- Actors: Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr., Katie Holmes
- Directors: Curtis Hanson
- Writers: Michael Chabon, Steve Kloves
- Producers: Curtis Hanson, Adam Schroeder, Lisa Grundy, Ned Dowd, Scott Rudin
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: Uca
- DVD Release Date: 3 Sep 2001
- Run Time: 107 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00005NB0B
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 8,482 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Wonder Boys is one of those films in which more twists and turns disrupt the life of the hero in one weekend than would bother most of us our whole lives. Professor Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas) is an aging one-novel wunderkind at a small Pittsburgh college who's labouring on his seven-years-in-the-making, 2000-plus-page second opus with no end in sight. The morning of the college's literary Glastonbury, WordFest, Grady's wife leaves him; that evening, his mistress (Frances McDormand) announces she's pregnant (she's also the Chancellor of the school, as well as the wife of Grady's boss). Grady's voracious editor (Robert Downey Jr) is also in town, transvestite date in tow, determined to read the highly anticipated new book; there's also the nubile student (Katie Holmes), who seems more than willing to ease Grady's pain. And then there's James Leer (Tobey Maguire), the mordant and brilliant writing student who's the catalyst for Grady's lost weekend, which involves a soon-to-be-dead blind dog, a stolen car and the jacket that Marilyn Monroe wore when she wed Joe DiMaggio.
The writing and acting in this film is superb. Douglas, by turns dryly sarcastic and sincerely heartfelt , single-handedly makes up for years of alpha-male posturing as the passive pothead Tripp, and whoever thought of pairing him with the resilient McDormand is brilliant--they convey the complexities and history of their relationship in a single glance or movement. The rest of the cast also are exceptional, with Maguire in a breakthrough performance and Downey at his manic best. The ending may feel a little too pat, but after everything these characters have been through, it seems a just reward. --Mark Englehart, Amazon.com
Product Description
Paramount Pictures, Region 2 PAL 2000 111 mins
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Sometimes an excellent film just manages to slip unnoticed through the theatres, as box-office hits such as Pearl Harbor get (undeservedly) all the movie-goers' attention. Wonder Boys is one of those movies. It is a brilliant story based on the life of one English professor who happens to face a streak of bad luck in his relationships and career.
The movie is very funny, but not in a underlined way like some examples of the recent wave of idiot comedies. Instead, it provides the actors with great witty dialogue, which they take full advantage of. Especially Douglas shines, clearly enjoying being a scruffy oddball, after being cast as a slick villain in so many movies.
One of my favorites from last year!
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is one of the most underrated films released in the last few years and is possibly my favourite film ever. It's one of those films that you can watch over and over, each time finding a new meaning to a line of dialogue, a new depth to a character's motivation, and a new comic gem that you hadn't noticed the first time.
The film is, by turns, heartbreakingly sad, stunningly beautiful, painfully realistic, and finally optimistic and reassuring. It is, also, hilariously funny in an offbeat and subtle way. Look out especially for Vernon The Car-Jumping Maniac.
Every performance is outstanding and why there weren't any Oscars awarded is beyond me. Michael Douglas is shamelessly open and personal in an intense role; Tobey Maguire is brilliant and shows why he will be one of the major stars of his generation; Robert Downey Jr is as always electrifying and hilarious; and Katie Holmes' character is developed to just the right amount, a peripheral character who is confident, sexual, yearning to be recognised by her literary idol and yet disappointed by his failures.
This is a deep and searching film that conveys the idea that everyone should be true to themselves, resist outside pressures and look inside themselves for inspiration.
If you're looking for a fast-action film then this isn't for you; similarly if you are looking for a clear-cut, plot driven film then you may not enjoy this. But if you're open to the type of film which takes you on an emotional tour-de-force that is extremely satisfying, then give this a try. And if you don't fully appreciate it on the first viewing, as I didn't, you might want to try it again.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Another classic from the director who shot LA Confidential this time bringing out the best performances from both Douglas and Tobey Maguire. The film really shines as an character study focusing on the messed up life of Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas) and how his interaction with the other characters in the story help him to understand the relationship that develops with his mistress (Frances McDormand). Maguire simply shines in another performance which easily matches that of 'The cider house rules'. Quite simply a film made for grown ups!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wonder film
Starting from the very beginning we see that no special effects or useless addition are going to ruin this film of remarkable plot about one plausible pile of facts that are just... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Annabel Lee
Wonder Boy - at age 56
Finally decided to buy this because of soaring rental costs when i couldn't keep my hands off it. Michael Douglas seems to have come to comedy rather late in life, but what a... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Captain Wow
Wonderful Wonder Boys
This won't be everyone's cup of tea, which probably explains some of the negative reviews. However, if you are looking for an intelligent, quirky comedy then you will be delighted... Read more
Published 19 months ago by The Maven Review
Tremendous cast deliver brilliant movie shock!
I haven`t enjoyed a film this much in ages...great cast, great story, great acting, great dialogue and great soundtrack. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Little Cat Voom
Intelligent and excellent
I love this film. One of my all time favourites. It's clever, funny and has a great story.
Published on 11 April 2010 by TJ
Wonder Boys is right
Michael Douglas gives by far his best performance and is provided with his nicest character in this brilliant, faithful adaptation of Michael Chabon's great book. Read more
Published on 8 Mar 2010 by Franimi
American Beauty
This movie is better than the award winning American Beauty. Wonder Boys is one of those rare modern American movies that really stand out in the pile of relative trash that comes... Read more
Published on 5 July 2008 by Billy Ray Cyrus
Not for me
Found the film to be boring and long winded. Personally would not recommend. Thought with Michael Douglas there would be some pace,but dour and miserable all the way through.
Published on 24 Jan 2008 by Dance Fan
A PROPERLY ADULT FILM
Given the modern trend for aggressive physical comedy and unforgiving, punishing dramas, I can see how Wonderboys got lost. Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2007 by Kennedy
Things you put on your legs
I was more than a little bored by this film and wouldn't waste my time watching it again. I couldn't care for any of the characters in this film (not even RDJ's which is going... Read more
Published on 27 May 2007 by badman
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