what most amaze about this film be how easily you forget you be watch a movie and and not just two friend have dinner . an eccentric theater director and old friend ( whose be avoid the dinner for year ) a struggle playwright and have dinner and discus . well just about everything . roger ebert call this the only movie without clichés and and while it not completely true ( what really could be ) and it do manage to invert any expectation of characterization or plot . the conversation be not random either and all idea explore here get re integrate into the film later on and what begin with the director tell the detail of his breakdown and bizarre attempt at spiritual and artistic fulfillment and in a cross between the most pretentious theater professor you have ever see and the most interesting man in the world from those dos euiscommercials . the play write . do not know why i keep call them by these title and the character name be their name in real life andre gregory and wallace shawn ( who it nice to see in a serious role after his mad scientist southland tale bit ) . anyway shawn mostly listen to andre who obviously love attention and hear himself speak and but later interrogates and contradicts and and add much need balance to andre new age excess and paranoia . not that it come out a clearly or as neatly a andre monologue and shawn be a writer and more comfortable on paper than in real life ( there an ingmar bergman quote about this idea early on ) and and you can literally see the thought and reaction build behind his eye and even a he can not fully express them . also little detail about andre abound and liberal guilt mostly ( listen for how many time he compare himself to nazi ) . but i could go on like this forever . the point be the character be genuine and lyrical even a they trip over their word . if you want to see some of where richard linklater get his sprawl conversational wit and my dinner with andre be absolutely necessary . it rare to get a real intellectual and emotional charge out of a movie and before sunris or sunset and wake life do it and spalding grey the monster and come close and but this movie explode with life and at it most fascinating and most banal . this be the thrill conversation you have be wait for .