Michael Douglas immerses himself in one of his more interesting roles in a long time: author / college literature professor Grady Tripp, whose life is currently devolving into chaos. He's been having an affair with the chancellor (Frances McDormand), whose husband (Richard Thomas) oversees Grady's department. His wife has left him. He's working so hard on the follow-up novel to his breakthrough book that he literally can't stop writing. Making matters worse is his top student, a talented but very troubled kid named James (Tobey Maguire), who adds to the chaos by shooting the pet dog of the Thomas character.
Steve Kloves wrote the screenplay, based on the Michael Chabon novel, and it's a compelling study of flawed but engaging characters, characters with whom this viewer enjoyed spending time. Even better, the story does have a fairly unpredictable quality where one can't be sure exactly how everything will be resolved. It's all very well directed by Curtis Hanson, who gives us a provocative portrayal of academia, and in particular the life of the writer.
The whole cast is first-rate in this thing, although in the grand scheme of things, Rip Torn doesn't get very much to do as a self-satisfied brand-name sort of author. McDormand is wonderful as the patient love interest who's willing to sort out her affairs on her own without the input of the rather unreliable Grady. Maguire is well cast as the eccentric, tight-lipped student who gradually comes more and more out of his shell - and who feeds his unsuspecting prof a steady stream of BS regarding the life he leads. Unsurprisingly, Robert Downey Jr. tends to walk away with all of his scenes, playing Grady's wacky editor. Katie Holmes is appealing as a student who may not have James' talent, but who comes off as a levelling influence in the face of others' erratic behaviour. Also appearing are Jane Adams, Alan Tudyk, Philip Bosco, George Grizzard, and Kelly Bishop.
This never once feels boring, and although possessed of an obviously literary quality - complete with narration by Grady - it doesn't smack of pretentiousness, remaining endearing for 112 straight minutes.
Seven out of 10.
Steve Kloves wrote the screenplay, based on the Michael Chabon novel, and it's a compelling study of flawed but engaging characters, characters with whom this viewer enjoyed spending time. Even better, the story does have a fairly unpredictable quality where one can't be sure exactly how everything will be resolved. It's all very well directed by Curtis Hanson, who gives us a provocative portrayal of academia, and in particular the life of the writer.
The whole cast is first-rate in this thing, although in the grand scheme of things, Rip Torn doesn't get very much to do as a self-satisfied brand-name sort of author. McDormand is wonderful as the patient love interest who's willing to sort out her affairs on her own without the input of the rather unreliable Grady. Maguire is well cast as the eccentric, tight-lipped student who gradually comes more and more out of his shell - and who feeds his unsuspecting prof a steady stream of BS regarding the life he leads. Unsurprisingly, Robert Downey Jr. tends to walk away with all of his scenes, playing Grady's wacky editor. Katie Holmes is appealing as a student who may not have James' talent, but who comes off as a levelling influence in the face of others' erratic behaviour. Also appearing are Jane Adams, Alan Tudyk, Philip Bosco, George Grizzard, and Kelly Bishop.
This never once feels boring, and although possessed of an obviously literary quality - complete with narration by Grady - it doesn't smack of pretentiousness, remaining endearing for 112 straight minutes.
Seven out of 10.