World Traveler (2001)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Bart Freundlich

Writer:

Bart Freundlich (written by)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

ever wander?

Plot:

After hitting the road a man encounters characters that make him realize the importance of family.

Plot Keywords:

Interracial Marriage | Interracial Relationship | Independent Film

Cast

Billy Crudup	...	Cal
Julianne Moore	...	Dulcie
Cleavant Derricks	...	Carl
Liane Balaban	...	Meg
David Keith	...	Richard
Mary McCormack	...	Margaret
Karen Allen	...	Delores
James LeGros	...	Jack
Francie Swift	...	Joanie
Nicolas Suresky	...	Leo
Richie Dye	...	Local bartender
Kaili Vernoff	...	Andrea
Margaret Devine	...	Andrea's friend
John Forman	...	Dakota customer
Bert Miller	...	Dakota bartender

Also Known As:

Globe-trotter, Le (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M (TV rating) | Iceland:L | USA:R | Australia:MA | Canada:A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Trivia:

In the first bar scene, where Cal loudly complains about his song not being played on the jukebox, the song he has selected is "Hard to Handle" by the Black Crowes.

Quotes:

Cal: Women are just different than men. They want different things. I mean, Jesus Christ, I don't want to see anyone for that many days in a row.

Are We There Yet?

Billy Crudup stars in this slow moving film as "Cal", an architect who one day just walks out on his loving wife and son. What Cal is in search of we know not, but he is full of self-loathing for leaving and begins a drunken trek cross country. In his travels he meets a series of people who he treats like crap and then wallows in more self loathing and drink. The movie does end up with a moral; Cal realizes that he had it pretty good at home, but we don't realize this until we've sat through at least the first ninety minutes wondering where this movie and Cal, for that matter, are headed. Adding to the confusion are some flashback sequences that are never explained and have nothing to do with the ending what-so-ever. The only bright spot is when Cal meets up with Dulcie (Moore), and you think "Aha! I know where this movie is headed", and then it doesn't go that way at all. And that's a shame. Dulcie's story line is dropped just as the movie takes a turn towards being remotely interesting, and we are sent right back on Cal's boring journey. There is nothing redeemable in the character of Cal, and what he needs is a swift kick to the butt. Add to that a soundtrack that is ninety percent Willie Nelson songs, and you can see where a good shot of caffeine prior to watching this movie will come in handy. On an upnote, the cinematography was beautiful; it just should have been saved for a better movie. If you really need to be told that there's no place like home, watch "The Wizard of Oz" instead.