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Wonder Boys Main Cast:
Director: Curtis Hanson Rating: 3 Stars - worth a watch. Plot Summary: Wonder Boys tells the story of Grady Tripp a literary professor and the author of one successful novel. He is a shabby "fifty something" living in a constant marijuana haze. He is trying to follow up on his first novel which is now seven years old. His wife has just left him and he is having an affair with the chancellor of the University where he works. Grady's unsuccessful editor Terry Crabtree is in town for a literary festival and is hoping to get a copy of Grady's new book. While at a party at the chancellor's house Grady finds one of his students, James Leer, lurking outside the house. James is withdrawn, secretive and moody but very talented. Some accidental events pull Grady, James and Terry together in a kind of self-discovery journey... Review: The movie concentrates greatly on the development of the characters and Michael Douglas is brilliant in the role of Grady. He is so good it is easy to forget that Grady is not a real person and that Michael Douglas is an actor. Tobey Maguire whose blank expressions have been inappropriate in other films is excellently cast as the moody but talented student James Leer. The script is brilliant. It is sharp, witty and funny but at the same time real. But there is a problem. Like many films with fantastic character portrayal there is a cost. In this film the cost is that, in parts, the film is painfully slow and the story lacking. The "critics" might rave about this movie and it might even win an Oscar but it won't get "bums on seats". Certainly not by word of mouth. It will not appeal to a broad audience. Lasting thought from this film: You can't get anywhere until you know where you want to go. Reviewed by Niall Quinn, PremierMovieReviews |