, the sly, black humour takes the edge off what could have been a soulless, generic feel good movie.
The DVD:
Thoroughly entertaining and highly amusing, Wonderboys is uplifting, memorable and deserves to be in every Library despite the inclusion of only a 10 minute music based commentary and making of.
Starring:Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jnr
Picture: Widescreen-Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital
Based on Author Michael Chabon’s, (Spiderman 2 Story) insightful bestseller and adapted for the screen by Steven Kloves (Harry Potter 1-5) Wonderboys is an intelligent drama brimming with comedy and words of wisdom.
Seven years ago Grady Tripp, (Michael Douglas) wrote an influential first novel that gained international acclaim and became a best seller. Today, he is struggling to deliver a second and teaches his craft at a Pittsburgh University.
His young trophy wife just left him and Dean Sara Gaskell, (Frances McDormand) the boss' wife has just told him she is pregnant with his child.
It’s the weekend of Bookfest and to make matters worse Grady’s gender crossing agent Terry Crabtree (Robert Downey Jnr) is coming to town.
Throw in one James Leer, (Tobey Maguire) a sexually and emotionally confused teen looking for a role model. Katie Holmes in cowboy boots and you can see why this one time literary genius now tokes on spliffs and wanders around in a tattered pink dressing gown.
Directed by Curtis Hanson (LA Confidential, Bad Influence) the film is driven by the smart, witty script. Full of well rounded, eccentric but believable characters thrust into emotional growth. The cast has a ball creating these textured individuals and the film rises to a whole new level because of there dedication.
The well selected score compliments the low key cinematography letting the humour, drama and subtle character traits have the spotlight onscreen.
John Doe’s View: 9/10
The film many critics feel deserved the 2000 best picture Academy Award and I agree with them. I'm not a huge fan of the supporting cast normally, but they all bring something to the table.
Michael Douglas (Traffic, The China Syndrome) really is a treat to watch in this film. Leaving his ego at the door, he shines in this very real character’s slippers. Robert Downey Jnr’s, (Chaplin, Kiss Kiss bang Bang) energetic performance is as usual sly and brilliant.
Tobey Maguire (Pleasantville, The Ice Storm) is pitch perfect and Frances McDormand (Blood Simple, Almost Famous) creates another strong, compassionate female that is complex but easy to empathise with.
Never failing to make me laugh, the sly, black humour takes the edge off what could have been a soulless, generic feel good movie.
The DVD:
Thoroughly entertaining and highly amusing, Wonderboys is uplifting, memorable and deserves to be in every Library despite the inclusion of only a 10 minute music based commentary and making of.
"Soul inhabitant of his own gloomy Goolage"
with the audience. I thoroghly enjoyed it too.
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I really didn't expect to enjoy it. Looked all touchy,feely. But as you can see from my review it won me over at the cinema.
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Great to see all the love for this lesser discussed delight.
I find that it always makes me smile and often inspires me to live my dreams as a hopeful writer.
"Just because Poe and I weren't exactly simpatico. Doesnt mean he should have taken 2 in the chest"-poor Poe.
I went through a period a few years ago where I watched this film repeatedly every week.
I hadn't seen it for a while and it was definetly worth a revisit.
Philosophy Blog
Robert Downey Jr is very good.
For some reason, I find it very appealing that Downey fucks McGuire. Something very satisfying there.
Film & TV on DVD
And Dick showing Tobey some sodimizing pleasure was a brave tact to take, and amusing.
Film & TV on DVD
It sounds like your friend is striving for something great....are you going to check it out?