The first time I saw Tobey Maguire in "Wonder Boys" I knew he would be a big star. His portrayal of student/writer James Leer is faithful to Michael Chabon's book, yet Maguire brings his own intensity to bear on the character. One example: we find out later in the movie that Leer is a compulsive liar, spinning improbable tales with such convincing detail, that the truth and prevarication are hard to discern. Maguire walks this line with great skill and an unbelievable poker face.

Michael Douglas is adequate as teacher/pothead Grady Tripp but his insouciance becomes a threadbare technique after an hour or so. Does he care that he knocked up his boss's wife, killed his boss's dog, and misappropriated his boss's most prized possession? It's hard to tell, although the movie soundtrack tries to help along. When Tripp sends Leer off with his parents after a bad night, the song "Old Man" by Neil Young tries to capture Tripp's sad consolation.

Katie Holmes is (as usual) gorgeous and great as Hannah and Frances McDormand is good as Grady's lover Sara. The story is mostly true to the book and it's hard not to feel a kind of empathy towards the aimless character of Tripp who wants to do the right thing but feels hemmed in by work, relationships, and his mammoth book. "Wonder Boys", for all its understated artistry, combines great acting, a fine story, and a well-chosen soundtrack to make this one of my favorite movies.