Wonderful World

• Director: Joshua Goldin
• Writer: Joshua Goldin
• Cast: Matthew Broderick, Sanaa Lathan, Michael K. Williams
• Theatrical Release Date: January 8, 2010 7:49 AM
• Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
• Criticwire: C+
• On The Web Film WebsiteIMDB Entry

Synopsis: Joshua Goldin’s directorial debut stars Matthew Broderick as Ben Singer, a pot-smoking proofreader, failed children’s singer, lackluster weekend dad, and card-carrying pessimist. His only pleasures in life are regular chess matches and friendly debates about game theory with his Senegalese roommate, Ibou (Michael K. Williams). When Ibou suddenly falls ill and an unfeeling municipal employee exacerbates the situation, Ben's cynicism seems validated. He channels his frustrations into a lawsuit against the city for depraved indifference. But things change when Ibou’s sister Khadi (Sanaa Lathan) comes to stay. What begins as an awkward living arrangement soon turns into something else entirely. Ben's usual misanthropy gives way as he realizes that sometimes cynicism is a matter of self-indulgence and that inspiration can be found in the most unlikely places. Goldin’s balance of levity and gravity give texture and depth to this offbeat study of midlife melancholy and its cures. [Synopsis courtesy of Seattle International Film Festival]