The Robert Downey Jr Film Guide
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The Robert Downey Jr Film Guide |
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Wonder Boys (2000) |
Summary |
Follows the adventures of a college professor whose life is falling apart. |
Direction |
Curtis Hanson |
Downey Factor |
Medium |
Character |
Terry Crabtree, has-been book editor trying to salvage his career |
Looks |
Pretty good, though I hate to say he looks a little old at times. |
Performance |
Not riveting, but he has a great rapport with Michael Douglas |
Line |
"God knows I don't exactly fit the new corporate profile." "Which is?" "Competence." |
Love & Sex |
A random transvestite and Tobey Maguire |
Dies, Gay or Villain |
No. Yes. No. |
Other Actors |
Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Katie Holmes |
Connection |
Curtis Hanson's Lucky You. Katie Holmes in The Singing Detective. Tobey Maguire in Tropic Thunder. Frances McDormand in Short Cuts. |
Location |
Pittsburgh |
RDJ Says |
There's like three generations in this, too, there's the Tripp, the Crabtree and the Leer generations. I feel like a dinosaur compared to Tobey and I see him super-talented young guy ... I guess that's why this film is so poignant in a way. You can experience that wonder boys phenomenon no matter what generation you're in ... you can experience that 'wonder boy' phenomenon regardless of what generation you are in. It reminds me of people in the 80s who were living high off the hog in New York and L.A. They were at all the clubs and had all the new clothes and so on. Now, 10 years later, they're still wearing the same stuff and still trying to ride on the same coattails, except that it's just not working anymore. They really haven't done anything for 10 years. I think that's how it is with Grady and Crabtree. They're both in crisis ... [Curtis Hanson's] work is very refined stuff, regardless if he's doing a thriller or a period noir piece or whatever, he brings that same level of fine-tuning and it's just super thoughtful |
Lit Reference |
Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon The script was based on this book. |
Gossip |
This film inspired the song "Hannah" on Downey's album, The Futurist. |
Release |
February 25, 2000 |
Availability |
Widely available on video. Released on DVD in Region 1, 2 and 4 |
Rotten Tomatoes |
82% Fresh | 97 Reviews |
Foreign Titles |
Argentina: Fin de semana de locos (Weekend of Crazies) Brazil: Garotos Incríveis (Amazing Boys) Croatia: Zlatni De?ki (Golden Boys) Poland: Cudowni chlopcy (Wonder Boys) Portugal: Prodígios (Prodigies) Spain: Jovenes Prodigiosos (Prodigious Youths) |
Critical View |
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: In a movie in which every other character is vague, ambivalent or drug-addled, Downey plays Crabtree with crispness and invention. Joe Queenan, The Guardian: Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Rip Torn and Robert Downey Jr are all far better actors than Michael Douglas and discreetly outperform him here ... Robert Downey Jr is perfect as the jaded, sexually perplexed, morally depleted book editor who has flown in for the weekend. |
2 Reasons to See It |
1. It's a good off-beat movie. 2. Sparkling dialogue throughout. |
Overall |
It's a dark, clever and amusing drama. Definitely worth seeing. |
If You Like It |
You might also like Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005), Home for the Holidays (1995), writing workshops. |
Photos |
Video |