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Finding Forrester

Finding Forrester

List Price: $14.95
Your Price: $11.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Splendid Entertainment
Review: I can honestly say that I went into this movie with the expectation that it would be great. I may be a bit biased in my review since I truly enjoy academic films, but this movie was a joy to watch. Once again Sean Connery and the up and coming Rob Brown did a wondeful job. Gentleman, I thank you for such a fine movie. I applaud you. JMF

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good movie
Review: I just saw this in the theater and will probably rent it again when it comes out on video.

The story is about a kid with a great talent for writing, but he lives in the Bronx where he's afraid to let it be known. He befriends an old, grumpy author (Sean Connery) and it goes from there

I thought it was really inspirational, and if you like that kind of movie, you'll like this. Some parts seemed to drag on though, like long conversations between people. It could have been cut shorter.

Parts of this film had the entire theater laughing out loud at the dialogue because it was (and was intended to be) really funny. By the end a lot of people were crying. I suggest you see this if you like inspirational dramas. It was very good.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Forrester
Review: An inspirational film from director Gus Van Sant, FINDING FORRESTER focuses on the relationship between Jamal Wallace (Robert Brown), an African-American college student with a basketball scholarship, and a talented novelist (Sean Connery) that Jamal meets over the Internet. The novelist realizes that Jamal has a gift for writing and encourages him to pursue it. Meanwhile, Jamal teaches the writer a few lessons about life.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Half of an excellent movie
Review: A film about a young genius from an impoverished background who is helped by a damaged older man and how the relationship saves them both. Sounds a little familiar?

Yet although it is derivative of Good Will Hunting (also directed by Gus Van Sant) this movie really works for about the first 60-70 minutes. The developing relationship between the recluse writer Forrester (Sean Connery) and Jamal (Robert Brown who, astonishingly, appears to have had no prior acting experience)is reasonably plausible, fascinating, touching, and sometimes quite funny.

There's also some nice interaction between Jamal and his family and friends. Yeah, the Bronx depicted here is gentle fairy tale, but heck, it's a movie.

But then the boneheaded, obvious plot kicks in, full of contrived confict between the lead and F. Murray Abraham (playing the Teacher from Hell - the only thing missing is a moustache to twirl) involving a writing competition, accusations of plagiarism, and, Lord help us, a basketball championship. The second half of this movie is just a complete train wreck, dissipating all the good feeling engendered by the first half.

So here's what you do. Walk out/eject the cassette sometime just over the half-way point, about when Abrahams announces the writing competition. Throttle your curiosity about how it'll all turn out. You don't want to know. Just walk away from it, remembering the fine performances by Connery, Brown and the actors playing his family and buddies. Trust me, you'll have gotten everything there's to be had from this film.

And if you can't resist - well, I warned you.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Outlook great for this feature!
Review: The preview of "Finding Forrester" sets the tone for a warm and intricate plot. This movie looks like it will be a great Holiday Season flick, weaving a complex character into an inspiring story of learning and loving.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A well-made feel good movie
Review: I have seen many feel good movies in my lifetime such as Good Will Hunting, Scent of a Woman, Dead Poet's Society, Patch Adams, & Finding Forrester is way up there with them. The movie is portrayed as a matter-of-factly of a 16 years old African American boy, Jamal living in the Bronx. He deliberately passed his grades simply rather than excelling in the exams & shooting hoops in order to fit in with his peers but his hidden potential was soon discovered by an elite school in the nation's bursary which offered him a free scholarship. In a dare with his friends, Jamal sneaked into William Forrester's (depicted brilliantly by Sean Connery) apartment & by accident, a lifelong frienships ensued. Jamal's significant improvement in his grades raised suspicion from his teacher (potrayed well by Murray Abraham). As William put to Jamal's succinctly, a good teacher could either be very effective or very dangerous & soon enough, Jamal was at the receiving end of the teacher's wrath for being too good. Naturally, race issue was touched upon, & the awkwardness of Jamal to date a white woman (acted by Anna Paquin) with a rich background was displayed not by words but by those silent moment & brief glances. Towards the end, it all came to a climax with a predictable but resounding ending. A movie that deserved to be savoured slowly & the message shines thru, that if you have a dream, pursue it albeit how late it is as long as you pursue it. A cameo appearance by an unexpected star which would give the whole meaning to irony. Rob Brown (who played Jamal), a non actor was believable with his big innocent eyes craving for knowledge, Busta Rhymes played a surprisingly low key character of Jamal's elder brother who wished for nothing but the best for Jamal as he accepted his own fate as a parking attendant at the local stadium, & Sean Connery was simply splendid as always. A movie that deserved to be stood alone on its merit. Special features in the DVD are widescreen presentation, English & French subtitles, Dolby Sound, HBO Making of the movie, Rob Brown, deleted choir scenes, theatrical trailers, talent files, interactive menus, production notes, & lastly scene selections.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Very Moving Story of Mentorship
Review: Wow, I haven't felt this emotional at the end of a movie since Dead Poets Society. Sean Connery and Rob Brown combine to deliver a stellar performance. This is truly a touching movie. It forces you to reflect on who helped you to become the person you are as well as makes you wonder how many missed opportunities there have been to meet someone new that could change your life. You have got to see this movie.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: good intentions unconvincingly executed
Review: Bill Cosby's recent controversial remarks, in fact echoing those of Malcolm X, have been received with politically correct derision. Here is a movie whose theme emphasizes the rewards, as well as the agonies, attendant upon an American black youngster breaking into the academic world. Though I am generally opposed to movies that carry a propaganda message (and profoundly so to those that continue to portray blacks as victims), we are so desperately in need of positive black role models (instead of those that pay fawning homage to 'street culture'), that I applaud the intent of this movie.

Unfortunately I can't agree with the majority of critics that the Jamal Wallace character is convincing. Rob Brown, who plays him, is utterly miscast and emanates a deep and sullen dullness in a role that needed a character capable of hinting at essential brilliance, concealed beneath an unpromising and protective exterior. To me the unpromising exterior remains intact for the duration.

Connery, as usual, shows his versatility, but I don't see this as even near his best work - he seems not to have his heart in it and I can't blame him. Jamal, by the way, since he checked the professor's use of 'farther' when he should have used 'further' might have usefully caught out the erudite Forrester using 'phenomena' when he meant 'phenomenon'! But a movie cannot be better than its screenplay and I'd say that is another weakness here.


Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Decent inspirational movie...
Review: Finding Forrester could have been worth skipping were it not for the performances turned in by Sean Connery and Jamal Wallace; the veteran and newcomer actors are good at conveying the bond forged between a recluse author and a young aspiring writer from a poor background. The kind of things they discuss in their mentor-student relationship will be of interest to anyone who wants some wisdom about writing, and what is involved in the writing process.

The ending is pretty predictable, and what's disappointing is F. Murray Abraham's character, Professor Crawford, who is out to trip up the young writer and squash his dreams. I thought the character was two-dimensional; there was no depth to him and his mindless aggression towards the student. It's a shame, because Abraham can be superb at playing the jealous, conniving type (see him as Salieri in the magnificent film, Amadeus).

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: ove the video
Review: my name is eric i llove the video and will ike to know the guy jamal.Thanks till i here from you.I am in Nigeria.mai me for reply


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