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From Amazon.co.uk
Finding Forrester is a very accomplished example of the sentimental melodrama that Gus Von Sant has made his own--issues like integrity and snobbery are presented with just enough simplification to the set pieces that no-one feels challenged. Brilliant baseball player Jamal gets the chance to move from a sink school in the Bronx to a private academy where his real intellectual and artistic talent will be nurtured along with his sporting skills. This is an American film about class and race, but one that makes the real issue Jamal's unsuspecting need to defend himself against accusations of plagiarism. His artistic mentor is a reclusive novelist, whose whereabouts he keeps secret even when he stands to lose everything. Rob Brown is extraordinary as the boy, conveying the sensitivity, genius, obstinacy and physicality of a character written as a paragon; Sean Connery turns in a predictably fine performance as Forrester, using his authority to make the part credible; F Murray Abrahams is, as always, an effective villain--he brings an observed creepy snobbery to the film; Anna Paquin makes a good impression in the minor part of Jamal's white schoolfellow and supporter.
On the DVD: The disc includes two powerful deleted scenes of school choirs, a "making-of" documentary and a short film about the auditions process which found Rob Brown. It has fine sound--Dolby Digital 5.1--that brings out the film's jazz score perfectly. The anamorphic 2.35:1 aspect ratio, enhanced for 16:9 TVs, looks just fine. --Roz Kaveny
Product Description
Talented basketball player Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown) has dreams of becoming a successful writer, and finds help in the form of William Forrester (Sean Connery), a reclusive novelist who lives in his neighbourhood. The pair meet when Jamal breaks into Forrester's flat, but a warm student-teacher bond soon develops between them, with Forrester helping Jamal improve his writing and Jamal helping Forrester overcome his reclusiveness. However, when Jamal rewrites a piece of his new friend's work for a school assignment, his vindictive professor Robert Crawford (F. Murray Abraham) accuses him of plagiarism, a charge which could seriously effect his school career.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Finding Forrester is one of those movies that comes along every now and then. It seemed to arrive without much fanfare and I wonder why. Why is something this good not given a big promotional tour, lots of publicity and a lot of glitz? The truth is - it doesn't need it. What a film needs is a great script, tight direction, excellent leads and "something". The "something" in this film is the spark between Forrester and Jamal. It's the rancour between Jamal and the teacher (played exquisitely by F Murray Abraham). And, it's the fledgling friendship between a girl and a boy.
Quite simply it's a wonder. Sean Connery turns in another seemingly effortless performance. (I'm biased, as I'm from Edinburgh, but I think it's the best thing he's done since "The Man Who Would be King".) Rob Brown (as Jamal) isn't dwarfed by Connery's performance and turns in something eyecatching himself. F Murray Abraham, always worth watching, gives us plenty to dislike as Jamal's snobbish teacher. Anna Paquin fared well as Jamal's school friend - but this could have been expanded on a bit more.
However, don't just read this review. Watch the film. You won't regret it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I can't add anything to the first two reviews which are fairly accurate regarding content although my only observation is ,that I ask myself was I entertained? and yes I was! I loved the the way the film delt with a number of very important social issues ie; arrogance, pride, racisim, bullying, face saving,rivalry, jealousy,sentiment,loyalty,forgiveness and of course the list goes on.The point is that it was made for entertainment and if you pay too much attention to detail (too many convenient co-incidences which incidentally I had not even noticed.)You miss the point I feel the film was not overstreched in its believeability and certainly achieved its aim.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Queenjule
Format:DVD
This is an excellent, thought provoking film. For those who appreciate clean drama it is a good watch. Sean Connery gave an excellent performance; inspiring a black afro-american boy to reach his full academic potential, much to the disappointment of his teachers (sic) who never saw beyond his athlectic ability. Is this the prevalent prejudicial experience of young black boys and even girls in the education system? If so the positive experience of teachers who inspire those to be the best they can be is what makes this film such an interesting watch. Never tired of watching this film.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By J. Holland
Format:DVD
Finding Forrester isn't one of Connery's better known films, but it is one of his better performances. He plays a reclusive author who is gradually brought out of his shell by a young black student with a real gift for literature. The interplay between the two is the most interesting part of the film and the growing sense of friendship is really well portrayed. Any fan of Connery's would be well advised to watch this film
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By m
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
Although he did another one or two films before his formal retirement, this is as good a swan song as the splendid old so-and-so deserves. Playing a character based so obviously on J D Salinger he even has the same number of syllables in his name(!) but it's all good fun - to the extent that the film really only seems to move forward when Connery is on screen.
But...it's all a bit too contrived for my taste, to many Hollywood coincidences in the script - plus Van Sant had only directed Good Will Hunting a few years earlier and this film suffers (as most would) by comparison to that. It's the sense of going back to the well one time to many.
Major gripe - the story goes on too long (SPOILER SPOLIER SPOILER!)and there's no need really to have most of the scenes after the death of Forrester - the end shot in my mind always comes back to Forrester cycling off through the heavy daytime city traffic, in his suit and coat, completely out of place but enjoying the world again.
To me, it's better that a million `Shaken, not stirred' clips in giving us a fond farewell to Mr Connery. May his tartan retirement be restful..
But...it's all a bit too contrived for my taste, to many Hollywood coincidences in the script - plus Van Sant had only directed Good Will Hunting a few years earlier and this film suffers (as most would) by comparison to that. It's the sense of going back to the well one time to many.
Major gripe - the story goes on too long (SPOILER SPOLIER SPOILER!)and there's no need really to have most of the scenes after the death of Forrester - the end shot in my mind always comes back to Forrester cycling off through the heavy daytime city traffic, in his suit and coat, completely out of place but enjoying the world again.
To me, it's better that a million `Shaken, not stirred' clips in giving us a fond farewell to Mr Connery. May his tartan retirement be restful..
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This is a heartwarming movie with fine performances by Sean Connery, newcomer Rob Brown, F. Murray Abraham, Michael Nouri, and Anna Pacquin. Well directed by Gus Van Sant, the film revolves around the two main characters, William Forrester, played by Sean Connery, and sixteen year old Kamal, played by Rob Brown.
William Forrester is a writer who, battling his own inner demons, has remained reclusive after writing a Pulitzer Prize winning novel some forty odd years earlier. Living alone in a changing neighborhood in the Bronx, he makes the acquaintance of Kamal, an intellectually gifted inner city kid, who plays street basketball, loves to write, and does both well.
A mentoring relationship springs between the two. Under Forrester's secret tutorship, Kamal blossoms. When Kamal's scholastic test scores come to the attention of a local prep school, school officials offer him a scholarship to attend and, if he chooses to do so, play basketball on the school team. The school also turns out to be William Forrester's alma mater, where he is revered and his prize winning novel is required reading.
There, Kamal encounters rank racism, all the more insidious because it is covert. F. Murray Abraham plays a teacher who is very similar to the character, Salieri, whom Abraham portrayed in the film "Amadeus". A failed writer who became a teacher, Abraham oozes racism as he contrives to destroy Kamal whom he accuses of plagiarism, as he clearly believes him to be just another inner city, black basketball player who is incapable of anything more. He cannot seem to fathom that this kid could possibly write as well as he does, because he has Kamal stereotyped.
Yet, Kamal is actually all that he purports to be, a gifted writer who just also happens to play basketball.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Film, Good Acting
A feel good film that shows a teacher and a reluctant pupil, although neither know it at the begining of the film. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ms. C. Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good.
It was purely by chance that I recorded this excellent film, it's good to Sean Connery in such a thought provoking role. If you haven't seen it you should.
Published 1 month ago by Alan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Film
Fabulous film after searching for it for a long time. Great actors and a very good story line was please to finally find this
Published 1 month ago by Miss Louise Davies
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Film
Very good film lovely storie aswell really enjoyed this film with Sean Connery one of his best i think really sad at times as well if you like a bit of a weepy
Published 2 months ago by becky
5.0 out of 5 stars
A definante....Must see
Arrived very soon after ordering ......A brilliant thinking film esecially helps with winter weather when I'm indoors.... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ms. Kathryn Bellard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film
Finding Forrester is in my all time top 10.
Recommend it for anyonw working with young people in creative writing or youth journalism
Recommend it for anyonw working with young people in creative writing or youth journalism
Published 6 months ago by David Sims
4.0 out of 5 stars
mutual empathy
The Bronx in New York City, with its insular but diverse social and cultural history, is the scene of a charming film. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Dr. David M. Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating
A real treat, a hidden gem. I have seen this around but never got to watch it.
Just watched it and I was really impressed, reminded me a bit about Good Will Hunting. Read more
Just watched it and I was really impressed, reminded me a bit about Good Will Hunting. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Vegar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Finding Fault
So the film is 11 years old now, so what. You are soon thrown into the very different lives of the characters and wonder where it will all end up. Just brilliant.
Published 16 months ago by J
5.0 out of 5 stars
Joy!
Wonderfull movie, one of those that really shows there doesn't necessary need to be "action" and special effects to really enjoy a good story. Read more
Published on 5 May 2011 by Niko
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