What if a person's life was so boring that the only interesting thing that can be written about him is how he died? Unfortunate IRS agent Harold Crick is just that person: no dreams, no aspirations and no real problems. But that, of course, is a brilliant premise for a modern fiction novel - at least, that's what novelist Kay Eiffel thinks. There is, however, one catch: Harold Crick isn't just a character in one of Eiffel's books; he's a flesh-and-blood guy who can hear the narration of his story as Eiffel pens it, and Crick doesn't like what he hears. So goes "Stranger than Fiction," the latest release from director Marc Forster, the man behind acclaimed projects such as 2001's "Monster's Ball" and 2004's "Finding Neverland."
Harold (played by Will Ferrell) is told by the omnipresent voice that the story will end in his inevitable death. Harold must now figure out what this narrator could have in store for him and how he can thwart her plans. To that end, Harold decides to seek the counsel of literary professor Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman).
Ferrell and Hoffman play off each other perfectly. Ferrell resists falling back into his comedically idiotic persona and plays a faithful everyman to Hoffman's ironic, zany intellectual. Ferrell's performance is touching and sensitive, although it is clear that the effort to be a "real actor" is a very conscious one. His hard work does pays off; as the movie progresses, it is almost unimaginable that this is the same actor who played the legendary Ron Burgundy.
Dustin Hoffman walks the tightrope between ridiculous and real without stumbling, quoting Chomsky at will but not being able to match his socks. Emma Thompson as the author/narrator Kay Eiffel is also simultaneously sincere and moving, as well as completely bonkers. It is regrettable that she doesn't have more screen time.
Thankfully, however, that also limits the time we get to see Queen Latifah, who plays Eiffel's assistant Penny. Latifah is grossly miscast in the part, and her personality and style don't match the rest of the film. She stands out like a sore thumb, and her usually enjoyable acting is campy in comparison to her co-stars' (even Ferrell's). Somehow, she didn't get the memo that this was going to be a realistic representation of life. Other than Latifah, the rest of the characters shoulder enough of the film to allow Forster to make original and unique choices with the style.
The plot of the film, obviously, revolves around the question, "Will Harold die?" Usually, when a movie is entirely focused on one potential outcome, the audience loses interest in the things that happen along the way.
But director Forster makes a point to take time to enjoy the journey. Sometimes, he draws scenes out a little too long, and occasionally, the film's awkward silences - which aren't always intentionally funny - just aren't. But other than these few miscues, the director's choices are well considered and entertaining. He uses simple visual cues and varying camera angles to enhance the originality of the film, and Forster moves the film in directions that are unexpected and eclectic with a wide variety of mood and sentiment.
The way music is used is noteworthy. A few moments that can cause a Pavlovian laugh reaction by the mere presence of Will Ferrell are saved by the choice of song. Without the soundtrack, the mood of the movie would be lost in conventional genre expectations. The few is-this-funny-or-sad parts are the ones with no music. Without a musical mood guide for the scenes, the audience usually reverts to laughter. Life is full of awkward moments that are distinctly not funny, and "Stranger Than Fiction" is surprisingly true to life.
One would think a ridiculous premise would breed a ridiculous performance, but Marc Forster's choice to play the crazy down is a success. "Stranger than Fiction" is no masterpiece, but it's definitely worth a viewing.
