Wolf

Director: Mike Nichols

1994

26 January 2025

See 

Will (Jack Nicholson) is slowly sliding into obsolescence. As the editor of a publishing house, his billionaire boss Raymond Alden (Christopher Plummer) may fire him, his protege Stewart (James Spader) is poised to replace him, and his wife Charlotte (Kate Nelligan) is looking to leave him. But when he’s bitten by a wolf, the spirit of the animal is the catalyst for change he needs. 

Think

The script written by Jim Harrison, author of Legends of the Fall, is smart and full of nuance and the uncertainty of wondering which way it’s going to go for Will. Perhaps it’s he who will do the leaving, and take authors with him, and meet a younger woman, Lauren Alden (Michelle Phfeiffer) the boss’s daughter, and find his animal animas again. 

Feel

The werewolf scenes are the least exciting thing about this movie. Instead I found the dialogue the most relatable and realistic. I doubt the new Wolfman movie directed by Leigh Whannell will go deep with dialogue, even if the two lead actors Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner are actors. My favourite scene in this film was between Will and Lauren:

Will: “So what do you do?

Lauren: “Why do you care?”

“I don't, I was just making polite conversation.”

“I’d rather not discuss what I do.”

“You know, I think I understand what you’re like now. You’re very beautiful and you think men are only interested in you because you’re beautiful. But you want them to be interested in you because you’re you.The problem is besides all that beauty you’re not very interesting. 

You’re rude, you’re hostile, you’re sullen, you’re withdrawn. I know you want someone to look past all that to what’s underneath. But the only reason anyone would bother to look past all that is because you’re beautiful. Ironic isn’t it. In an odd way. You’re your own problem.”

“Sorry, wrong line. I am not taken back by your keen insight and suddenly challenged by you.”