Radio Lady Previews: "Stranger Than Fiction" (This Movie Opens Wide on Nov. 10th!)

[Radio_Lady]

This romantic dark comedy/fantasy was previewed for Portland, Oregon movie reviewers and other invited guests on 11/2. Oscar buzz abounds for writer, director, and at least one of the stars. FYI, the movie was filmed in and around Chicago, Illinois.

"Stranger Than Fiction" stars Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, Dustin Hoffman, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

This is NOT my "official" review, but I do suggest that you see Sony Pictures' very inventive website. Check out comments by others who have seen the film at the Toronto Film Festival and elsewhere.

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/strangerthanfiction/ (Splash page)

Be sure you ENTER THE SITE for interviews and other interesting stuff. More on 11/09 when I can post my review! Stay tuned.

BY THE WAY, BE CAREFUL -- there are other films by the same name. This is "Stranger Than Fiction 2006".

View other comments at: http://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt0420223/maindetails

[Kerrytravelers]

1. We were a test audience for this about 9 months or more ago.

We absolutely LOVED it. Will Ferrell isn't playing his typical role. It's great!

[Radio_Lady]

2. Good for you! I hope this movie has enough of a draw to make it!

Let's get some "word of mouth" going here at the DU, a week before the "official opening" -- thanks for your post.

Tell me more about what you liked about it.

[Radio_Lady]

3. "Harold Crick isn't ready to go. Period."

Hint: It's just a gem of a movie! If this film is previewing in your area, you should make a real effort to go and see it.

In peace,

Radio_Lady (Movie reviewer in Oregon)

[Love Bug]

4. Well, I plan to see it!

Love Emma Thompson and anything she's in so that alone will get me to go see it! Love Queen Latifa, too.

Speaking of Queen Latifa, they really need to make a biopic of Bessie Smith and Queen Latifa should star in it. It would be awesome.

[Radio_Lady]

6. Emma Thompson's role is really extraordinary! She pulls out all the stops

in creating the author "Kay Eiffel." Using a pun on that character's name, I think Thompson's role "towers" over everyone else.

She does it all without make-up, with her hair in a snarl, and chain-smoking as she goes.

[Radio_Lady]

10. Official synopsis of "Stranger Than Fiction"

"Stranger Than Fiction" - The Official Synopsis

In "Stranger Than Fiction," Will Ferrell plays Harold Crick, an IRS Agent whose world is turned upside-down when he begins to hear his life being chronicled by a narrator only he can hear.

The Narrator, Kay Eiffel (Emma Thompson), a nearly forgotten author of tragic novels, is struggling to complete her latest and best book, unaware that her protagonist is alive and uncontrollably guided by her words. Fiction and reality collide when the bewildered and hilariously resistant Harold hears the Narrator say that events have been set in motion that will lead to his imminent death.

Desperate to escape his fate, Harold seeks help from eccentric English professor Dr. Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman) and finds unexpected comfort in a burgeoning romance with a defiant audit subject, Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Unluckily for Harold, Kay's impatient publishers have unleashed a stern assistant named Penny Escher (Queen Latifah) to help the author finish her book and finish off Harold Crick.

[Radio_Lady]

11. Production photos from the film...

http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/blstrangerthanfictionpicsa.htm

[wildhorses]

5. i will get past my dislike of Will Farrell cos the rest of the cast

is strong. if he can make me believe his character then i will re-evaluate my disdain for him as an actor...

keeping an open mind here

thanks for the links :hi:

[Radio_Lady]

7. Love him or hate him, you've never seen Will Ferrell like this.

This is a challenging role for him in many ways, and in my opinion, he pulls it off with extraordinary aplomb.

There are laughs in the movie, but it is certainly not a routine romantic comedy at all.

[wildhorses]

8. thanks for the info--

maybe his range is broader than i give him credit

[Radio_Lady]

9. I'd be very interested in your reaction to this movie. Check in later, please.

Thanks for your comments.

[Radio_Lady]

12. Coming soon to a theater near you on Friday, 11/10

Stranger Than Fiction
Opens Fri 11/10
It sounds like a Charlie Kaufman story, but Zach Helm wrote the screenplay for this absurdist comedy about an IRS employee (Will Ferrell, in an atypical role) who begins hearing the voice of a narrator describing the events of his life and discovers that he is a character in a novel in progress. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman co-star.

[Radio_Lady]

13. Emma Thompson as author "Kay Eiffel" -- no makeup!

[Shine]

14. We're definitely planning to see it. GREAT title for a movie, too, imo

:hi: Thanks, RL!

[Radio_Lady]

15. Thanks, Shine. Once you get past the fact that there are other movies

with the same name! Be sure you read about the right one at www.imdb.com

Stranger Than Fiction (2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420223/

Other Results
Titles (Exact Matches) (Displaying 7 Results)

Stranger Than Fiction (2000) http://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt0178043/
Stranger Than Fiction (1930)
Stranger Than Fiction (1994) (V)
Stranger Than Fiction (1934)
"Stranger Than Fiction" (2001) (TV series) http://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt0302194/
Stranger Than Fiction (2005) http://www.us.imdb.com/title/tt0478277/
Stranger Than Fiction (1921)

[Shine]

16. Huh, who knew?

funny....

[WCGreen]

17. It looks better than pretty much all the other comedies coming

out...

I just don't think that Will F. has the chops to pull anything that isn't total slapstick off...