Watch World Traveler

World Traveler is a pre-9/11 drama film released in 2001 that focuses on the character of Cal, played by Billy Crudup. Cal is a successful architect who is married with a young son, but he finds himself feeling unfulfilled and wanting to escape his routine life. He decides to leave his family and go on a journey of self-discovery, traveling across the United States and staying in various motels and hotels.

As he travels, Cal meets different people and has various experiences that challenge and change him. He meets a variety of women, including a prostitute played by Julianne Moore and a lonely housewife played by Francie Swift. These interactions with women bring out different facets of Cal's character, and he learns more about himself through them.

Throughout the film, Cal reflects on his life choices and relationships, trying to understand why he feels the need to run away. He is plagued with a sense of emptiness and restlessness, and he struggles to find meaning in his life. He is also dealing with some personal issues, which are not revealed until later in the movie.

The movie is a character study and focuses primarily on Cal, exploring his motivations and innermost thoughts. It is a slow-paced film that is more focused on character development than plot, with long stretches of time where nothing seems to happen. However, the acting is excellent, with Billy Crudup delivering a nuanced performance as Cal, and Julianne Moore and Francie Swift both bringing depth and complexity to their respective roles.

The film does an excellent job of capturing the feeling of being on the road, with the various motel rooms and diners Cal visits conveying a sense of loneliness and transience. The cinematography is also quite effective, with long shots of the American landscape and close-ups of Cal's face emphasizing his isolation and introspection.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film is its treatment of gender and sexuality. Cal's interactions with the women he meets are fraught with tension and ambiguity, and the way that the movie portrays these encounters is quite complex. There is a sense that Cal is searching for something in these relationships, but he is not quite sure what that is. The movie is not graphic or explicit in its depiction of sex, but there is an undercurrent of sensuality and desire that adds to the film's overall mood.

Overall, World Traveler is a thoughtful and introspective movie that will appeal to those who enjoy character-driven dramas. It is not a fast-paced or action-packed film, but it is a rewarding experience for those willing to invest their time and attention into it. The performances are excellent, and the film captures a sense of restlessness and longing that anyone who has felt trapped in their own life can relate to.