This week, we’re discussing one in all Emma’s favourite consolation watch motion pictures for decor and residential inspiration. That is an ongoing sequence for us, and this week’s choice is Stranger Than Fiction, directed by Marc Foster and written by Zach Helm.

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Present Notes:

Harold’s Condo:

• Looks like an IKEA catalog
• Very plain and bland
• Represents his boring life

Karen’s Workplace:

• Sterile and bland
• Spilled espresso and cigarettes in every single place
• Not a variety of furnishings

Ana’s Bakery (The Rebellion):

• Eclectic and messy cute
• Industrial and really open

Ana’s Condo:

• Thrift store, boho, and comfy
• Nothing matches
• Cool and peculiar gentle fixture above the eating desk

Professor Hilbert’s Workplace:

• Elsie’s favourite inside within the film
• A contemporary workplace that’s half home windows with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves

Price the Film From 0 to five Wristwatches: 

Elsie – 5 wristwatches

Emma – 5 wristwatches

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Episode 186 Transcript:

Emma: You’re listening to the A Lovely Mess Podcast, your cozy consolation pay attention. This week we’re discussing one in all my favourite consolation watch motion pictures of all time, Stranger Than Fiction. That is an ongoing sequence for us and we’re actually enthusiastic about this film, and it was directed by Mark Foster and written by Zach Helm.

Elsie: Okay, so this film is from 2006. I used to be simply posting this morning on Instagram, photos of it that I used to be watching it. I’ve been attempting to do this slightly extra to offer folks a warning of what film’s gonna be subsequent, and lots of people messaged me and didn’t know what the film was, which I used to be type of shocked by the clips I confirmed.

Emma: I do really feel like that is much less identified of all of the consolation rewatch we’ve performed up to now. That is a lot much less identified than something we’ve performed up to now, I feel. 

Elsie: Yeah, I feel it’s gone slightly bit beneath the radar additionally it’s 2006 is a fairly very long time in the past. 

Emma: I used to be in school. Yeah. 

Elsie: I used to be like wanting it up on this film, it’s Will Ferrell is the star of this film, and this solely got here out like three years after Elf got here out, which to me that’s like a very long time in the past, or it feels prefer it not less than. 

Emma: Yeah. Do you wanna give a synopsis? Since so many individuals haven’t seen this, we higher inform ’em what it’s about.

Elsie: Sure. Okay. Everybody is aware of that your life is a narrative, however what if a narrative was your life? Harold Crick, performed by Will Ferrell is your common IRS agent, monotonous, boring, and repetitive. Effectively, that’s slightly imply, however sooner or later this all adjustments when Harold begins to listen to an creator in his head narrating his life, the narrator is very correct, and Harold realizes that the voice is an esteemed creator that he noticed on tv. When the narration reveals that he’s going to die, Harold should discover the creator of the story and in the end his life to persuade her to alter the ending of the story earlier than it’s too late. 

Emma: Yeah. So I really feel like that’s a part of what I cherished about this film. So I first noticed it in theaters when it got here out in 2006 and I used to be in school as a result of I keep in mind I noticed a pal of mine from college and it was like a kind of associates the place we might at all times sit by one another on this one philosophy class, and we’d at all times share notes and we have been associates for positive, however we by no means frolicked outdoors of sophistication. 

Elsie: Like seeing your trainer on the grocery retailer. 

Emma: Yeah. It was like, I ran into him on the movie show and we’re each type of like, oh. Hello, and it was nearly like this little little bit of awkwardness as a result of it was like, we’re associates. Like we actually discuss each week, however we simply had by no means frolicked, socially. Simply, I don’t know, it’s humorous how school is. So one way or the other that type of stands proud in my thoughts so far as issues I keep in mind from first seeing this film. And I don’t keep in mind who I noticed this with, who is aware of. You must have seen it with that pal as a result of he was superior. However anyway. So a variety of occasions once we do consolation re-watches, we do love the films. We do at all times love the films, but additionally a variety of occasions we’re type of speaking concerning the inside design and the vibes, and we’re gonna discuss that for positive. However for me, this film was extra about the way it’s type of constructed round being literary, it’s like speculated to be about an creator who’s writing a e book, and it seems that character is actual. And so, it’s very a lot doing a variety of literary tropes and attempting to be type of witty with these kinds of issues. And I simply cherished it. I like studying and so I like all of the scenes the place he’s like with the professor attempting to determine what sort of e book he’s in. Like they’re attempting to determine if he’s in a comedy or a tragedy or if he’s fixing a homicide thriller or if he has magical powers or all these items, and it’s simply very, very humorous and enjoyable and type of jogs my memory of all the nice books I’ve learn on the similar time. But it surely’s positively a bizarre film, which is why I really feel such as you’ve both seen it and also you’re like, have an concept about it otherwise you’ve by no means seen it as a result of it’s only a very random, bizarre film. Do you keep in mind the primary time you noticed it? 

Elsie: I don’t keep in mind the primary time I noticed it. I do know that I had a DVD of it whenever you would nonetheless have a DVD assortment, greater than 10 years in the past.

So it was a film that I actually cherished and I suppose the factor I most keep in mind about it’s that this was the period, like I mentioned, it was only some years after ELF got here out. On this period, Will Ferrell was one of many largest film stars for a little bit of time and I feel he’s like tremendous cute on this film. I like type of have a crush on him. And I did a survey on Instagram and nearly all of folks additionally expertise some type of crush. So I feel it’s lovely that he had his rom-com second and yeah, so I suppose I used to be actually targeted on that, and I additionally love Maggie Gyllenhaal within the film, I feel she seems to be so cute. Additionally, have a factor for Dustin Hoffman and his character’s actually cool and simply looks as if somebody you’d wanna hang around with on this film, his workplace it, as soon as we get into it, his workplace is for positive my favourite inside house within the film by like a mile. It’s actually good, and simply the volunteer lifeguard duties. It’s simply actually cute, It’s a really candy film, and I suppose I also needs to say this film has so many well-known folks in it that I used to be like, I forgot 99% of them, I simply remembered the principle two. But in addition Emma Thompson is so cool on this film, she was kinda stressing me out so much along with her shaky, shaky fingers with the cigarettes all through it, however yeah, she was very cool. She positively performed the type of pretentious creator, very properly. I type of do have a variety of love for her as properly, like so many good motion pictures. 

Emma: I do too. And oddly sufficient too, could not point out this in one other half, so I wanna point out it now, Queen Latifah’s in it too. She performs Emma Thompson’s assistant that’s despatched by the writer to assist her end her e book, and they also type of have this type of combating relationship all through. And she or he’s actually humorous on this film too, however she’s a really stoic, calm presence as a result of she’s speculated to be an individual who likes that can assist you end your e book. However anyway, she’s nice on this too. 

Elsie: Within the early two hundreds Queen Latifah was in like each film for a time or like each film that I watched for a very long time. So yeah, it positively is a time capsule in some ways of the early two hundreds or I suppose just like the mid two thousand however yeah, I assumed it aged rather well, there was nothing about it the place I used to be like that aged horribly. I feel it’s type of believably the final positively decade or the final time in my lifetime when not everybody was on their telephones. As a result of I seen there are hardly any cell telephones within the film, and that positively modified within the coming 10 years, it was like, in case you wanna make a contemporary film, then everybody has a telephone on a regular basis. On this film, they’re nonetheless utilizing payphones and stuff, which is type of enjoyable. 

Emma: Sure. Landlines. Yeah. Watches.

Elsie: Sure. I like that. Love that pre-cellphone period, for positive.

Emma: Yeah, and on this film, truly his watch is slightly little bit of a personality like his watch is sort of slightly bit sentient and causes issues to occur, which is type of one thing that like will get narrated and it feels very literary and it’s simply type of wacky. I additionally really feel like this film does such a terrific job of like, serving to you. We have been speaking about this the opposite day, Elsie and I, that some books would make wonderful motion pictures, after which there are occasions you learn a e book and also you’re like, I like this as a e book, and I actually hope they don’t make it right into a film. And I really feel like this does such a terrific job of exhibiting you among the ridiculousness of like, good e book issues that in case you put them right into a film, it’s type of like, what? And it’s enjoyable. It’s like enjoyable. I feel it’s meant to be, , it’s a romantic comedy, that’s what this film is, and so it’s very gratifying in that means.

Elsie: Okay, so on my tally of what number of occasions I cried, it’s my shifting week and that is part of it, however I cried 3 times. I really feel prefer it actually solely ought to have been one, however it’s type of a candy film and I cried so much on the finish. So yeah, I feel I’m simply within the feels-good-to-cry second proper now, nevertheless it positively had some crying alternatives all through. 

Emma: I at all times, this might need some spoilers, heads up everybody, however this film’s been out since we mentioned it’s 2006, it’s on you. 

Elsie: Spoilers are to be anticipated.

Emma: Yeah, however the half the place he’s enjoying the guitar, he’s like, I’m studying to play guitar, and he’s at his quickly to be girlfriend’s home, and so they’re having like type of their first date. And she or he’s like, oh, play one thing, she has a guitar, and he’s like, I actually solely know one track. I don’t know. However then he does, he begins to play it, and I actually love his efficiency of it as a result of it felt like he was simply studying. It didn’t really feel like, oh, he actually is aware of find out how to play and he actually is aware of find out how to sing. It felt like an actual one who was doing a great job enjoying this track. But it surely’s slightly tiny bit awkward and it makes it type of susceptible and actually particular. And she or he is seeing him enjoying this track and it’s simply actually cute. After which she like goes as much as him to offer him a kiss and him enjoying and singing cuts out and so they convey up within the soundtrack the actual track with the complete band after which they’re like making out, and it’s actually cute. It’s simply one in all my favourite scenes in a rom-com. It’s so candy and horny and foolish.

Elsie: It’s an excellent film makeout second. 

Emma: Yeah, it’s so good, I like that. After which there’s this half initially of the date the place he brings her flowers, she’s a baker and he brings her all these various kinds of flowers. And each time I used to be courting my husband, Trey, he did that as a result of he knew how a lot I like this film and I like baking. And so he introduced me precisely the identical appear to be little baggage of flowers, and so we have been we watched this collectively once more the opposite evening in preparation for me recording this. And I used to be similar to, I keep in mind whenever you purchased me flowers. It’s similar to this candy little factor in a film that I simply love as a result of I like baking. I simply wanna be similar to Maggie Gyllenhaal on this film, she’s so cool. 

Elsie: Her bakery, it’s like, it’s iconic, and her character is absolutely cute. Yeah, I find it irresistible. Okay, so this film it’s not Knives Out, it doesn’t have the long-lasting decor, however it is vitally cute and candy, it has moments. Okay, so I’ll simply begin with my favourite, so Professor Hilbert’s workplace, and similar to the best way he at all times, at all times, at all times, at all times has a espresso in his hand. And I don’t know, he’s similar to actually lovable, however he has type of this like fashionable workplace, the TAF home windows, the place it’s, you’re like sitting looking at these lovely views of some school campus. I don’t know what it’s. I feel that the IRS is in North Carolina. Am I improper?

Emma: I feel there are a number of IRS places, and I consider that is set in New York. 

Elsie: Yeah, you’re proper, there are a variety of New York Metropolis scenes in it, so I don’t know why I mentioned that. Okay, so the remainder of his workplace, it’s like ground to ceiling bookshelves and so they’re stuffed like the comfy means the place you consider that there’s like slightly TV stuffed in there. You consider that it’s like his actual books, like there’s a method to make a bookshelf look actual and there’s a method to make it look pretend. And this, it seems to be actually, actually, actually actual. I simply love listening to him discuss, asking all of the inquiries to Harold to attempt to outline who may very well be the creator who’s narrating his story. It’s all simply so candy. So anyway, that was my favourite house. After which, I don’t know, I’ve this bizarre factor the place I actually favored the nostalgic feeling when he’s like in his lifeguard’s chair. I really feel like that type of indoor pool is a giant a part of my childhood. After which the opposite house that I actually like Anna’s Bakery and Anna’s condominium. So her bakery is type of similar to an everyday New York bakery, it’s lovely. It’s cute.

Emma: They make it look very cramped. Like you possibly can see the carts with all of the trays of issues are type of round. So it’s like actually cute in there and feels eclectic and messy cute, nevertheless it additionally seems to be slightly industrial and really open so far as half the kitchen’s not less than open. 

Elsie: And her condominium may be very like a thrift store girl boho, cozy. It’s very eclectic, I feel that may positively be the proper phrase to outline it by, nothing’s matching, and he or she’s acquired a tiny, small television. It’s simply candy, it’s cute. It’s what you assume that an condominium for somebody who’s of their twenties or thirties, a small single lady’s condominium ought to appear to be. It simply seems to be cozy. Yeah, in case you do watch it after, then positively be careful for like the sunshine fixture in her, like a buffer eating room desk I assumed was like actually cool and peculiar. I don’t know, what the best search time period is for it. However I noticed one the opposite day on eBay and I keep in mind pondering it’s not one thing that I might put in my home. It’s not the best period, however it’s positively beautiful and in additional of a seventies means, like very vibey.

Emma: Yeah. It’s type of seventies boho feeling like this type of hanging issues. So perhaps we also needs to point out Harold’s condominium in Karen’s workplace. Karen is the creator who’s writing the e book that Harold’s in. So Harold’s condominium I really feel like they’re simply attempting to inform us one thing about him with it. That’s all you really want to know as a result of it feels similar to an IKEA catalog. It looks like a resort room that no one lives in that simply acquired cleaned, it’s extraordinarily plain, extraordinarily bland. It doesn’t appear to be somebody truly lives there, as a result of they’re attempting to drive house that like Harold doesn’t actually reside. As a result of on this film that’s type of what the film’s about is he’s discovering his life and residing it. So that they’re telling a narrative by the set and as such it’s not a really inspiring place. And about midway by the film, it will get semi-demolished as a result of he tries one thing with Professor Hilbert the place he does nothing for a day, seeing if that strikes the plot ahead or not. And like a crane comes by his window and so they type of have been like, okay, so the plot strikes with out you. So it will get type of destroyed, which is type of humorous, it’s a really humorous second. However I type of needed to say, so then his pal from the IRS, goes to stick with him, and he mentions desirous to go to house camp. One in every of his strains within the film is like, you’re by no means too previous for house camp, dude. He’s into house, and in case you like discover there are many particulars in his condominium. Even just like the meals they’re consuming at dinner the place it seems to be like Star Trek.

Elsie: It’s probably the most like pod sleeping like Star Trek wanting condominium constructing. I don’t even know the way they discovered a location like that. It’s very cute. 

Emma: Yeah, it’s actually humorous and only a enjoyable little random element. It’s not very a lot the film takes place in there, nevertheless it’s simply type of attention-grabbing. After which Karen’s workplace, much like Harold, however otherwise. It feels very sterile and never very lived in, it’s very stark prefer it looks like somebody with melancholy lives there and works there as a result of it’s like sheep.

Elsie: Yeah, there’s like a spilled espresso, and a variety of cigarettes in every single place. And that’s type of all the aesthetic.

Emma: And like hardly any furnishings. So it’s like, clearly she doesn’t need anybody to come back over and have a seat as a result of there could be nowhere for them to sit down. So it’s only a very empty, nevertheless it’s type of fairly, it’s very like black and white and fashionable wanting. However yeah, it’s meant to point out us about her, which she’s very, like in her head, she’s an creator and it’s additionally like she’s type of going by this author’s block factor. They talked about too all through the film that she hasn’t been seen in 10 years, she’s type of a recluse. So I feel perhaps she’s going by some issues in her life lets say. I don’t know. I don’t actually wanna say melancholy as a result of I don’t actually know if that’s what the character’s going by. However she’s clearly bordered herself away and feels very caught in her work and is attempting to determine that out.

Elsie: Yeah, I feel they stunning clearly talk that she’s like going by struggles, and like some type of psychological well being struggles and it’s unhappy to look at, but additionally inspiring in some components. 

Emma: Yeah, and I feel too, like Queen Latifah’s character, the assistant, I really feel like her identify’s Penny, however I can’t keep in mind now. However she is type of like they’re attempting to assist her and it actually jogs my memory a lot of after I’m going by like a downtime typically I’m like, no, I don’t wanna go on a stroll. No, I don’t wanna name my pal. No, I don’t wanna go, , and that’s type of what Karen’s prefer to Queen Latifah’s character. She’s very like, no, I’m not gonna do your flashcard factor to determine, , Queen Latifah’s character is mainly attempting to assist her, and he or she’s simply, very a lot refusing all the assistance. I’m like, I do know what that’s like. I’ve performed that earlier than.

Elsie: Yeah, I feel that the coziness of this film, it’s not as a lot within the interiors, however you’ll really feel it all through. So yeah, in case you’re on the fence, positively give it a watch. It’s on our listing of favourite motion pictures, so it must be good. in my film room, I’ve all these posters, I even have one in all Stranger Than Fiction. 

Emma: I find it irresistible. But it surely’s positively bizarre, however yeah in case you’ve by no means seen it, I positively would test it out. It’s wild. Benefit from the experience. 

Elsie: By the best way, I might say I like getting requests for the Consolation Rewatch episodes. It’s so enjoyable as a result of they’re all so completely different and individuals are very obsessed with their picks. So anytime you’re feeling within the temper, ship us a passionate request in your favourite film, and we actually in all probability will get to it as a result of I feel we’ll be doing this section for a number of years, it’s like one in all our favourite issues to do. Okay. It’s trivia time. Whereas filming Will Ferrell wore an earpiece that fed him Emma Thompson’s narrative strains with a view to help the opposite solid members in reacting extra naturally to Ferrell’s, seemingly non-sequitur strains. So, yeah, he has a variety of components all through the film the place he’s like, Hey, like that, , to the, yeah, to the sky or no matter.

Emma: I used to be curious if they’d somebody off digital camera saying the strains and everybody’s listening to them. However yeah, that is truly actually attention-grabbing that they went by the difficulty of solely Will can hear the strains and everybody round him is simply reacting to him solely. In order that’s fairly attention-grabbing truly. Okay, the following one is the film Harold sees within the theater after he’s instructed to reside his life is Monty Python’s, the Which means of Life, which is from 1983. They see him in a movie show and he’s type of simply blowing off work or no matter and simply residing life, in order that’s type of cute that’s what the film is that he’s watching. You’ll be able to inform it’s an previous film, however yeah, I couldn’t inform what it was to be sincere, in order that’s humorous.

Elsie: The title of the film comes from a well-known quote from Lord Byron’s, Don Juan, tis unusual, however true for fact is at all times unusual, stranger than fiction. If it may very well be advised, how a lot would novels acquire by the alternate, how in another way the world would males behold. I at all times puzzled if Stranger Issues comes from, like Stranger Issues have occurred, As a result of they sound the identical, nevertheless it’s prefer it’s from a totally completely different quote, or is it from type of the identical quote?

Emma: I feel they’re from completely different quotes, however I don’t actually know what Stranger Issues comes from. I at all times thought it meant there are stranger issues or , stranger issues on the market, no matter. 

Elsie: Yeah. Stranger Than Fiction is a good quote. I find it irresistible. 

Emma: Yeah, it’s a great identify for this film too. Good decide. The novel that Karen Eiffel is writing that Will Ferrell’s characters known as Loss of life and Taxes, and this can be a reference to the well-known quote. On this world, nothing will be mentioned to make sure besides Loss of life and Taxes, which was written by Benjamin Franklin in an previous letter from 1789. 

Elsie: I’ll say, I hate that quote. It’s such a downy downer, I don’t know. I imply clearly, it’s true. It’s humorous. I suppose it’s only a miserable, humorous joke, no matter. However yeah, I feel Loss of life and Taxes, it’s not a novel that I might decide up. So I’m glad it was pretend, however I don’t know, I suppose I cherished within the film how Professor Hilbert’s character thinks that she’s like such a genius although. That made me extra and I type of want, like she says in a single half, one other character that she killed in one other e book and I want that we knew extra of them as a result of that’s what she’s identified for as like at all times killing a personality like a beloved character on the finish of each e book. Anyway, I’m glad it’s known as Stranger Than Fiction and Not Loss of life and Taxes. 

Emma: I might’ve favored it both means. Okay. One other trivia is that Emma Thompson wore no make-up on this film. Which I feel is fairly attention-grabbing. She has nice pores and skin truly.

Elsie: I assumed she seems to be nice. That’s what I used to be pondering too. That is bizarre, however you understand how in Love Truly, she’s speculated to be Hugh Grant’s sister, I assumed on this film she seemed extra like she may very well be his sister. I don’t know if it was like her haircut, I simply was like, I might see it, however this isn’t the best place, the not the best time, and never the best place. 

Emma: Yeah, I suppose I see that. Yeah. I additionally assume it’s simply type of a daring selection. I assume it was her selection, or not less than clearly she went together with it. Loved if another person was making the selection, she was clearly on board.

Elsie: It suits her character very properly. 

Emma: It does, it very a lot suits her character. I additionally assume it’s simply daring to be like, I’m gonna be in a significant film and I’m going to put on no make-up, and it in all probability saved her a ton of time. She didn’t have to point out as much as hair and make-up so early.

Elsie: That’s true. Oh my gosh. A reoccurring theme is how Harold’s wristwatch adjustments his life. There are a number of scenes during which Harold sits on the bench outdoors Anna’s bakery. There’s a big spherical window on the wall that resembles a watch by which Harold seems to be at Anna. That’s cute. Yeah. I do love a spherical window.

Emma: I do too as a result of it simply stands out. I find it irresistible. Okay, talking of watches, how would you charge this film from zero to 5 wristwatches? 

Elsie: Positively a 5. I imply, there’s nothing unhealthy about it. There’s all the things good. I assumed it held up. I suppose I type of was fearful that I might’ve thought it was higher again within the day after which watched it now and been like, uh, . However I nonetheless actually loved it. I imply, I cried 3 times.

Emma: I like this film. Apart from Knives Out, that is in all probability my different favourite film as a result of I simply get pleasure from it and find it irresistible. However I’ll say, I do assume the truth that they’re type of gonna let Harold die as a result of they assume the ending of her e book is so good, is slightly bit unbelievable, however then they take it again. But it surely’s just a bit bit unbelievable. To me, it’s like this can be a rom-com. Not all the things must be like good for me. I really feel just like the film works anyway, so I don’t actually care. So anyway, I’m giving it 5 watches.

Elsie: I type of believed that half.

Emma: Yeah, I assumed the unhappy ending was superior to letting him reside. I imply, her e book was known as Loss of life and Taxes, after which she doesn’t kill him, nevertheless it’s like she’s gone on her personal hero’s journey. Similar to Harold has, as a result of he’s now modified his life a lot, and he or she’s additionally modified the best way she writes and what she cares about. So , we have now two protagonists on this film in a means. However anyway, I prefer it. It’s enjoyable. 5 wrist watch. 

Elsie: Yep. You hear that can Ferrell 5 watches for you. Okay. It’s now time to go over a joke and a truth with Nova. Hey Nova, do you might have a joke for us or a truth this week? 

Nova: A joke. 

Elsie: Okay. I’m prepared. 

Nova: What does pumpkin eat? 

Elsie: What? 

Nova: Pumpkin pie. 

Elsie: Oh, that’s a great one. We hope you loved this episode. Please proceed to ship us all your requests. We now have been protecting a log of them. We do about one a month, in order that’s like 12 a 12 months. So perhaps we’ll get to yours this decade. 

Emma: So we’ll get there, hold ’em coming. 

Elsie: We’ll hold going and you’ll e-mail us anytime at podcast@abeautifulmess.com. Subsequent week we’re speaking about what it was like furnishing my new home from utterly scratch.