Wonder Boys

SYNOPSIS

Three years after his marvellous LA Confidential, director Curtis Hanson returned with this quirky, dark and unforgettable comedy based on the novel by Michael Chabon. Grady Tripp (Michael Douglas) is an ageing, pot-smoking college professor in Pittsburgh whose life is on shaky ground - his young third wife has left him, he's having an affair with the (married) college chancellor (Frances McDormand) and she's pregnant, plus he's struggling with the follow-up to his celebrated first novel. He also has to deal with an odd but potentially talented student called James (Tobey Maguire). Hanson expertly weaves all of these strands (along with a dead dog, an unpredictable literary agent and a tempting female student) into a mesmerising and often moving drama complete with fascinating characters and a wicked sense of humour. Douglas relishes one of his best roles, and the film also boasts great performances from Maguire and McDormand, with Robert Downey Jr, Katie Holmes and Rip Torn superb in support.