Pages

Friday, April 22, 2011

Stranger Than Fiction



A to Z Blogging Challenge: Movie Memories
Blogging about the movies that made an impact on my life

As a writer, I was drawn to this movie about a novelist with writer's block. "Little did I know" that it would be so delightful.

The story was intriguing...a writer actually meets a character in her own novel. How cool is that?

The story is told from the point of view of Harold Crick (Will Ferrell), the main character in Karen Eiffel's (Emma Thompson) novel. Harold is an IRS agent; meticulous, methodical...and very unhappy with his life. When he discovers that he's going to die, he does everything in his power to stop it from happening.

In the mean time, he realizes that he needs to live his life. He learns to play the guitar and falls in love with Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a quirky, radical baker that wants to change the world one cookie at a time. I really liked Ferrell's subdued, sincere performance. It was magical.

What I enjoyed most about this movie was the idea of following your dreams and living life to the fullest.

HAROLD: This may sound like gibberish to you, but I think I'm in a tragedy.

16 comments:

  1. Aren't we all, though? In a tragedy in our own way?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I haven't seen this movie. It sounds interesting. I'll have to check it out.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Angela: Sometimes a tragedy, sometimes a comedy...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Shelley: I always cry at the end...

    ReplyDelete
  5. We all write the reactions and choices of our lives. Sometimes it feels like my life has become a Greek tragedy until I realize I can choose to add laughter and compassion to the mix if I but have the strength of heart to do so. May your Easter be lovely, filled with happy surprises, Roland

    ReplyDelete
  6. That was a great movie, I haven't seen it in a while-thanks for giving me some Friday Movie Night plans :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Roland: Happy Easter to you as well. Thanks for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Red Boot Pearl: Great choice for a Friday night! I really like Queen Latifa in this...an awesome character in stark contrast to Thompson's character.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I actually really liked this movie!

    ReplyDelete
  10. oooh, I haven't seen this film either. I like Roland's comment. My life sometimes feels like a Greek tragedy too ;)

    x

    ReplyDelete
  11. Marjorie: It was inspiring. Very creative and original.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Bluestocking Mum: They say there's a fine line between tragedy and comedy. And did you ever notice when people are laughing, it sometimes sounds like they're crying? And vice versa.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This was a radical departure for Mr. Ferrell - and it worked marvelously for me. I think it needed someone known for comedy in the center spot - to give the absurdity some gravitas. Then the actor would need to be able to pull off the dramatics - and Will Ferrell proves completely up to the task. A wonderful post about a wonderful motion picture - well done Ms. K!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Craig: Will Ferrell was amazing. I never dreamed he had it in him to play a part like this, especially when you look at his other films which are pretty goofy. Jim Carrey might have been able to do it...his performances in The Majestic and The Truman Show proves he has the chops.

    ReplyDelete
  15. this is one of my favorite movies. i so love the ending about how a wristwatch saved Harold Crick's life (in more ways than one).

    ReplyDelete
  16. Michelle: I love the wristwatch element in this story. Such a delightful metaphor. Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete