Movie Review: Stranger Than Fiction
What a great concept for a film! A character can hear the narration of his life as it unfolds. When he hears that his death is "imminent", he goes on a quest to find out why, and to see if he can prevent it. The whole film is imbued with a whimsical self-awareness, perhaps the first of its kind. Certainly the first I've experienced. It's works as a commentary on our (post)modern times, the reason and impetus for creativity, and philosophy and meaning of life as we understand it. So how to you handle such big concepts, and not get soapbox-preachy? Very Carefully.
Stranger Than Fiction is one of the very few movies I would consider to be literature. It's tough to explain what I mean by that, but it helps to have dialogue which involves somewhat sophisticated concepts and vocabulary. It also helps that it touches on some literary concepts. This is handled in a sort of an unspoken battle of wits between Dustin Hoffman's lit-prof character, and Emma Thompson's as the author. I like that these two know each other so well throughout the movie, so that when they finally meet near the end of the movie, there is no small talk between them, only truth.
The movie almost (but not quite) states a faith-based truth claim. It comes so close in its treatment of our lives as story, as it compares all the signs of love and touch that humans share. And then at the crux the narrator says "Thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies". I'm trying to decide if that's as significant to the story (or its makers) as it is to me. It comes at a pivotal moment of trust in the bigger picture of life's story, and to put that in God's hands seems so satisfying to me. But I'm not thoroughly convinced that that was entirely intentional. It is however the only mention of God, and it's perfect timing. Perhaps it's God's own authorial intrusion...?
STF a lighter movie than I may have made it out to be here. It's a radical departure for Will Farrel (very timely, and very well done), and its consistent wry humour is charming. But it's not common that a movie leaves me pondering in my seat while the credits roll. And that was really the best part!
Stranger Than Fiction is one of the very few movies I would consider to be literature. It's tough to explain what I mean by that, but it helps to have dialogue which involves somewhat sophisticated concepts and vocabulary. It also helps that it touches on some literary concepts. This is handled in a sort of an unspoken battle of wits between Dustin Hoffman's lit-prof character, and Emma Thompson's as the author. I like that these two know each other so well throughout the movie, so that when they finally meet near the end of the movie, there is no small talk between them, only truth.
The movie almost (but not quite) states a faith-based truth claim. It comes so close in its treatment of our lives as story, as it compares all the signs of love and touch that humans share. And then at the crux the narrator says "Thank God for Bavarian sugar cookies". I'm trying to decide if that's as significant to the story (or its makers) as it is to me. It comes at a pivotal moment of trust in the bigger picture of life's story, and to put that in God's hands seems so satisfying to me. But I'm not thoroughly convinced that that was entirely intentional. It is however the only mention of God, and it's perfect timing. Perhaps it's God's own authorial intrusion...?
STF a lighter movie than I may have made it out to be here. It's a radical departure for Will Farrel (very timely, and very well done), and its consistent wry humour is charming. But it's not common that a movie leaves me pondering in my seat while the credits roll. And that was really the best part!
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