Stranger Than Fiction

Wonderful film, full of great moments and good solid performances from all concerned and particularly, Emma Thompson, surely at her best and Dustin Hoffman on top form. Will Ferrell is fine as the lead in a difficult role and I enjoyed every moment the lovely Maggie Gyllenhaal, looking younger than ever, was on screen. Difficult to describe without giving all away but if this is not quite, laugh out loud comedy, it is certainly, smile all the way, comedy. Some great lines and some thoughtful ideas, indeed this could be taken as pure silliness or a more serious existential exploration of life and death and the bits in between. Light and airy with something more solid as an optional extra.

This movie is indescribable. No words can express the beauty of this story. Undoubtedly the best ending to a movie ever. Everything in the story lead to a single ending, but it wasn't the one we'd expected. A story of a man who's whole entire life is changed simply by knowing he's going to die. This movie shows a better way to look at life, it shows that we all put ourselves into ruts that say that life will never end, and only when we see that all things have an end is where our lives begin to prosper. I'm ever so grateful that this movie exists, and it's definitely my favorite.

This was a real surprise! I was hooked from the beginning. I won't go into the plot as you may already know what it's about. This is a very unique movie, funny but darker than your typical Ferrell film. The cast are faultless and Dustin Hoffman must too get a mention here as he shows his class adding weight to an already talented bunch. One slight criticism would be Maggie Gyllenhaal, I felt her part was slightly overplayed and a little cliche. Apart from this, a really entertaining movie!

You could easily be fooled into thinking this is a Charlie Kaufman script/movie you're watching here (it isn't though, but Zach Helm the script writer is more than happy with this comparison). Maybe even directed by M. Gondry! A man (brilliantly played by Will Ferrell) who is hearing voices ... a voice over to be exact, that is talking about his life or what he is doing ... while he is doing exactly that. Sounds weird? It get's weirder (= better, literally!). You can see why the script draw all those beautiful performers and they all do a very good job portraying their characters. I won't go into the roles they play, just so that you will enjoy it more, when you watch it (I saw the movie as a Sneak Preview). If you're a fan of the weird & funny, this movie is a must-see! :o)

Let me first reveal that I am a huge Will Ferrell fan even of his absurdist work but this movie was anything but absurd. Not sure how to interpret what occurred with Will's character (but's it not Illuminati trickery, didn't see anything to suggest that and one would have to be super paranoid to arrive at that interpretation from this vehicle)! Will's character was forced into an unwinnable situation (or so it appeared), he had to consciously choose between self-sacrifice and doing the right thing in the process (saving a child) or walking away from the situation and remaining in his most unsatisfactory life! Well he made the right choice and although getting hit by a bus is or should be a death sentence, the same fates that put him in that situation ensure he survives and he's rewarded with the delicious Maggie Gyllenhaal. Not bad huh? Wonderful movie that kept me engaged throughout!

For the English Major, amateur filmmaker, and any lover of stories, this movie is for you. For everyone else, I encourage watching this movie if you are looking for a nice, somewhat understated love-story despite some dark underlying themes. While it is not as humorous as many of Will Ferrell's films (and could've used a little bit more Maggie Gyllenhaal), he led an excellent cast with a heartfelt performance. Additionally, the writing kept me guessing the whole time and involved an interesting and unique thought-experiment: What if you heard someone narrating your life?

Beautifully written where two stories merge into one and start rolling back. We certainly wouldn't have been able to find better writer than Emma Thompson in her role. Her voice and story-telling sound as beautiful as the story she is telling. Will Ferrell is known for many dumb movies and is forgotten for this one. This is a shame as he fits perfectly the character, Harold, that is pictured here. The music sets perfectly the scene and keeps you waiting for the end. You feel the story as a third character and observe with delight how the story is run through.