Review of Wonder Boys

Curtis Hanson directs this screen adaptation based upon Pulitzer Prize winning author Michael Chabon’s novel of the same name.  He has the considerable support of superb actors, although his film was met by mixed reviews.

I found it to be a particularly interesting movie.  I’m sure I am considerable influence of the remarkable cast, which includes Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire in the leads with excellent support by such shining lights as Frances McDormand and Robert Downey, Jr.

The plot centers around the character portrayed by Douglas as a writer’s block infected author of a crticially acclaimed first novel.  The major relationship is the mentoring role of Douglas with Tobey Maguire.  While it is not, truly gay themed, it makes it way onto this website due to a sub-sub-plot which features a sexual affair between the characters of Maguire and Downey.  That in itself would have been worth the price of admission, although I got far more than my money’s worth since I watched the DVD version.

The has been author’s character seems entirely too familiar.  It seems all mentors in Hollywood are gruff, self-centered but ultimately big hearted.  I’ll forgive that, in part because Douglas pulls it off far better than most, and because seeing Downey and Maguire, shirts off, snuggling in bed distracted me from any of the film’s possible shortcomings.

Genre: Drama…with a touch of underplayed gay sub-plot

Director: Curtis Hanson

Language: English

Availability:  DVD

99Gay-Men.us Rating: ****

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