Finding Forrester
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Movie Reviews of Finding Forrester
Movie Review: Terribly Under Appreciated Film
Summary: 5 Stars
I think I have only commented on one other movie, and it was done to illustrate how to take a Pulitzer Prize winning book and turn it into swill. "Finding Forrester", was a brilliant film and a breath of fresh air from Hollywood's production line of big budgeted films, with stars with egos and paychecks that are even more ludicrous, and special effects that fill-in for plot, and for acting, and actors.Mr. Sean Connery is a rare treasure in so much as time continues he seems almost immune to it. His films have consistently won him the recognition he deserved once he stepped down from the James Bond Series. Nothing wrong with Bond, but the films are just not taken seriously by the "exalted" film critics.
First a correction that needs to be made is that the fictional character of Forrester may have chosen a reclusive lifestyle after he wrote a Pulitzer Novel, however to compare him with Author J. D. Salinger is to either admit a person has not seen the movie, or who's knowledge of Salinger is non existent. That are plenty of biographies out there about Salinger and a quick glimpse will show the differences that make a comparison between the fictionalized character Forrester and Salinger to be absurd. To suggest a comparison between this and, "Karate Kid" films is to parade one's stupidity.
So what did this film offer, not one or two, but three Academy Award Winners, and a brand new talent that was at least deserving of a nomination? The man who brought us Salieri in "Amadeus", an Irish Cop in "The Untouchables", and a stunning performance as a young girl in "The Piano" made this movie special. Mr. Robert Brown is a new face to movies, and he too will eventually be rewarded for his talents, as Jamal he was excellent.
No violence, no sex, and no special effects equals little notice with rare exception. The one film Company who consistently denies the death of quality filmmaking is Merchant Ivory Films, and then there are the independents.
The film is not perfect but it is vastly superior to the majority of films that were offered in 2000. For the price of the DVD you get a great cinema experience, can sit at home with no one repeating dialogue to his or her neighbor, or having the "Cougher" who inhabits every film. And as a bonus a night at home with this film is cheaper than going to your local Megaplex with 30+ screens, much fewer titles, and a panorama of mediocrity.
Movie Review: A transcendent film
Summary: 5 Stars
Director Gus Van Sant also directed "Good Will Hunting" and this film has essentially the same plot. An underprivileged youth is discovered by a reclusive genius and is shepherded to his full potential. What GWH was to math, this film is to literature. They are such close cousins that Van Sant felt compelled to bring in Matt Damon for a cameo.Regardless of the familiar plot, "Finding Forrester" succeeds because of an excellent screenplay and outstanding acting performances by Sean Connery, Rob Brown and F. Murray Abraham. This kind of story can't help grabbing the audience at a human level. Genius, suppressed by societal class, struggles to emerge and it beats the odds. The story is transcendent for both the main characters. Forrester (Sean Connery) helps Jamal (Rob Wallace) transcend his societal constraints to realize his potential as a writer, and Jamal helps Forrester to transcend the constraints of his emotional traumas to free him as a human being. It is a triumphant story, very uplifting.
Van Sant does a good job of presenting the human element and developing the characters while keeping the photography effective but in the background. The photography is very straightforward, allowing the characters to tell the story without the intrusive use of stylish shots that are all to prevalent lately. Van Sant gives Forrester's apartment a dark and dreary look from a color and lighting perspective, which is particularly effective.
Sean Connery is in top form and continues to make the case for being one of our best and most treasured actors. He gives a virtuoso performance in this film with a complex and ornery character. It is a powerful and moving portrayal. Rob Brown is phenomenal in his first feature film. He was found in a talent search and made an impressive debut with an extremely mature performance. With the right scripts, he has a good chance of having a bright future. F. Murray Abraham is fantastic as the haughty English teacher, who gets his just deserts.
This is a highly intelligent film with a strong story, steady direction and marvelous acting. I rated it a 9/10. Despite an all too familiar storyline, it differentiates itself by its wide-ranging excellence. For those who enjoy good dramatic performances and intriguing character studies, this film is not to be missed.
Movie Review: A wonderful film
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the few films I have left recently glad I spent the money! Too bad there were not a few car crashes, shoot-em-up scenes so that my sons would want to see it! Through a chance encounter, the young man from the South Bronx, and the recluse from two or three decades earlier become friends. Interestingly, it is hard to judge who benefits the most from this unusual friendship, which in spite of the differences, grows into one of mutual respect.
Sean Connery can do very little wrong, and this to me is his best role since the award winning performance as the seasoned old Chicago cop in "The Untouchables" He is perfectly cast as Forrester. Another reviewer was correct: he really has to work at letting the tough exterior(hiding all manner of bizarre vulnerabilities) break down, and when he does, we see the maturation of a grown man just beginning become open to the trust in, reliance upon and assistance to his newfound friend.
The film has several high points, not the least of which is the well deserved come-uppance Connery gives F. Murray Abraham (who is splendidly cast as a jerk of an English teacher who accuses Robert Brown of plagiarism). This is most reminiscent (to me) of the similar scene with Al Pacino from "Scent of a Woman", but Connery has so much more power (enough which spares him the need to shout) in this dramatic display of friendship. Ditto the scene at Yankee Stadium where we first see how much Brown's character Jamaal does for Connery's Forrester.
I was pleased to see this film avoid the cliches that Hollywood cannot seem to resist when attempting t portray young African Americans. Additionally, I was pleased not to see the interplay with Anna Paquin (the eager young prep school girl with the "concerned" father) turn to the inevitable sex/race clash.
As another said, this is a must see for people (not just children) who have trouble coming to grips with any on a number of God given abilities.
This film was much to good for the lack of popular appeal it experienced, and is far too good to let go by. No heart pounding action, and nothing to maker the viewer jump up and high five the next person. There were sure a bunch of pretty pleased looking folks leaving the theatre, though.
Movie Review: Another sample of a brilliant, yet not-so-published movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
The fact that 'Finding Forrester' somewhat brings 'Good Will Hunting' to mind is not such a big coincidence, considering that Gus Van Sant was the director of both, with a very weird and unsuccessful project (the movie 'Psycho') in the middle. But Van Sant was careful enough to maintain things at a resemblance level, only picking up the best elements from his own masterpiece (in fact, more like the masterpiece of Matt Damon -who happens to play the minor role of a lawyer in this movie- and Ben Affleck, authors of the script). The script for 'Finding Forrester' instead puts out there the name of an amateur script writer and not-so-amateur News Director from Oregon: Mike Rich.The movie is centered in the Bronx, where a gifted high school student and neighborhood basketball star Jamal Wallace (played by young talent Rob Brown) begins an interesting friendship with a former literary star turned hermit, William Forrester (played by Sean Connery). The relationship between the very mature sixteen-year-old and the seventy-plus-year-old author evolves as Wallace earns the respect and trust of Forrester, as a result of the his brightness and candor, in the midst of a most adverse environment.
As Wallace experiences the chance of a lifetime in the form of a scholarship to one of the most prestigious private high schools, he is faced with a human feeling he was not as used to in his poor Bronx: envy. The envy of another just-as-talented basketball player, and that of his bitter and not-so-brilliant literature teacher, Robert Crawford, notably played by F. Murray Abraham. Abraham is an actor that has already performed roles of this sort, such as Antonio Salieri in 'Amadeus' so you can guess that he does this extremely well.
Connery's performance, as usual, was flawless, and so was Brown's. All these performances along with the script, one which deserves the highest praise, make very upsetting the fact that the movie went so unnoticed when it was playing in Theaters. This movie stands up there with 'Dead Poets Society' and 'Good Will Hunting', among the movies of its kind.
Movie Review: A Misunderstood Statement
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw Finding Forrester at an English presentation put on by a former Chemistry teacher of mine, who doubled as a writer. I found myself completely engrossed in the film from the start, and it was all I could think about when it was stopped midway through at the end of the first part of the presentation. After watching the rest, I remember thinking of Finding Forrester as one of those few movies done so well that it could have been a perfect rendition of a true story, even if it wasn't. What it was was a touching and thoughtful film, one that didn't need special effects and such to bring about its success. Sean Connery and Rob Brown complemented each other very well as the movie progressed, and I hope to see Brown step off from his first movie into a possible acting career.I would also like to say this: If you are one of the people who feels the need to deride and downplay this film because of its similarity to Good Will Hunting and other films, you are ignorant and short-sighted (and there's plenty of you on this site). Hey, I can only go where the evidence leads me. Movies, in my opinion, are made to be enjoyed, not judged in relation to other films. If you do that, you shouldn't be writing movie reviews, whether you are an individual who went to the theater or a professional movie reviewer (and sometimes, even in that case, the reviewer doesn't have a clue).
Finding Forrester is a statement about life, and that sometimes the way we see it isn't always right: the fact that an urban hoops-shooting black 16-year-old male could actually be something other than the common stereotype, a real writer with real talent. Forrester helped him break free and show the world his gift. It's a good story, not, like many of you believe, a stab at a "cheap Oscar." But it did deserve one.
-Nick Lauria