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The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY directed by Ben Stiller, written by Steve Conrad from the story by James Thurber, with Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Shirley MacLaine and Sean Penn. A 20th Century Fox release. 114 minutes. Opens Wednesday (December 25). For venues and times, see Movies. Rating: NNN


The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty finds Ben Stiller – who directs as well as stars – trying for something a little more substantial than he has in movies like Zoolander and Tropic Thunder. He uses James Thurber’s short story about a daydreamer to explore loneliness and the need for human connection in the increasingly disconnected digital age.

Stiller’s Mitty is a photo archivist at Life Magazine who after decades of simple competence launches himself on a global adventure in search of a missing image for the magazine’s final issue. The movie disappears into Walter’s imagination in a series of clever set pieces, but the real world is always more important, Stuart Dryburgh’s cinematography growing more and more beautiful as the film progresses.

The narrative’s a little bumpy – the story basically stops and backs up over itself so it can have a third act – but Stiller’s ambition and low-key charisma will hold you. He’s aiming at something meaningful here, and even if his movie doesn’t totally get there, the journey is the thing.


OSCAR BUZZ This year’s competition will likely prove too strong for Mitty to squeeze through, but nominations for cinematography and best visual effects might be possible if the Academy’s technical divisions pay close attention.

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