WGN Morning News Blog

"STRANGER THAN FICTION"

3 NEW MOVIES THIS WEEKEND...THE FIRST ONE, A WILL FERRELL COMEDY...BUT NOT A TYPICAL WILL FERRELL COMEDY.

SLAPSTICK IS REPLACED BY SOPHISTICATION. IT'S "STRANGER THAN FICTION", IN WHICH HE'S A SAD LITTLE IRS AGENT WHO IS HEARING THINGS. HE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HEAR A VOICE THAT'S NARRATING THE STORY OF HIS LIFE.

EMMA THOMPSON IS A NOVELIST WORKING ON HER LATEST BOOK. FERRELL'S CHARACTER CAN "HEAR" WHAT SHE'S WRITING AND IT'S ALL COMING TRUE IN HIS LIFE. WHEN HE REALIZES HE'S ABOUT TO BE KILLED OFF, SO HE HAS TO FIND "THE VOICE" AND, WITH THE HELP OF A LITERATURE PROFESSOR, DUSTIN HOFFMAN, TRY STOP HIS FINAL CHAPTER.

EVERYONE IN THIS ENSEMBLE IS GREAT, ESPECIALLY WILL, SHOWING OFF THAT HE'S A LOT MORE THAN RICKEY BOBBY.

IT'S A CLEVER, SOMETIMES TOO CLEVER, FANTASY ABOUT MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR LIFE THATS MORE THOUGHTFUL AND OBSERVATIONAL, THAN LAUGH OUT LOUD FUNNY.

THE FILM WAS MADE HERE IN CHICAGO, SO IT GETS EXTRA POINTS FOR ALL OF THE FAMILIAR SIGHTS.
"STRANGER THAN FICTION"; SMARTER THAN MOST.
MAYBE TOO SMART TO BE A HIT. I LIKED IT. A DEAN'S LIST "B PLUS."

"A GOOD YEAR"
IN "A GOOD YEAR", MAX SKINNER, IS A "LIFE IN THE FAST LANE", RUTHLESS JERK. WHEN A BELOVED UNCLE DIES AND LEAVES HIM THE SERENE, FRENCH VINEYARD AT WHICH HE GREW UP, HE IS FORCED TO SEE WHAT HIS LIFE HAS BECOME AND IF IT'S WORTH IT.

IN AN EXAMPLE OF ART COPYING REALITY, RUSSELL CROWE IS GREAT THE RUTHLESS JERK...MAKING YOU HATE HIM AT FIRST...SLOWLY TRANSITIONING, AS A HIS MEMORIES AND A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE SEDUCE HIM BACK.

DIRECTOR RIDLEY SCOTT CREATES A NICE LOOKING FILM THAT'LL MAKE YOU WANT TO GO ON A WINE TASTING TRIP TO PROVENCE...BUT THE MOVIE'S BOUQUET IS FLAT; WITHOUT SUBTLETY...TOLERABLE, BUT YOU'VE SIPPED VINTAGES THAT ARE MUCH MORE EXCITING TO THE PALATE.
A PASSIONLESS, DEAN'S LIST "B MINUS."

"HARSH TIMES"
FINALLY, THERE'S "HARSH TIMES" WHERE A "NOT-QUITE-RIGHT" GULF WAR VETERAN GETS SEDUCED BY THE MEAN STREETS OF SOUTH CENTRAL L.A WHILE HE'S WAITING TO WAITING GET A JOB IN THE REAL WORLD.

CHRISTAN BALE OF "BATMAN BEGINS" FAME TURNS IN A DIABOLICAL PERFORMANCE MUCH MORE COMPELLING THAN THIS WEAK, SEEN-IT-BEFORE STORY.

"6 FEET UNDER AND WICKER PARK'S OWN", FREDDY RODRIGUEZ HOLDS HIS OWN WITH BALE AS A BEST BUDDY..."DESPERATE HOUSEWIVE'S", EVA LONGORIA IS THE LOVE INTEREST, EYE CANDY AND ACTUALLY DISTRACTS FROM THE BADLY DIRECTED STORY.

THERE'S A REASON THIS MOVIE HAS BEEN SITTING ON THE SHELF FOR 2 YEARS. "HARSH TIMES" WILL GIVE YOU ONE...A DEAN'S LIST "C MINUS."

ENJOY THE MOVIES....LET'S HEAR YOUR REVIEW!
DEAN