The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

And it is turning out to be a great start to Hollywood in India for 2014 – much like last year.  But I guess that’s what happens when you release movies made in 2013 in the first month of the year.  So to that extent it doesn’t count.  What counts however is that for the first time I have seen Ben Stiller executing a role that doesn’t involve any slapstick comedy.

In fact it is a serious, slice of LIFE (literally), drama that definitely leaves you thinking for a while after the movie.  Add to that a day in which we see not one but 2 instances of slapstick actors performing serious roles and that too extremely well.  I am referring to Johan Hill’s performance in The Wolf of Wall Street.  So, it cannot be bad news for the movies at all.

Walter Mitty is a Negative Asset Manager for LIFE Magazine.  If ever there was badly named role in an organization it had to be this one.  It has nothing to do with Negative Assets i.e. Bad Assets.  It has to do a lot with Negatives – the ones that used to come out of cameras with rolls? Remember? If you aren’t familiar with it, check out this link - http://retrocamerauk.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/how-to-solve-common-exposure-problems/

So anyways, LIFE Magazine is moving to LIFE Online and has been bought out over the weekend.  People have returned to work to a place which they have given their life and soul. But a place that doesn’t want them anymore.  In between all of this is our hero who is a day dreamer who has always wanted to be an adventurer like his hero – Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn).

Walter lives that life through temporary “black outs” or phases of day dreaming where he is oblivious of the world around him. His eHarmony profile has seen nothing except Phoenix and he is desperate to make an impact on Cheryl Melhoff (Kristen Wiig), his colleague.  So much, that he takes off to hunt Sean O’Connell when a Negative sent for him isn’t found.

TSLOWM has to score points for some very good cinematography.  Scenes like the negative morphing into a top shot of Walter sitting next to a fountain or the one where the motto of LIFE Magazine is written out through Walter’s decision and eventual trip to Greenland are really well made.  It also gets points for some good smooth writing that ensures a narrative that keeps you tied to the screen.

It is a tad slow mind you but that is intentional – how else would you portray a concept of a day dreamer? The locations are also exceptional beginning with Greenland to the middle of the Arctic to volcanoes in Iceland to Afghanistan and the grand finale with the Snow Leopard in The Himalayas.  If all of these excite you, then TSLOWM must make it to your watch list.

Ben Stiller shines not just with his steady performance as Walter but also behind the camera as a director.  The movie leaves you with a good feeling.  It doesn’t seem stretched because it is definitely under 2 hours.  Of course there was room for a further 5 minutes to be chopped.  But at the end of the day, I felt good and would recommend this as a watch.  7 on 10 from my table.

Watch the trailer on http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3628050457/?ref_=tt_ov_vi