Harold Crick's life is an open book — and an unfinished one. That's where the problem begins. Maddy Hamlin takes us into the surreal world of “Stranger Than Fiction,” starring Will Ferrell and Emma Thompson.

By Maddy Hamlin
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Friday, Dec. 15, 2006, The OG, arts

“STRANGER THAN FICTION” isn't the kind of movie that you can process in one sitting. I saw it on a Sunday night, when I was a little sleepy, and not quite ready to start the week again. I left the theater thinking something along the lines of “huh … interesting,” but wasn't quite able to puzzle out what exactly I thought of the film.

There was no question that I was thinking about it, but my gut reaction told me that this was more than just your average good/bad movie. By Monday morning, the film was still making me think, which has proved to be the source of its magic.

“Stranger Than Fiction” is the delectable creation of director Marc Forster and writer Zach Helm, aided by an incredible ensemble cast that consists of such renowned talents as Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Dustin Hoffman. While all of these great actors deliver compelling performances, the real surprise for me was the acceptability of Will Ferrell as the lead character, Harold Crick.

The premise of the movie requires a leap of faith on the part of the audience. There is no other way to go about it. The film is a part-surrealist, part-science fiction, part- philosophical study based upon the life of one man: Harold Crick (played by Ferrell). Harold, who is an IRS agent, is a sad, lonely man, who wakes up one day to find a mysterious voice (Thompson's) narrating his life.

After a few predictable scenes in which Harold's friends suggest to him the possibility of his own insanity, Harold is able to progress and find the help he needs from multiple sources.

And why does Harold need help (besides the fact that someone is narrating his life with an omniscient perspective and a no-details-spared attitude)? Harold's real problems trace back to the fact that this same narrator has foreshadowed his death. In fact, she has spoken of it as an inevitable and upcoming event.

Throughout the story, the movie is able to strike multiple tones, being alternatively witty, tense, depressing, disturbing, awkward, hilarious, and thought-provoking.

Not being a fan of Ferrell's normally slapstick stylings, I was worried that his strong, leading position would damage what I expected to be an otherwise flawless cast as I walked into the theater. In fact, while Ferrell does not tend to employ subtlety or understatement, he managed to maintain my attention and respect throughout the film, providing a convincing-enough portrayal of the obsessive-compulsive Crick.

Unsurprisingly, Thompson is astonishingly good in this film. Her role as the extremely depressed, death-dealing novelist with writer's block, Kay Eiffel, is unlike previous characters she has portrayed. Throughout the movie, she is frazzled and truly eccentric, with a narrative voice that is syrupy and disturbing at the same time. Her nervous tendencies, such as chain smoking (and extinguishing her cigarettes in a saliva-filled tissue), emphasize her pathetic existence and also create some darkly humorous moments.

The side characters also provide a solid backing for this film. Dustin Hoffman is the professor of literary theory, Dr. Jules Hilbert, who is totally willing to believe Ferrell's description of his situation. Queen Latifah stars as Thompson's assistant, Penny Escher, sent by the publishers to motivate the author to finish her book about Harold. Finally the cast is rounded out by Maggie Gyllenhaal as the unlikely love interest, Ana Pascal, a radical anarchist baker who offers something totally new to Harold's overly ordered life.

After having a few good days to process this movie I am still reminded of it, still thinking about certain scenes. Overall, I am left with the feeling that it is the kind of movie that would merit a repeat viewing, another chance to soak in the marvelous acting and intricately constructed details. Besides being thoughtful, this is the type of movie you can enjoy for long after the credits roll, creating an overall rewarding movie-going experience.

“Stranger Than Fiction” is now playing at the Beverly Cinema 18 (click here for times). Runtime: 113 minutes. Rated: PG-13.

RELATED

— The film's official site