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Summary: Possibly Sir Sean Connery's BEST Performance!! Hilarious!!!
Review: Academy-Award nominated director Gus Van Sant takes us on an uproarious fictional journey and gives us a fictictious taste of racism in a suburban town. Sir Sean Connery is breathlessly hilarious as the secluded Award-winning one-time author who forms a close friendship with an aspiring writer ( Rob Brown)who's trying to cope with the racial discrimination at his college. Oscar Winner Anna Paquin gives TERRIFIC performance as the girl who befriends him. Michael Nouri does a good job in a supporting role (see him in The Champion!!). Academy-Award Winner F.Murray Abraham is oily evil as Mr.Crawford. This film should've been PG. Buy it. You'll LAUGH a great deal.
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Summary: A great surprise
Review: This movie is more than a coming of age movie, with a famous actor used to draw in movie goers. This movie was funny and highly enjoyable. Sean connery does a wonderful job playing a famous writer who disapeared from public eye after a huge success. He mentors a young boy, Jamal, after he finds his journals, filled with Jamal's writings. At the same time Jamal starts attending a privet school, and faces the prejudices from teachers who don't believe a kid from the projects sould be in such a elite school. He must prove himself to his new peers, teachers, mentor, and to himself. I really enjoyed this book, both for its funny parts, and its emotional ones.
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Summary: Paper Chase meets Good Will Hunting
Review: In an era of movies laden with heavy background music, violence, conflict . .where physical aggression triumphs over guile and intelligence, FINDING FORRESTER is truly a breath of fresh air. Sean Connery plays the aging academic/ writer recluse beautifully . .his achilles heel is dealing with today's changed world and society's aggressive "loudness" . .his young counterpart the opposite- uncomfortable with his academic and deeply insightful interpretive abilities of life- he retreats to the role of the rap listening, basketball junkie. Through a chance encounter, the two become friends- resspecting one and other and bringing each other out of their shells. Surprise twists and lots of "warm fuzzy" moments make this one of the decade's best feel good movies- a must see for children who feel akward about their God given academic abilities- almost a parenting aid that rivals positive reaffirmation of child therapists . . and just plain a nice feel good movie. Enjoy !!!
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Summary: Finding Connery
Review: A reclusive author, whose only published novel won the Pulitzer Prize, becomes the mentor of an underprivileged and talented sixteen-year-old in "Finding Forrester," directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Sean Connery and newcomer Rob Brown. Young Jamal Wallace (Brown) is a star basketball player in his neighborhood, and-- unbeknownst to his peers-- also has a gift for writing. The acceptance he needs from his friends, however, that need to "fit in," is derived from playing ball; yet his heart is in his writing. But he knows that within the limited confines of his environs his skill with the written word means next to nothing in regards to his future, and he sees basketball as the only viable means of doing anything worthwhile with his life. That is, until one day circumstances bring him into contact with William Forrester (Connery); and it's an encounter that ultimately changes the direction of his life forever. Working from an intelligent, well crafted screenplay by Mike Rich, Van Sant establishes the milieu within which the story will unfold with his opening shot: A black youth setting the stage in rap. It's clever and effective, and the contrast between the rap at the beginning and the song at the end not only frames the film but underscores the impact of the story, as it succinctly encapsulates the changes in Jamal's life. As he did with "Drugstore Cowboy" and "Good Will Hunting," Van Sant successfully captures the essence of a particular culture and how those living within it relate to those apart from it. It's a study of human nature and the levels of diversity of which our society is comprised, and Van Sant does it exceedingly well. As far as performances go, Connery makes the most of one of his best roles in years. Perfectly cast as Forrester, he lends an adamant toughness to the character initially, then slowly and subtly allows the vulnerability that lies beneath the gruff exterior to surface. It makes for a well-rounded, complete portrayal, as we see not only his iconoclastic leanings, but the very human and caring side of the man as well. And it's Connery's superlative performance, through which he conveys the complexities of the character so well, that illuminates the true depth and multi-faceted dimensions of Forrester; it is not only memorable, but worthy of an Oscar. In his motion picture debut, Brown takes the screen by storm; a storm that is at once gentle and discerning, yet endowed with a strength born of it's own momentum. With a manner reminiscent of Cuba Gooding Jr. in "Boyz N the Hood," he has a natural acting ability that commands attention, and if his performance here is any indication of his talents (which obviously it must be), then it is safe to say that the cinematic world has certainly just been enriched by his presence. The supporting cast includes F. Murray Abraham (Professor Robert Crawford), Anna Paquin (Claire), Busta Rhymes (Terrell), April Grace (Ms. Joyce), Michael Pitt (Coleridge) and Michael Nouri (Dr. Spence). An uplifting example of deriving hope from hopelessness, "Finding Forrester" is an entertaining and moving testimony to the resilience and depth of the human spirit. It's a film that will stay with you long after the screen has gone dark, for there is much here to be savored and embraced; a film too good to be allowed to let pass you by.
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Summary: things are not always what they seem
Review: This movie was a refreshing change from the explosions and special effects of recent movies. There was a very simple story told. Allthe shades of grey and brilliant color that make upa persons life were revealed. The plot is not winner take all and the good guy wins in the end but a triumph of spirit and learning who we are on the journey we call life.
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Summary: One of the greatest films I've ever seen!
Review: Finding Forrester was simply one of the greatest films ever made. Sean Connery gives a wonderful performance as an old author that now lives in his own world in his apartment in the city. Young actor Rob Thomas did an equally great job if not better, as his character is of a young man that faces what many young black men face in their growing up. After the young man meets Connery, Connery helps him with his writing skills which become truly amazing. The young man then gets a scholarship to a private school in a upper class area. Finding Forrester shows the true meaning of what a superb film really is. This movie should not be missed by anybody. Enjoy. Happy Viewing!
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Summary: Surprisingly Beautiful
Review: Strong Characters that could possibly live next door. The word play was remarkable in bringing to light the "games" we play with our words and our walls, our fears and our hopes. This is by far a film worth owning and should be shown in every public school possible. It touches the heart as well as the mind. What a privilage to watch such a true representation of family and friends.
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Summary: Finding Creativity
Review: Finding Forrester is a current classic. I loved this film, especially the characters and the actors who played them. I thought new comer Rob Brown's performance was beyond outstanding. I hope to see a lot more positive roles from that young actor.
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Summary: Better then most movies currently playing
Review: Sean Connery, Rob Brown, and Anna Paquin star in this movie of a young writer who learns about life, love, loyalty, writing, reading, and books from a veteren pulizer price winning writer who wrote only one book and has lived as a reculse for over 40 years. Intelligent script, great acting, and will leave the auidence with a sense that they attended a lecture given by an artist.
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Summary: Finding too many things to do
Review: Finding Forrester is a good movie that might have been great had it not attempted to be all things to all audiences. Jamal Wallace, well-acted by new comer Robert Brown, is an exceptionally bright, highly athletic, African-American student trying to hide his love of reading so as not to offend his less achieving friends. Wallace makes a great sympathetic hero living in a very friendly version of the Bronx in which people can safely walk the streets at night. By a somewhat implausible but very acceptable twist, Jamal's friends dare him to break into the apartment of a strange recluse who turns out to be Sean Connery. Don't look for any traces of James Bond in this performance. Connery may have some silly lines, but any accusations of playing this part as if still in her majesty's secret service are simply wrong. Connery is William Forrester, a reclusive writer, a Salinger-esque writer who published one novel accepted his Pulitzer and disappeared. And by another implausible yet entertaining twist, Connery discovers that Jamal is an aspiring writer. The two become friends, they bond, and grow. All of this is entirely implausible, but entertaining--a welcomed relief considering most of the other movies that have come out this year. But then things fall apart. Jamal is accepted into a private school for his great test scores--he never showed his abilities in class to keep cool but let fly on an apptitude test. Suddenly we are treated to a School Ties scenario with street-smart Jamal having to prove himself to the wealthy kids on his basketball team. Then there is Finding Forrester the remake of One-on-One. In these parts the movie has long basketball sequences that are well enough made, but distract from the theme of the literary theme. Finding Forrester also has a budding romance. Jamal and one of the wealthiest girls in the school fall in like. The movie never explores this relationship, but it's there in case you want it. Finally, there is the evil teacher, familiarly played by Murray Abrahams of Amadeus fame. Abrahams acting is fine, but his role is entirely predictable. So here's how Finding Forrester rates in each of its many faces: Finding Forrester the buddy flick--5 stars Finding Forrester the gheto expose--2 stars Finding Forrester the School Ties film--2 stars Finding Forrester the basketball movie--3 stars Finding Forrester the romance--1 star Finding Forrester the evil teacher movie--4 stars Put 'em all together and what do you get? A four-star film. I know, it's not mathematically correct, but the movie does have Sean Connery!
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