World Traveler (2001)

Cal (Billy Crudup) is a handsome, hard-drinking guy driving across the country with no particular destination in mind--but this is no romantic road trip. Cal has abandoned his wife and child and is running from a misery he can't even articulate; his encounters with other lonely people in bars and airports only render him more confused, while his inviting good looks routinely get him into trouble. World Traveler delves into the heart of a certain American grief and rootlessness, one that corresponds to the vast open space of the country itself. The movie doesn't explain itself, but the nuanced script and direction by Bart Freundlich (The Myth of Fingerprints) and superb performances by Crudup, Julianne Moore, James LeGros, David Keith, Karen Allen, Mary McCormack, and others make World Traveler completely compelling. A subtle but deeply felt movie, akin to 1970s character portraits like Five Easy Pieces. --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

Let's send this DVD to another world.

One of the worst movies I can ever recall watching. Choppy editing; long, drawn out scenes that lead nowhere; poorly written characters and dialogue; ugly cinematography. Combine that with an awkward looking DVD cover; poor audio quality on the DVD (you have to turn the TV volume way up, only to have the next thing you put on blow your speakers off the TV); and no choice of English subtitles; and content and presentation wise, this one is truly at the bottom of the barrel. September 22, 2007

Outstanding Flick. Don't let them fool you.

I watched it last night. Just to see what others thought, I
looked here on Amazon to see the reviews. Several hit it on the head, but a couple of the "WORST movie" and "BORING" comments were clear flags these people did not watch the movie, or perhaps were incapable of interpretting the relatively simple
plot.

The most annoying red flag was put up by a reviewer who enlightened us with how they didn't like the movie because the
character was "self centered".

I won't bother to explain that this is a fictional character, and that they are not written to become your "buddy", but to
describe a character that has flaws. Texture gives the film life, so its critical to remember you aren't watching movie characters to find your new bestest friend. sheesh.

Outstanding movie about a fairly disturbing scenario. Great
soundtrack, wonderful performances. A slice out of "Cal's" life that left open minded viewers wondering what the next day would bring him. August 6, 2006

Not suitable for anyone to watch

A guy runs away from home on his son's 3rd birthday. Seeming to traveling aimlessly on I 80 west he drinks and plays around a lot. He's at a bar whining about waking up and seeing the same face everyday. Well, Schmuck, if that's not what you wanted you shouldn't have married! I found this self-centered creep annoying. Even when the trip ends with him confronting his runaway dad and finds closure I couldn't care less and I doubt if many viewers of this film cared what happened to him.
August 6, 2006

Good Movie. Great Soundtrack.

This movie is a non-conventional film. So if that's what you're expecting from this, lQQK elsewhere. Excellent acting. Excellent Soundtrack! April 6, 2006

That whole non-existent desert road trip schtick

Honestly, I only made it about 15 or 20 minutes into this.
The opening act, I guess was supposed to set the stage, but then it ended and I forgot what it was about.

Then we proceed to the worn-thin territory of the predictable "American desert" drive. The one that only exists in movies, where there is no I-40, and everyone just rambles along in treasured classic cars down roads where there seems to be no cross-country trucking, no traffic, no one heading anywhere, drinking coffee alone somewhere in a non-existent Route 66-type diner out of the director's fantasy with the predictable results:
1) Long lonesome two-lane highways? Check.
2) A diner in the middle of nowhere? Check
3) A waitress in a ridiculous pink outfit that says "Hon"? and offers a refill? Check
4) A jukebox that always seems to play some kind of Patsy Cline or something similar, even though both jukeboxes and Patsy are unknown around the states. No Toby Keith or anything like that. Check.
5) No sports TV at the aforementioned bar. Check.
6) Some kind of gas station that would never meet any sort of legal standard, with a 50-year-old pump. Check.

Well, that's about all I got out of the first 15 minutes. I probably could have gone on, but why bother? Not a single original idea so far. Maybe it gets better. I can't be bothered to find out. January 5, 2005

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