WONDER BOYS

2000

For those of you who think that Adam Sandler makes great films, and that "The Matrix' should have been nominated for an Academy Award this year...this one's not for you. But for those of you who are looking for an intelligent film, with a beautifully written, character-driven screenplay, brilliantly acted by an ensemble cast of REAL actors, and directed to perfection by Curtis Hansen(his first since "L.A. Confidential,)...here's the film for you. The plot is really about what the characters do, and that's too much to even try to summarize here. Briefly, it's about a college professor of English with writer's block, and all of the eccentric students, friends, and fellow faculty who SHOULD become, and probably WILL become the cast of his next novel.(Also, what fun it was to hear a great Bob Dylan song as the theme of a new film.)Hopefully, the geriatric Academy members will not forget this film when Oscar time rolls around NEXT year!

5 Stars

NJB

Michael Douglas plays an aging writer/college professor who has hit a major turning point in his life and is having difficulty choosing the right path. Even amidst strong performances by Tobey Maguire and Robert Downey Jr., Douglas steals the show, giving one of his best performances since WALL STREET. The story is sometimes funny, sometimes touching, but often somewhat annoying. As much as I liked Douglas' character, I disliked Maguire's character and I had trouble getting past that. If you can tolerate watching people foolishly getting themselves into bad situations (and then subsequently coming away hands clean) , this may be the movie for you.

3.5 Stars

CDF