Cal (Billy Crudup) is a handsome, hard-drinking guy driving across the country with no particular destination in mindbut 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
