Rating: 
Summary: I had to watch it twice
Review: Joshua is a boy who wants to be sure that his recently deceased grandpa is in good hands... but how can he be sure? His search for God has everyone wondering what's wrong with him, but he is finally starting to see life differently. A magical film filled with friendships, awkward moments, humor and "revelizations," Wide Awake is a hidden treasure for everyone in the family. The style is definitely more like what you'd expect to find at a film festival... filled with thought-provoking insight without the gratuitous non-sense that American films tend to display... the best compliment any film can receive!
Rating: 
Summary: "I'm wide awake now,"
Review: M. Night Shyamalan directed this comedic effort. Who knew? What a far cry from his popular and critically acclaimed SIXTH SENSE! Or perhaps not. The two films may seem drastically different, but look closely. Shyamalan is quite adept when it comes to seeing through the eyes of a child. This skill certainly materialized when THE SIXTH SENSE introduced us to young Cole Sear. Now, in WIDE AWAKE, we see the same sort of materialization with young Joshua (Joseph Cross).Joshua, despite being a mere 10 years old, is amidst a faith crisis shortly after the death of his beloved grandfather. Throughout the movie, we see many flashbacks of the time spent between Joseph and his grandfather prior to his death, so Shyamalan allows his audience to come to understand how strong their relationship truly is. Unfortunately, his grandfather's death has affected Joseph in negative ways. He's confused over the existence of God and he's searching for his faith. Also, he's lost much of his independence. We see this every morning when he wakes up and goes to his private school - he can't get up on his own and brush his teeth and dress himself - his parents must help him. Joshua just wants to contact God to see how his grandfather is faring up in heaven, yet prayer and the Cardinal have been to no avail. During his religious search, we are introduced to Waldron Academy, his all-boys private school. To some of the public school population, this might seem like a different world. "Kids in uniforms don't smile much," Joshua says. He narrates the film from beginning to end. Waldron Academy was an actual school. Now, it is known as Waldron Mercy Academy and has since gone coed. How do I know? I graduated there in the year 2002. Shyamalan is another alumni - he attended when it was all-boys. So, I thought, perhaps some of Joshua's experiences were derived from his own. When filming took place, many Waldron students received the opportunity to be cast as extras. Some people are surprised this movie didn't do as well in the box office. But you've got to consider the fact that WIDE AWAKE is an independent film - it was released only in certain theatres, very few, actually. I received tickets through my school to see it at the Ritz in downtown Philadelphia. Joseph Cross does indeed deliver a strong performance, but WIDE AWAKE also has a strong supporting cast. Julia Stiles, then unknown, plays his older sister. Rosie O'Donnell gives a nice, 3-dimensional comedic performance as a nun school teacher at Waldron. Dana Delaney plays his mother, Mrs. Beal. She seems the ideal candidate for that particular role. WIDE AWAKE is an independent gem. And, unlike some films, it is the type of movie that gets better after each watch, not tedious. It finds the perfect balance between comedy and all-out seriousness during a young boy's journey in the world of faith. He comes out more self-aware, more mature, than the boy he was in the beginning. Audiences will enjoy watching as he undergoes this tranformation. However, if you hate the idea of religion, are athiest, disregard Jesus, etc., you might find this a bore. Not that you need to be a fundamentalist Christian to enjoy it, either. Religion has evidently played a pivotal role in Shyamalan's life, that's all. This movie speaks volumes of how God has effected him and that, perhaps, in turn can effect audiences.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet, funny, heartwarming film.
Review: My family enjoyed this movie so much we watched it twice! I can't understand why it didn't do better at the box office, although I had never heard of it before I saw it on the video store shelf. All the cameo performances were super, it was so touching, the children were so genuine and enchanting. It had a great message, which was received by young & old alike at our house.
Rating:
Summary: Best movie I've ever seen
Review: Oh, I agree. This is my new favorite movie. It's by the same writer/director as The Sixth Sense, BTW (another all-time favorite). And it's got another wonderful kid-actor, too (Joseph Cross). This is a great movie. I wasn't offended as a Christian at all. :-) Just the opposite, really. The writer/director (M. Night Shyamalan, or something similar to that) is an Episcopalian (sp?), by the way. Truly wonderful, heart-warming movie. Only complaint: it gives off a slight air of impersonality with God rather than the "buddy-God" theology I'm used to (and support), but, well, that's typical Catholic/Episcopalian anyway. Sometimes the mysticism of those particular denominations can be a drawback. But anyway, not a big complaint. One thing I appreciate (the moral of the story): the kid is trying to "find" God, but, in typical God fashion, God comes to the kid instead. :-) You'll see what I mean. I don't want to give it away. Just a superb movie. Watch it. If this movie has a fan club for getting it more publicity (it's not too late to land it in the theater, Miramax!), sign me up.
Rating: 
Summary: Issues....
Review: Someone please explain to me the issues that M Night Shamaylan has with the Christian Church. I am FAR from being a religious fanatic, but I have noticed that in at least three of his films, he has tried to attack the strength the Christian Church (Signs -Mel Gibson, a priest who leaves the Church because he is disillusioned after his wife dies; Unbreakable - the Catholic Priest has no answers for Bruce Willis who comes for counselling, and Wide Awake another disillusioned Christian child). This is particularly offensive seeing that he is a non-Christian.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful surprise
Review: The label "family film" sends most people running in all directions, except towards the box office. This seems to be the unfortunate and undeserved fate of Wide Awake, a small gem. This is a true "family film" in that it is not just a substitute babysitter for a couple of hours, during which the parents can doze off. It's a film that a parent will enjoy discussing with his/her children, because it raises some very important issues -- dealing with the death of a loved one, faith, the search for God -- but does so from the perspective of a 10-year-old boy. The film is remarkable on several counts, perhaps the most important of which is the fact that the screeenplay never condescends to its young hero. Joshua is dealing with problems that are very real to him, and the film refuses to make light of them, simply because he is only ten. Another very nice touch is the avoidance of portraying the adults as black-and-white caracatures. And the nuns and priest at Josh's Catholic school are not the dogmatic cardboard characters one often sees in films. Both Rosie O' Donnell's nun and Dan Luria's priest are aware that there are no simple answers for the issues which are troubling Josh; as adults they know that one must move on after the death of a loved one, but they are also aware that this is not so easy for a young boy or girl. The film contains a number of wonderful moments involving Josh, his friends, and his schoolmates. One of the most moving is when Josh is called before the class to recap what he has learned during the year. It is during this speech that we learn where the title, "Wide Awake", comes from: it describes that bittersweet transition from innocence to the road to maturity.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful surprise
Review: The label "family film" sends most people running in all directions, except towards the box office. This seems to be the unfortunate and undeserved fate of Wide Awake, a small gem. This is a true "family film" in that it is not just a substitute babysitter for a couple of hours, during which the parents can doze off. It's a film that a parent will enjoy discussing with his/her children, because it raises some very important issues -- dealing with the death of a loved one, faith, the search for God -- but does so from the perspective of a 10-year-old boy. The film is remarkable on several counts, perhaps the most important of which is the fact that the screeenplay never condescends to its young hero. Joshua is dealing with problems that are very real to him, and the film refuses to make light of them, simply because he is only ten. Another very nice touch is the avoidance of portraying the adults as black-and-white caracatures. And the nuns and priest at Josh's Catholic school are not the dogmatic cardboard characters one often sees in films. Both Rosie O' Donnell's nun and Dan Luria's priest are aware that there are no simple answers for the issues which are troubling Josh; as adults they know that one must move on after the death of a loved one, but they are also aware that this is not so easy for a young boy or girl. The film contains a number of wonderful moments involving Josh, his friends, and his schoolmates. One of the most moving is when Josh is called before the class to recap what he has learned during the year. It is during this speech that we learn where the title, "Wide Awake", comes from: it describes that bittersweet transition from innocence to the road to maturity.
Rating:
Summary: We must have been asleep to have missed this one.
Review: The last 30 minutes is all I saw of this movie the first time(via Showtime). Like others have reviewed, I had to see it again, the whole thing! This amazing work is destined to become a classic- and not just as a children's movie. The inner life of this small boy is rich and faceted. Joshua confronts difficult life questions with all of his resources, finds answers, and develops CHARACTER which is not something that is shown or encouraged by movies today. All ages and angels will enjoy the hilarious pranks and heart-warming comaraderie. We will never see ten-year olds quite the same. Watch with your kids or see it alone, Mom and Dad, but make sure you See it! Share it. Leave it with the baby sitter next time you go out!
Rating:
Summary: Most Heart Warming Movie
Review: The movie was actually filmed at my, my father's and my brother's grade school. This is also where the director went to school. We went to the premeir in New York at which time I first saw the movie. It is a touching story of a boy, played by Joseph Cross and he deals with the loss of his grandfather, played by Robert Loggia. He asks every religous figure that he can talk to including his teacher played by Rosie O'Donnell. The movie is touching, I had t hold back from crying. The boy must comes to terms with the death of his grandfather and to move on with his life. It is a movie for the entire family. It has a cute sense of humor and is easy to relate to. All around it was a great movie with excellent acting, rent or buy it.
Rating:
Summary: A really wonderful movie.
Review: This is a really wonderful movie. It's great for any age.
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