Quick review here… as I got ready to start my new teaching job, a friend said I should watch this movie I’d never heard of. There were a few moments that were silly enough that I rolled my eyes briefly, but overall I have to say, this was hilarious and moving and yes, recognizable. I’m pleased I spent an evening this way.
Great cast with Michael Douglas as the maybe-slightly-washed-up writing professor, Tobey Maguire as weirdo student, Katie Holmes as higher-achieving student who wants to sleep with her professor, Frances McDormand as chancellor who really is sleeping with the professor, Robert Downey Jr. as his editor, and more. (I had to double-check my memory but yes, Tobey Maguire was Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby movie. The two roles echo each other a bit.) The plot has it all: an admired novelist struggling to complete his second novel; jealousy of a talented student; academic office politics; sex and betrayal; industry and professional bullshit; a louche Robert Downey Jr. Like I said, there was a bit of silliness, but there were a lot of laughs. Several times I scared my little dog with sudden loud belly laughs. I was as surprised as he was.
Oh, and it’s marketed as a rom-com… I was less taken with the love story than that, but there was so much to hear to admire.
And no, to answer Barrett’s question, I do not intend to be this close with my students. More boundaries, please.
pagesofjulia 
This entire (very enjoyable) movie is a sequence of actions by the characters which should probably not be imitated by professors or students (or pretty much anybody else)
(And, having once written a novel that went on for about 172,000 words, I sympathized with the main character. 🙂 )
No question. Nothing but lawsuits. 🙂