Stranger Than Fiction

There are movies out there that for one reason or another capture out imagination enough to warrant multiple viewings. You, likely have movies that have done the same for you. Whether critically acclaimed, visual masterpieces, or just plain fun, we all have those movies that beckon us to return every now and again. Today's subject is one of those for me. I seem to press play on this title every year or so and never really tire of it. I also feel that's it's one of those movies that doesn't get the love it deserves, so I wanted to change that. A movie that you may have never heard of, but one that offers a lot between credit sequences.

So if you're like me and you enjoy film and the impact and emotions they convey, then grab a glass of your preferred liquid and join me for the next little while. For me that's a bottle of Black and Tan from our friends at Saranac Brewery in Utica, NY. So sit back, relax, and let's talk about the love of film. Welcome to Glazed Cinema.

Today's subject is a wonderful journey that's a beautiful blend of heart, fantasy, drama, and romance, and comedy. It's a movie I thoroughly enjoy, that I feel doesn't get the credit or attention it deserves, so I wanted to highlight it. The movie has a balance all its own and one that feels unique.

Stanger Than Fiction is a film about a man named Harold Crick. Harold is a very intelligent man, very gifted with math and numbers. In fact, he counts things in his daily life, like his steps, toothbrush strokes, and bus stops. His profession reflects that skill and knowledge as well, for you see, Harold is an auditor, working for the IRS. We often see co-workers ask for help with an equation, which Harold responds with the correct answer in lightning speed. One day though, his life takes a turn and will becer be the same again. This doesn't occur in some grandiose way like some other mivies might employ, but instead, it happens during one of the most mundane moments.

While brushing his teeth in the morning, Harold begins hearing a voice speaking. The voice is coming from nobody around him, he is afterall alone in his apartment, but rather from the ether. What's stranger is that the voice is that of an British woman, which is well removed from what one might expect. Even odder, the voice isn't speaking to him or even about him...no, the oddest part is that she's narrating his actions.

While he finds it annoying and intrusive, Harold goes about his daily life, trying to make sense of why this voice exists. This also comes at a point in his life where Harold isn't quite sure he wants to be a tax auditor anymore. He begins to enter a sort of funk, something his HR manager describes as "feeling wibbly-wobbly". While getting a new assignment he gets handed a bakery, something that should be an easier task to audit. It's during the assignment where he meets and begins to have feelings for the bakery owner, Mrs. Pascal. All the while the voice continues to narrate and describe everyday occurrences, his thoughts, and feelings. His attitude toward this narrator change drastically however, when while waiting for the bus, he hears her utter the words, "will result in his imminent death". Clutched by the realization that he is now on borrowed time, Harold seeks help from the one source that might just be able to help him stop his death from happening and make sense of his situation...a college literary professor.

Directed by Marc Forster, Stranger Than Fiction includes a great cast, each one seemingly fitting there character like a glove. With the likes of Will Farrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Dame Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah, and Tony Hale, the performances result in a fleshed out reality that is very touching. Will Farrell particularly plays the lead role of Harold splendidly, stepping back from his usual comedic self and into a more serious aspect of his acting skills. Like others before him like Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, and Robin Williams, Will Farrell plays the lead role with a muted humor, giving way to a seriousness that feels refreshing and perfectly placed.

My other two favorite performances are from Emma Thompson in the role of the writer and narrator, Kay and Maggie Gyllenhaal in the role of Ms. Pascal. I like the majority of both women's performances throughout their career, but I have a soft spot for their roles here. Emma plays a neurotic, reclusive creative struggling with writers block. She displays a wide range of emotions here from fragility, frustration, sadness, and curiosity all with just the right delivery to keep us engaged and entertained. Her narrating is fantastic as well, she has a great voice and her line delivery is phenomenal. Maggie is equally brilliant as Ms. Pascal, a rebellious and passionate bakery owner, who Harold is auditing. She plays the role so well and I feel like her character is the most real of them all, which is a credit to her performance. Maggie plays her in a three-dimensional way where her big personality comes out in full force. I can praise their work here more, but you need to see the movie to fully appreciate it.

There's a lot of great moments in this film and it's hard for me to pick which ones to highlight. This is in large part due to the amount of them and also choosing those that don't spoil anything for you. One part that I can talk about and love is when Harold meets with a literary expert, Professor Jules, played by Dustin Hoffman. This is their second meeting and the professor begins asking him questions to determine which kind of story he is in. They start off strange and only get stranger, making Harold wuestion his decision asking this man for help. Questions like, Has anyone left gifts outside your home? Anything, gum, money, large wooden horse? Do you find yourself inclined to solve murder mysteries in large luxurious homes that you may or may not have been invited? On a scale of one to ten what would you consider the likelihood that you might be assassinated? The banter between the two is fantastic and funny and one of the great minor moments for me in the movie.

I really enjoy this movie for all that it offers us. When I think about what I love about it though, I come back to one aspect that in my mind make it so successful...The relationships. The relationships in this movie are fantastic and there are so many of them, each unique and wonderful in their own rights. Firstly, there's the relationship between Harold and The Voice, which is entirely a one-way relationship, but one that is not only vital to the plot, but very engaging.

Of course the relationship between Kay and the assistant the publisher sends to help her, Penny, played by Queen Latifah. Their relationship is great as the neurotic, reclusive, and impulsive writer is matched with the stable, logical, and focused assistant. It's the dichotomy of the two that works so great as Kay resists her persistent help at every turn, but is shadowed by her determination nonetheless.

My favorite relationship though is most certainly between Harold and Ms. Pascal. They start out at odds by their situation, I mean afterall, you probably wouldn't consider the person auditing you to be your best friend. Ms. Pascal doesn't make this any easier though as she makes his auditing process as laborious as she possibly can. Despite this though, Harold begins to develop feelings for her and hopes to become closer with her. What happens between them, I'll leave that for you to find out.

I love this movie and watch it quite often, at least once a year. I showed it to my wife last year and she really enjoyed it as well and looks forward to when we watch it together again. Just taking the hint for the episode made us want to rewatch it, it has that kind of pull. It packs an experience that I never tire of. It helps me escape reality and it feels like I'm visiting old friends again, but at the end of the day, it makes me feel good and makes me smile. At the end of the day, isn't that the most important thing about a movie like this? I think so. If you're in the mood for a great story that will hold your attention while making you laugh, gasp, and feel good, look no further than this film. I hope you press play on this one. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

If you'd like to watch Stranger Than Fiction for yourself, you can find it on a variety of streaming services. At the time of this recording you can find it on Pluto TV. Pluto TV is a streaming services with a diverse catalog of movie and tv shows and the best part is...it's 100% free. You can also find on other services like YouTube, Vudu, Google Play, Apple TV, and Prime Video for either $2.99 or $3.99 to rent.

If you like this podcast, tell your friends and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Each week there will be new content including hints about episodes before they air. If you'd like to learn more about the podcast, visit our website at glazedcinema.com. There you'll find more info about the show and a place submit ideas for future episodes as well. For film fans who are hearing impaired, the blog page in iur website features each episode in written form as well. As always, thanks for listening and I hope to see you next time with another beverage and another fine film on Glazed Cinema.