Rating: 
Summary: The Story Kills Itself
Review: I looked very much forward to this movie, since my local cinema magazine called it »Michael Douglas' best role ever«, and because I enjoyed Tobey Maguire's part in »Pleasantville«.But I was disappointed. »Wonder Boys« is a movie trying to paint a portrait of an author who is sinking deeper and deeper into the swamp that the success of a book of his, and he himself, have created. But the movie never really finds its own story. It sorts of wanders around in unfinished sideplots and kliché-marked details. It's a pity. Still, there are some pretty good jokes in »Wonder Boys«, and if you have nothing better to do on a Sunday, it won't be a waste of time to go see it.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the funniest, smartest and best acted films ever...
Review: I used to do a film comment show in my area, and I got a VHS trailer tape from my Paramount rep, and the title didn't sound like anything I'd find interesting, but when I watched it, I knew it would be great. I saw it three times in the theatre. The only thing was Paramount released it on one of the worst weekends of the year for box office, and it only made like $18 million or so. I figured that by August or September it would be out on video, so I could buy the DVD. But I got a little curious when I saw no video dates. Then I read they were re-releasing it theatrically in October. This is cool for a couple reasons. First, Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire are better positioned for Oscars because it was first released on the week last years nominations were released. Hopefully now it won't get buried by the year's other films. Secondly, putting this smart of a college-set film out in fall, when everybody is getting back into a scholastic-mode, could bring in much better box office for this great film. Plus, I can take all my friends to see the movie I've been telling them about. I just wish I could have bought it on DVD by now. Advice to Paramount...pack this disc with lots of stuff, especially commentaries and deleted scenes! Don't forget to include the music video of Bob Dylan's "Things Have Changed." PS. One of the best soundtracks I've ever heard...
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular film
Review: Wonder Boys is a marvelous film, hands down Michael Douglas' best performance (with the possible exception of Wall Street). He plays a groovy, pot-smoking English professor/novelist who's having trouble writing his second book. A+ acting all around: Tobey Maguire, who hit a breakthrough in Cider House, plays Douglas' estranged student, a prodigy of sorts named James Leer. Although I think Tobey can be rather bland sometimes (for some reason, all his roles seem so mellow), he plays his part to perfection. Newly emancipated Robert Downey Jr. is Douglas' gay editor, and I must say, it's good to see the druggie back on his feet; he's a great actor, and his portrayal here is one of his better ones. Funny, witty, and always good looking, old Rob will be back in the swing of things in no time. I've said too much. Later, moviegoers........ DG
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Movie
Review: I initally wanted to see this movie for the sole purpose that Katie Holmes was in the movie. After watching it, I immediately started searching for the release date on DVD. I've unfortunately have yet to be able to dine the date. It's an excellent story about how people can change each other, and how others can't be changed
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Movie!
Review: This is one of those sweet, wonderful films that moves ponderously along through a weekend filled with adventure. And I don't mean adventure as in guns (although there IS one of those), murders, and bombs. I mean adventure as in discovering who you are, and who you want to be, and realizing they are sometimes mutually exclusive. Tobey Maguire is fabulous (as usual), and although I'm not a huge fan, I agree that Michael Douglas gives the performance of his career. When I saw this, the theater was silent even though it was half full, and I just thought it was really sad, because Wonder Boys is such a gem of a film. Don't miss it.
Rating: 
Summary: Eh
Review: I watched this with a bunch of workshoppers, and we all just strugged our shoulders. It's a rather boring and stereotypical look at writers and writing workshops. Katie Holmes was particularly annoying as a pouty workshopper, and Toby Maguire (who I usually adore) was equally annoying as a brooding Hamlet of a young writer who is graced with unlikely instantaneous literary success as a mere undergrad. Vapid dialogue, and overly ponderous silences. Pew.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie
Review: Simply put, do not miss this movie. Wonder Boys is a funny, smart and well-maid comedy starring Michael Douglas (in what could be his best role ever) and Tobey Maguire. Douglas is a down and out professor who is thrown together with a rather eccentric student (Maguire). Together the manage to break about every law in a student-teacher relationship (with the help of a funny Downy Jr.) and still manage to get out of everything alive and better for it. Check this gem out, that is thus far the best movie of the year
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the book, but...
Review: Most of my friends who saw this movie found it boring, but I really liked it a lot. It was a lot funnier than I had expected it to be, and Michael Douglas is great in his role as the writer/teacher, although he looks very old in this movie. Tobey Maguire also does a great job, but I agree that it would be nice to see a little more emotion from him. One of the best performances comes from Robert Downey, Jr. This isn't a super exciting movie--a lot of things happen to Douglas' character, but they aren't big showy types of things. If you are the kind of person who likes an introspective type of drama movie, then this is for you, but if you are looking for a lot of action, you should pass this one by.
Rating:
Summary: The Best movie of 2000.....up to now.
Review: This is the best film I have seen in 2000....now that is not saying a lot because the year so far has been pretty disappointing, but that being said, Wonder Boys is a refreshing caper with Michael Douglas in his best role yet. Very brave for the dapper older Douglas to let himself go appearance-wise for this film. Also he doesn't have the bravado that his other characters have defined him with. Simply put, he proves to the world that he is an actor of range with this film. This is the kind of movie that takes its time with people and places, getting us into the feel of this particular setting. Some will say it moves too slow or that it has no plot. That is just because they are hooked on movies with a more structured storyline. That's fine....this film deals more with characters placed in certain situations and trying to figure a way out...sometimes that doesn't get all wrapped up as nicely as they would want. If you want to see really interesting charcters, than Wonder Boys delivers. By the way, nothing could have prepared me for Katie Holmes in this film. I have seen her face on TV and some teen movies, but she holds her own in the few scenes she has with the main characters. A truly beautiful face and body combined with very assured talent. She will be a star. I'm glad she made this instead of another Teaching Mrs Tingle or something like that. Another by the way....the only other superior film I have seen this year so far is High Fidelity costarring Catherine Zeta Jones...looks like the Douglas-Jones union is at least producing good films.
Rating:
Summary: A bittersweet, quirky film
Review: "Wonder Boys," directed by Curtis Hanson, explores some events in the life of a pot-smoking college professor (played by Michael Douglas) who is rapidly heading towards personal and professional crises. Based on the novel by Michael Chabon, this film is enlivened by witty dialogue and some terrific performances. Michael Douglas is the star of this film, and he really shines. He delivers a delightfully droll performance as the professor who is torn between his conflicting personal and professional commitments. The script walks the line between comedy and drama, and Douglas hits this balance perfectly. His performance in "Wonder Boys" is a stunning complement to his equally outstanding work in Steven Soderbergh's gritty drama "Traffic," released in the same year. The supporting cast is also very good. I especially liked Tobey Maguire as Douglas' morbid, but oddly loveable student protege. And Robert Downey Jr. is a delight as Douglas' editor. Unfortunately, the female characters seem a bit underdeveloped, although Frances McDormand and Katie Holmes do their best with the material. I found "Wonder Boys" to be flawed in some respects. In particular, the film's ending left me somewhat unsatisfied. But the wonderful performances make this film richly entertaining. And as a satire of academia and the publishing industry, it hits some intriguing notes. Give it a try.
| 
