My ancient Mac here at work isn't allowing me to quote from this layout. :-) But I'll say that many of my perceptions are colored by the book. Thought, I sought out the book (and ended up reading a lot more Michael Chabon because of the strength of this book) because I liked the movie so well.
But in the book, it's clearly explained that both McDormand's character and Katie Holmes' character (as well as his ex-wife) are attracted to Grady because he's a published author (his first book was a break-away bestseller) and they're reading fanatics who see authors in the same light music lovers see rock stars. McDormand in particular. She was attracted to Grady because she loved his first (and only) published book, and she imagines herself sheltering him to allow him to finish the second book -- which is entirely an illusion. The book that blew away was completely unreadable. Their relationship is breaking down because she's finally seeing that he hasn't been writing -- he's just using her as a crutch to avoid facing the deficiencies in his life.
Katie Holmes is attracted to him because he's a minor celebrity -- but she doesn't really want to sleep with him (in the book). The sexualization of her interaction with him is a matter of habit on her part. She really just wants to learn to be a better writer (and Grady realizes that before the end). In the book, she's shown to be a writing talent on a par with Tobey Maguire's character, though not a great deal of time is spent on her writing. We simply see Grady's impression of her from class at the beginning. He sees her and the Maguire character as the only two students in his class with any talent.
The female characters are much more completely drawn in the book. This is one of the problems in adapting a book to the screen. You have to leave out a lot of detail to keep it all in a 2-hour package.
The ending of the film is way too pat. The drug angle wasn't played so strong in the book (Grady is having heart problems, which are played a lot stronger than the fact he's been smoking pot.) Robert Downey's character is less likeable in the book (he's an opportunistic bastard, and he pretty much throws Grady under the train).
But there's also a "fairy tale" ending quality in the book. That is, things finally work out because Grady creates his reality, and he creates a happy ending for himself.
None of this is to say you aren't allowed to not like the movie. :-) But if you want to read a great book, you should look up Michael Chabon -- both for Wonder Boys, and his great fictional history of comicbooks, Jews and gays in America: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
But in the book, it's clearly explained that both McDormand's character and Katie Holmes' character (as well as his ex-wife) are attracted to Grady because he's a published author (his first book was a break-away bestseller) and they're reading fanatics who see authors in the same light music lovers see rock stars. McDormand in particular. She was attracted to Grady because she loved his first (and only) published book, and she imagines herself sheltering him to allow him to finish the second book -- which is entirely an illusion. The book that blew away was completely unreadable. Their relationship is breaking down because she's finally seeing that he hasn't been writing -- he's just using her as a crutch to avoid facing the deficiencies in his life.
Katie Holmes is attracted to him because he's a minor celebrity -- but she doesn't really want to sleep with him (in the book). The sexualization of her interaction with him is a matter of habit on her part. She really just wants to learn to be a better writer (and Grady realizes that before the end). In the book, she's shown to be a writing talent on a par with Tobey Maguire's character, though not a great deal of time is spent on her writing. We simply see Grady's impression of her from class at the beginning. He sees her and the Maguire character as the only two students in his class with any talent.
The female characters are much more completely drawn in the book. This is one of the problems in adapting a book to the screen. You have to leave out a lot of detail to keep it all in a 2-hour package.
The ending of the film is way too pat. The drug angle wasn't played so strong in the book (Grady is having heart problems, which are played a lot stronger than the fact he's been smoking pot.) Robert Downey's character is less likeable in the book (he's an opportunistic bastard, and he pretty much throws Grady under the train).
But there's also a "fairy tale" ending quality in the book. That is, things finally work out because Grady creates his reality, and he creates a happy ending for himself.
None of this is to say you aren't allowed to not like the movie. :-) But if you want to read a great book, you should look up Michael Chabon -- both for Wonder Boys, and his great fictional history of comicbooks, Jews and gays in America: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
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