Rating: 
Summary: Should've stayed unfound.
Review: A movie completely devoid of an original idea. Know what? I'm gonna slam *Finding Forrester* to the mat. Just because the movie has a high-pedigree cast (Sean Connery, F. Murray Abraham), just because a noted director (Gus Van Sant) helmed the project, just because it's about a poor kid from the Bronx harboring an interest in high literature, and just because it pretends to be about something important, doesn't mean that it's any less cliched than *Dude, Where's My Car?* In fact, I prefer *Dude, Where's My Car?* because it's at least free from hypocrisy with regards to its endless cliches. There may be nothing more insufferable than a work of fiction that's as lazy as it is pretentious. First of all, Van Sant steals from himself: this movie's nothing but a redux of his own *Good Will Hunting*. But who can blame him? The latter made all kinds of money and won Oscars. If the public wants treacle, give 'em more of it. As long as it makes money, natch. Jeepers, what a sellout Van Sant has become. (Anybody remember *Drugstore Cowboy*?) Instead of Robin Williams' Vietnam vet, here we have Sean Connery as a Salinger-esque recluse, holed up in a Bronx tenement, who wrote the "great 20th-century novel" back in the 1950's. Of course, we never hear any passages from the work. Also, we never hear his Grand Finale speech to his protege's class at the end of the film (well, we hear the first bits, then Van Sant elects to fade-cut to the last bits). All this talk of great writing from the main characters -- and we never hear it. I guess we're supposed to take it on faith. Well, I won't. If you're going to tell a story about genius, you had better show examples of same. If you're unable to do that, do yourself and the rest of us a favor and make *Dude, Where's My Car 2*.
Rating: 
Summary: cliche masterpiece
Review: this was a masterpiece. im probably the best reviewer for teens. this was a story plot acting excellent mix. william forrester is an famous poet. jamal is the problem child. william teaches him about life. this is a mix movie drama , documentary , comedy , and sports. i loved this and always will. the sad part is when the death comes.
Rating:
Summary: Kev thinks this is a modern masterpiece!
Review: FINDING FORRESTER is a movie about 16-year-old Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown), a high school basketball star who has a secret passion, and a talent, for writing. When he is dared to go into an apartment of a mysterious isolated man (Sean Connery), he finds out who he really is, an award-winning and well-known author of a book Jamal is reading in school. This movie is witty, highly entertaining, and even realistic. This movie seems a bit long at times, but every minute is worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: A sweet story, but a bit cliche
Review: The first thing that came to mind as this story unraveled was that it's a cross between Good Will Hunting and Dead Poet's Society--brilliant, undiscovered mind, fancy prep. school, gentle nurturing teacher. The obvious difference, of course, is that the wunderkind in this film is black. Perhaps that would have been enough of a twist to save this film but, alas, all the familiar stereotypes were used--black kid is a menace who will steal a BMW; black kid will excel only on the basketball court; black kid who achieves great things in a classroom must be cheating or plagiorizing. This angle of the story was unfortunately predictable and dull. I wanted to like the movie but it had too much of the same flavor as GWH (I was surprised to learn both were directed by van Sant because one would think he'd stay away from twin films like this) and seemed wholly unoriginal. Rob Brown, first-time actor, put forth a brilliant performance. Connery, however, was his same Scottish self.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good movie!
Review: This movie really makes you feel what the guy must feel like. Its kind of sad, but very good. I'd watch it again if I could.
Rating:
Summary: Finding a beautiful movie..
Review: Finding Forrester is one of the rare movies that don't rely on corny music and movie cliches to touch your feelings.The message is delivered in a subtle form and although the story is not unique,this time I really found myself caring for the characters.This leads me to the conclusion that it is not what you tell,it is how you tell.. Jamal(Rob Brown)is a high school student living in Bronx.He has two skills,playing basketball and writing.At a time in his life when he must decide what kind of future he wants,he meets William Forrester (Sean Connery),a once Pulitzer winning author,who dissapeared and decided to live a life of isolation after the publishement of his only book.Traditionally,it would be expected that Jamal needs Forrester's help to truly understand who he is and what he wants,buth both characters are in need of help of some kind.Their friendship starts in a bizarre way,and change both of their lives. I was not surprised by how great Connery's performance was,because anything else is unthinkable,but Rob Brown really impressed me.And I was even more amazed to learn that it was his first screen presence.He applied to be an extra because he needed money to pay hiss cellphone bill.Well,I hope he did,and that he continues making movies,because he is a natural actor in my opinion. The movie definitely reminds me of Good Will Hunting,the director's other movie,but although I liked that one too,I think Finding Forrester is superior.It doesn't have those "high" moments like Good Will Hunting,but the movie as a whole is touching,and some of the dialogue and the ending is genuninely original and emotional. The DVD has a nice picture transfer.The extras are average,not bad but cold be better.I think this is a must-have DVD. In Finding Forrester,you will find something..
Rating: 
Summary: This movie isTERR-ible.
Review: Finding Forrester? It's probably best to leave this one unfound. How could Gus Van Sant go from Good Will Hunting to this? Just awful. Trite and predictable. This story had such potential too but it ends up creating about as much dramatic emotion as a morning dump.
Rating:
Summary: Finding Forrester
Review: This movie was real good. I have a friend who is this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Not worth it
Review: Take a decent idea for a film....and then kill it with bad acting, poor direction, and unnatural dialogue. That's basically what you have with Finding Forrester. It could have been good, but too many of the scenes were forced, particularly when Jamal (Brown) dazzles the guy with the BMW with his knowledge of the history of BMW. It's a scene that's supposed to display Jamal's 'inner intelligence,' but it's forced on you and not believable at all. Good acting makes the viewer believe that what they see is actually taking place. But most of the extras in this film (especially the Basketball coach), and even one of the leads (Brown), look like they're trying to act. They look very uncomfortable in their roles. It's not very good at all. The best acting in the entire movie is Matt Damon's cameo at the end. And this is definitely not one of Connery's better works.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning movie
Review: Quite frankly, I cannot understand that people do not give five stars! Sean Connery as the frustrated writer is very well chosen as he reflects a man full of life - as one other critic mentioned - but is frustrated as life has shown him that it is not worth deploying that potential as most people do not get what you write anyhow. Another William Hurt performance, no please. The young black fellow plays excellent and any comparisons to Morgan Freeman and others I find far too early. This film is highly recommendable to buy as you can watch it hundreds of times. It asks the question "what do we expect from life, what do we want to achieve in life?" in a way that it does not come blasting in your face. It is a mellow but powerful message. Every serious collector ought to have this wonderful piece on his/her shelves. Go, buy it!!!!
|
