Stranger Than Fiction (2000)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Eric Bross

Writers:

Tim Garrick (written by) &
Scott Russell (written by)

Release Date:

19 May 2001 (South Korea)

Genre:

Thriller | Comedy

Plot:

Lives spiral out of control when four friends cover up a murder.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Homeless Person | Father Son Relationship | Corpse | Neighbor

Cast

Mackenzie Astin	...	Jared Roth
Todd Field	...	Austin Walker / Donovan Miller
Dina Meyer	...	Emma Scarlett
Natasha Gregson Wagner	...	Violet Madison
Michael Flynn	...	Nick
Steve O'Neill	...	Porter
Scott Subiono	...	Homeless Man (as Scott Sublono)
Joe Unger	...	Bubba
Frances Bay	...	Mrs. Steiner
Robert Lewis	...	Policeman #1
K.C. Clyde	...	Young Man
Sharron Prince	...	Newscaster

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and sexuality.

Runtime:

90 min | Germany:96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Italy:T | Argentina:16 | Germany:16 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bergman Lustig Productions

Quotes:

Violet Madison: Oh, my God... you killed Bubba!

Strange and Contrived

I rented this because it seemed original and had a potentially good story. I wasn't sure what the story really was all about, but I was in a rush, and needed something quick.

Maybe I should have slowed down a bit....

First, my customary plot summary. (Past reviews of mine usually follow the same format. Not like you care, but that doesn't matter. You've read my comment and now you can't unread it....I'm sorry, I'm drifting.) Anyhow!! The story starts in an airport bar with an author talking with a man next to him. They start talking about his writing, and his recent book, "Stranger Than Fiction." Then he starts to delve into the story, which is, basically, about four twenty-somethings that get involved in a murder, and the perilous downward spiral their lives go in as an effect. It goes deeper than that, much deeper, but I'll spare you all the details, only because I rambled enough before and am catching myself doing it again.

As for my reactions...Well, the movie didn't thrill me. First of all, it was way too long for such a plotline. And as for the plotline...well, I couldn't figure out at all where this movie was going! It starts as a "thrust into treachery" sort of tale, but then it starts to get funny. Some of the humor is appropriate, but if this isn't a comedy...then it didn't fit. But then, it gets into this thriller-comedy-drama thing, and really gets confusing. By then, I was starting to get tired and figured the end was near. But then it gets twisted, then dramatic--then goes into this Part Two that seemed totally tacked on! It was almost like the "Part Two" seemed to be one of a few choices to be the last 30% of the movie. I don't know, it was just getting too contrived then, and sort of tense, but by then, I gave up on this one. There are a few good things. Good acting, effective music, an obvious-yet-not twist in the end (though, the cast list gives it away a little bit) and the way the movie would go into the alternate, film-negative sort of look was creative. But didn't save this messy film.

Check it out for originality, but I hate to say that it really isn't that good. So, you be the judge.