Wonder Boys (2000): Michael Douglas, Robert Downey Jr (and Marilyn Monroe's Jacket)

     Adapted from the great Michael Chabon novel of the same name, Wonder Boys (2000) had all the elements in place to make it a huge success. When Wonder Boys failed to impress audiences upon it's February, 2000 release, Studio execs were still determined to make it happen and, in a rare move, re-released the film nine months later in November, 2000. It still did not fare well the second time...  the reason is a mystery. Directed by Curtis Hanson, Wonder Boys is a truly amazing film, with great cinematography and interesting Pittsburgh, PA locations. The ensemble cast is stellar, with some of the principles delivering their best work in years, including Michael Douglas, Frances McDormand, Katie Holmes and Rip Torn. It is Tobey Maguire and Robert Downey Jr., however, that really steal the show as a morose aspiring author and a flamboyant editor, respectively. The small amount of recognition Wonder Boys did receive was largely due to the tight musical soundtrack, led by the incomparable Bob Dylan... with Dylan's original song, "Things Have Changed" winning the Academy Award that year. In the more-than-dozen years since it's release, Wonder Boys has gained some acclaim, and a well-deserved amount of belated attention.

     Michael Douglas plays Grady Tripp, a novelist and college professor who has reached an impasse. His wife left him, his mistress, the University Chencellor (Frances McDormand), is pregnant and he has been unable to finish writing his new novel for the past seven years...

Wonder Boys. 2000: Michael Douglas

     A Word fest event brings his flamboyantly gay editor, Terry Crabtree (Robert Downey Jr.) and other literati to the University for the weekend...

Wonder Boys. 2000: Robert Downey, Jr.

     One of Grady's students, James Leer (Toby Maguire), is fascinated by old Hollywood deaths and suicides. Grady's troubles are multiplied when, at the Chancellor's house party, he points out a valuable jacket worn by Marilyn Monroe on her wedding day to his student. James Leer consequently steals the jacket and some of the future events of the film hinge on this act... 

Wonder Boys. 2000: Tobey Maguire and Marilyn Monroe's jacket

     Meanwhile Grady has more problems... with a dead dog in his trunk... and his young tenant, Hannah (Katie Holmes), has a crush on him...

Wonder Boys. 2000: Katie Holmes

Wonder Boys. 2000: Katie Holmes

     Terry Crabtree is corrupting the impressionable James Leer...

Wonder Boys. 2000: Robert Downey, Jr.

     And Grady's novel is still unfinished...

Wonder Boys. 2000: Michael Douglas

     Can all these interesting characters resolve the assorted problems in their lives and find a way to make everything work out for good or ill? 

Wonder Boys. 2000: Robert Downey, Jr.

Wonder Boys. 2000: Michael Douglas

Basic Instinct (1992): Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone

     Although infamous for it's explicit scenes, Basic Instinct (1992) has other powerful aspects that carry the film far above and beyond the hype. Directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas, the film has many ties to film noir, the most obvious being the flawed detective and the seductive femme fatale. It is a memorable film and still seems current 20 years later.

     A retired Rock and Roll star is found murdered, stabbed with an ice pick during sex. Detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) and his partner are on the case. The Rocker's girlfriend is the natural suspect, having been the last one seen with him. Following the address, Nick finds Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), a wealthy heiress and author... 

Basic Instinct. 1992: Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone

     Tramell's last novel being about a retired Rock and Roll star being murdered with an ice pick in bed further implicates her, but also creates an alibi. Confusion as to whether  or not she committed the crime ensues... 

Basic Instinct. 1992: Sharon Stone

     Meanwhile she is writing a new book about a detective and begins playing mind games with Nick...

Basic Instinct. 1992: Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone

Basic Instinct. 1992: Sharon Stone

Basic Instinct. 1992: Sharon Stone

Basic Instinct. 1992: Sharon Stone

Basic Instinct. 1992: Sharon Stone

      Forced to play along and concede to her seductions and advances, Nick engages in a wild affair with Catherine, despite the fact that people around him are turning up dead...

Basic Instinct. 1992: Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone

     Catherine challenges him emotionally, physically and professionally... Is Catherine a murderer? Or just a sex-crazed woman out to mess with men's heads?

Basic Instinct. 1992: Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone

Basic Instinct. 1992: Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone

Basic Instinct. 1992: Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone

Basic Instinct. 1992: Sharon Stone

Basic Instinct. 1992: Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone

The Jewel of the Nile (1985): Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Adventure

     Directed by Lewis Teague, The Jewel of the Nile (1985) sprung off the success of Romancing the Stone. The sequel story takes place six months after the first, with the happy couple attempting to rescue a "jewel" from an evil dictator in Africa… but the prize is not what it seems. Entertaining and adventurous, the action runs nonstop. Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner maintain their good chemistry. Danny DeVito reprises his role as well. 

Kathleen Turner: The Jewel of the Nile

: The Jewel of the Nile

Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito: The Jewel of the Nile

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner: The Jewel of the Nile

Kathleen Turner: The Jewel of the Nile

: The Jewel of the Nile

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner: The Jewel of the Nile

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner: The Jewel of the Nile

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner: The Jewel of the Nile

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner: The Jewel of the Nile

Kathleen Turner: The Jewel of the Nile

Kathleen Turner: The Jewel of the Nile

"The Jewel of the Nile"- movie trailer

Romancing the Stone (1984): Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Treasure

     Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Romancing the Stone (1984) inevitably drew some unfair critical comparisons to Raiders of the Lost Ark, but the film stands on it's own and ranks amongst the best films of 1984. The story concerns a romance novelist, who travels to Colombia to deliver a treasure map to the abductors of her sister… along the way, she meets an adventurer who convinces her that they should go after the treasure on their own. Full of action and genuine comedic moments, the film is enjoyable throughout. Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner have good chemistry in the lead roles. Danny DeVito costars. 

Kathleen Turner: Romancing the Stone

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner: Romancing the Stone

Danny DeVito: Romancing the Stone

: Romancing the Stone

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner: Romancing the Stone

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner: Romancing the Stone

Michael Douglas: Romancing the Stone

Michael Douglas: Romancing the Stone

Michael Douglas: Romancing the Stone

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner: Romancing the Stone

Danny DeVito: Romancing the Stone

Kathleen Turner: Romancing the Stone

Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner: Romancing the Stone

"Romancing the Stone"- movie trailer