Stranger Than Fiction: A Thought About The Film

 
I think it's a beautiful thing to engage in something, anything, with such passion that you lose yourself as you hone your skills to reach a goal, perfection or an ending.

This is the same in any media chosen to express whatever your passion is. I love reading books or stories that introduce characters so likable that you feel the pain of their loses or the enjoy of their accomplishments. The same goes for movies and the film Stranger Than Fiction is no exception to that rule.

I loved Will Ferrell's portrayal of the lonely, fated protagonist Harold Crick. Here is a character who is plain and hapless in his monotonous life that we see a reason to follow his story. The fact that Emma Thompson's character Karen Eiffel narratives his daily activities further provides a more in-depth understanding of Harold's narrative archetype that we, as the audience, find more compassion. Even Thompson's role as the eccentric writer and narrator are so rational, for writer's at the very least, and I personally find a weird connection with her character. Being a fiction writer has allowed me to really comprehend and also sympathize with the plight of creation and responsibility of fulfillment.

What do I mean by responsibility of fulfillment? It is the act of creating and the art of skillfully providing a reason for existence. Even if your character is to die, such is the case with Harold Crick, the writer still has to provide meaning and justification for the characters death. Writing endings are not easy by no means, let me tell you. So many aspects of narration, character development and story must be taken into account when you slowly reach those final pages and bring your written masterpiece to a close. I always find it difficult to end a story after I have provided such a fond and in-depth look at something that I poured my heart and soul into.

I feel such a great deal of responsibility in capturing and expressing a story with profound visualization and emotion that not only speaks to me but also hits a definite chord with readers of all kinds. The film Stranger Than Fiction does this on many levels. Mind you that what you're watching is a literary tale told visually and every aspect of plot, narration and arch are presented. At times I felt as though this could have actually been a graphic novel, a manga maybe, because it is literally a developing story that is in motion.

I liked the contrasts that progressively appear and further change and enhance the characters lives. Harold and Karen's lives are some what identical in the sense that they work in systematic fashion to approach situations. Harold operates in a corporate and mathematical/computational environment while Karen provides us with the common, at times unorthodox, method of story creation. When Maggie Gyllenhall's character Ana Pascal enters Harold's life it implements a vast contradiction to the life and organization that has ruled Harold's life. She is his opposite and Ana compliments, or in this case unbalances, his perspectives very nicely.

Another aspect of interest is the character of Prof. Jules Hilbert, played by Dustin Hoffman. I always look at this Hilbert as the mage or all knowing guide that helps Harold through his dilemma. He is instrumental in grounding the protagonist in a reasonable reality where Harold can attempt to find answers to his plight. Hoffman is just a lot fun as Hilbert; the kind of literary specialist I wish I had in school, ha! 

I think the one moment that has stuck with me about this film is Harold and Karen's meeting. It is the moment where Karen as an author not only realizes that one of her fictionalized creations turned out to be real, but also her responsibility of giving him a meaningful and justified existence appears. On top of that, she also went further to provide a rational excuse to change. It is something that all us writers go through when we create. We always change where it is necessary while keeping in mind how it will effect the choices that we have made up to that point.

Even in writing, it is all about making choices and decisions and being responsible in making sure we fulfill those intentions.

Bridesmaids: Movie Review

So here I am with another movie review. Believe it or not I'm talking about a chick flick this time around. I don't see a lot of chick flicks, so this is a little weird, a little strange to talk about. Then again, maybe not. I actually really enjoyed how this came out!

I sometimes enjoy watching former Saturday Night Live cast members transition from the small screen to the big screen. Honestly, at this point, the only another person I can think of Will Ferrell. I know there are knows, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd. That's all at the time, for now!

Anyway, Bridesmaids was really a lot of fun and the comedic scenarios were well placed, and who doesn't enjoy "Hold On" by Wilson Phillips? Tell me, who doesn't?

What I really enjoyed about this movie is that while it is a chick flick, the story really focuses on the relationship between Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph's characters. Their moments together on screen brought forth some of the movie's best comedic and introspective moments. Since the movie really directs most of its attention on Annie (Wiig), we see a lot of moments where she really reveals what her character is experiencing and what she hopes to achieve. While marriage may be one of the central themes in the movie, it is over shadowed by the friendship and romance angles that that bring out the laughs and heart felt moments.

I mean, really, I laughed pretty hard during the bathroom scene at the wedding dress store. I'm sure this place is called some thing else, but I don't know what it is and don't really care to find out. Just so you know. Ha!

What I really want to point out is that there are two things that stood out for me while watching this film. One is a universal point that everyone will agree on, and the other is personal. Okay, Megan played by Melissa McCarthy, was just a hilarious tour-de-force! She pretty much stole the show with her in your face, say anything and hold nothing back attitude. She reminds me of that friend that we all have that just behaves and acts according to how they feel. The only way I can describe the character of Megan is by associating her to Seth Rogen's character in Knocked Up. I think the moment that really brought her character out for me was the scene at the Brazilian restaurant, where she starts describing the Fight Club theme bridal shower.

When McCarthy's character started talking about beating the shit out of Rudolph's character, I just fell over and laughed. You just knew that one of them would have the over-the-top idea, and you knew it would be her, but had no idea what she would say. And, BAM! She drops it in like a plate of nicely cooked meat. Just lays it out there for everyone else to pick on and enjoy, and I took it and ran, ha! The other point is a little more personal and it has to do with Kristen Wiig's character.

You could say that I have a soft spot for Kristen Wiig here, like I did in Paul. 

I enjoyed Annie as a character and there were moments where I could almost see someone that resembled her. I think we all can, right? I loved her drunken, high on medication performance on the plane. But, what I loved the most about her was the car she drove. A Toyota Corolla, an AE86 for God's sake! She is my dream, both her and the car! Well, I actually prefer the three door hatchback model, but man, that was an 86! And, it was an old car but it could still roll and burn rubber with the best of them! I cringed when her car got hit from behind. I felt Annie's pain when her car bit the dust temporally. It like the sadness I felt when Takumi's 86 broke down. Those who know me well enough will know what I'm referencing. That car, especially the hatchback model, holds a very special place in my heart.

Not related to the 86, but I felt sad when Annie started crying while watching Cast Away. I liked that one too, and felt sad and heartache when Wilson floated away.

What made this movie work, I think, is a great story which was written in part by Wiig, but also having Judd Apatow as producer. Some of the female bonding humor that worked in this movie can be found in Apatow's other work like Step Brothers, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Superbad just to name a few.

In the end, Bridesmaids was a fun flick, just under two hours, filled with great comedic moments and fond memories of long-time friendships.