Pay It Forward
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Movie Reviews of Pay It Forward
Movie Review: I really loved this movie
Summary: 5 Stars
When I went to see this movie, I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I was extremely impressed and excited. First of all, the acting in this movie was absolutely incredible. Kevin Spacey was excellent in his portrayal of a teacher who tries to truly inspire his students. He was entirely believeable and perfectly cast. Helen Hunt was also amazing as a single mom with many problems of her own. The best performance was given by Haley Joel Osment as a kid who despite great obstacles, takes his teacher's assignment to heart.
The basic concept revolves around one person doing something good for three people and those three people doing something good for three more people each. It is through this concept that the story is told. At times, it can get a bit confusing trying to connect all the people and good deeds that you witness together, but it is easy to figure out in the end.
At the end of the movie, you felt as though one person can truly make a difference in the world and although I know others have disagreed with the ending, I think it is unfortunately perfect.
I have recommended this movie to many of my friends already and they have all had positive things to say about it as well. I hope that it wins some awards for it's awesome story and the amazing cast and their performances because they truly deserve it. Go see this movie if you haven't and make up your own mind.
Movie Review: A Real Tearjerker
Summary: 5 Stars
I had never heard of this movie until I saw it. Once I saw it I wondered why!The little boy is one of the most wonderful child actors I have seen in years. He makes his characters come to life. You actually believe that Trevor is real and he makes you want to shield him from the pain in his life.
I have a son that is the same age as the character in the movie and I believe they portrayed Trevor in a very realistic manner. I can understand that some people would find this film to be soppy (mainly people who have never suffered in their lives) but I feel that the issues dealt with in this movie are a part of everyday life for many people and these people will relate (ie, bullies, alcoholism, child molestation, single parenting, child abuse).
The only fairly unbelievable part for me was the streetwoman (Angie Dickenson)saving the thief. These characters weren't very well written.
The story itself and the main characters were touching and thought provoking.
This is a pretty deep story and I definitely sobbed at the ending.
I recommend this movie, if nothing else, for the way it shows that each person can contribute something to this world. It also shows that abuse of any kind carries scars that last a lifetime.
I hope that the people who see this movie will learn from it, even if they don't like it. Pay It Forward should send a message of caring and hope to everyone.
Movie Review: An allegory for Christ's teaching?
Summary: 5 Stars
It is surprising to me that no other review (that I read) has made the connection between the message this movie portrays so well and what Christ teaches us to do. Of course the ending involves death, what did anyone expect? This isn't "Polyanna's" world. THis movie portrayed people who have been hurt, scarred, unloved and existing day by day in silent desperation. This movie was at times numbingly real for me. One review didn't like the "promiscuity" or the "profanity".
Another thought the movie too fake or not real enough.
I suspect that some of the reviewers have not "been there or done that" and may not have read scripture either. I have lived this kind of life as a child. These are the kind of people Christ went to in his ministry. They weren't saints, and, allow me to generalize, neither are we.
What scripture tells me is that God "paid it forward" by giving the world His only Son, the Son teaching that only through love can we reach the everlasting, and then God allowing His Son to die on a cross for all of us. It is up to us to continue to "pay it forward", to give thanks for life, to give thanks for each other's gifts, and to give people we meet a "hand up",and to forgive others as we forgive ourselves.
This movie got in my face and asked "What are you going to do?"
Movie Review: Kevin Spacey Steals the Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Truly a terrific film, "Pay it Forward" also features terrific performances by Academy Award Winners Kevin Spacey & Helent Hunt (Best Actor:American Beauty, Best Actress:As Good As It Gets) and Academy Award Nominee Haley Joel Osment (Best Supporting Actor:The Sixth Sense), Jay Mohr, and surprisingly Jon Bon Jovi. The idea of the movie is actually a pretty good one and also I need to say, I don't really like Haley Joel Osment. I liked him in :"The Sixth Sense" but that's about it and he was actually pretty good.
My favorite actor in the film however was Kevin Spacey. Spacey is truly a terrific actor, who almost never makes a bad movie. The movie is about Trevor(Osment) an 11 year old, who's Social Studies project is to try and help the world. He does this by helping a homeless man (Jim Caviezel, "The Passion of the Christ") and telling him to do favors for three other people. Trevor calls this paying it forward. Enter Eugene Simonet(Spacey) Trevors Social Studies teacher, who has horrible burn scars, who falls in love with Trevors mom
Arlene(Hunt). Arlene is a waitress in Las Vegas and a drunk who is not performing well as a mother. This is the setup of the film. Jay Mohr and Jon Bon Jovi co-star as a reporter trying to find out who started the "paying it forward" movement and Bon Jovi or Jovi or whatever plays Trevors dad. A-.
Movie Review: Moving Film
Summary: 5 Stars
Helen Hunt leads an all-star cast as a hard working mom from Vegas, raising seventh grader, Trevor, on her own. Social Studies teacher, Mr. Simonet, played wonderfully by Kevin Spacey, is the crusty middle-aged man who can't come to grips with his painful childhood experiences which leads him through a lifetime of lonely bachelorhood. When he assigns the class an extra credit project to "change the world," Trevor finds an original way to intrepret the job and literally sets out to, one by one, create a hands-on affect on his community. First he befriends a homeless man, Jerry, played convincingly by THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST'S Jim Caviezel, and tries to help Jerry get back on the right track. Jon Bon Jovi plays Trevor's nasty pop, who saunters back into the picture just when Helen Hunt begins a tender relationship with Mr. Simonet. The viewer roots for the PAY IT FORWARD idea, despite numerous setbacks. Angie Dickinson has a small role as the weather-battered drunk mom of Helen Hunt, and we see Jay Mohr intermittently as a fumbling reporter trying desperately to track down the originator of this Pay it Forward "movement." The ending took me by surprise, and I will not spoil it, but suffice to say there won't be a dry eye in the house when you see it for yourself. This one is a keeper!