2000 Directed by Gus Van Sant
Gus Van Sant tells the story of a young African American man named Jamal who confronts his talents while living on the streets of the Bronx. He accidentally runs into an old writer named Forrester who discovers his passion for writing. With help from his new mentor Jamal receives a scholarship to a private school.
Sean Connery Rob Brown F. Murray Abraham Anna Paquin Busta Rhymes April Grace Michael Pitt Michael Nouri Richard Easton Glenn Fitzgerald Lil' Zane Stephanie Berry Fly Williams III Damany Mathis Damien Lee Tom Kearns Matthew Noah Word Charles Bernstein Matt Malloy Matt Damon Jimmy Bobbit Capital Jay Jim Titus Cassandra Kubinski Sophia Wu Gerry Rosenthal Tim Hall Tom Mullica David Madison Show All…
Mottenkiste
Ein x Eins gibt nicht immergleich Eins, Mr. Van Sant
Gus Van Sant versucht sein „Good Will Hunting“ in „Finding Forrester“
zu remaken und scheitert kläglich daran.
-wohl bemüht will Sean Connery keinen solchen überzeugenden, nahbaren, nachvollziehbaren, einfach echten Mentor darstellen wie es ein Robin Williams tut.
-Rob Brown und dessen ich bin ein trotziges-Kind-Gesicht konnte nur gegen einen Charmebolzen wie Matt Damon verlieren und die Segel streichen.
-Wie sämtliche Charakter in „Finding Forrester“ völlig gegen den Cast wie Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck oder Stellan Skarsgård abstinken.
-Hinzukommend war die mehr oder weniger selbe Geschichte wie das erst drei Jahre zuvor erschienen Werk einfach zum Scheitern verurteilt, zumal die Zuschauer das Ende bereits kannten, die Darsteller höchstens solide sind,…
There are directors who always seek to adapt to the genre or style of the film they are directing, and there are directors like Gus Van Sant who are always adapting the films to their own style.
Even though a lot of the story turns out to be predictable and the music is typical of such social melodramas of the era, yet what makes the movie feel so unique is Van Sant's unique approach. You see, even when it falls into some stereotypes, this is a film that is clearly trying to challenge our expectations. There is also the fact that for the most part everything plays in such a soothing and calm manner, that it also does its best…
You’re the man now dog!
That line of dialogue has haunted me for 20 years. It’s just such an odd phrase.
I know this movie is a giant list of screenplay cliches, but man I’m a sucker for it…even as my brain screams to reject it, my heart takes over and pulls me in.
I’ve always been fascinated by the mystique of Salinger and to watch Sir Connery riffing on him is simply fantastic.
Why is it the words we write for ourselves are always so much better than the words we write for others?
Finding Forrester is a film that I would describe as a combination of Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting and Dangerous Minds, with a hint of basketball thrown in for good measure. The film is directed by Gus Van Sant, who did 1997's Oscar-winning, Good Will Hunting starring Matt Damon, Robin Williams and Ben Affleck. A film in which I personally felt was elevated by the performances, more so than through the screenplay and the script. In contrast to many others, I was a little underwhelmed and thus, there weren't enough moments that made me want to love it, as much as it wanted me too.
Finding Forrester was Gus Van Saint's follow-up from 2000, which is a very similar…
Scavenger Hunt 15 – June 2016
Task # 13: A film where characters write each other letters (snail mail, no e-mails)
I saw this movie in one of my high school class and I have to say this was a dry spell in Sean Connery career as a magnificent actor. The plot was so cringy because the clique was beaten to death with a book (No pun intended) were an old man with a bad attitude teaches a kid within projects or difficult situation to fulfill their potential, even though they already had it in them from the beginning. Sure the message is good, but it has been done better and revitalized the storyline with Karate Kid and I think…
Sean Connery stars in this powerful and unforgettable drama from Gus Van Sant - a film that should have been Connery's last, because it's his last best film. Along a strong cast including F. Murray Abraham and Anna Paquin, the film also features rap music superstar Busta Rhymes and an incredible performance from talented then-newcomer Rob Brown.
Jamal Wallace (Brown) is an underprivileged talented 16-year-old basketball player in New York City whose secret passion is writing. William Forrester (Connery) is a reclusive man trying to get an interior grip on life. After an accidental meeting, Forrester becomes Jamal's unlikely mentor, providing guidance to help develop the young man's exceptional skills. Soon, Forrester's harsh view of the world begins to change…
A deeply unresolved marriage between the narrative rote and lovely observed snapshots. Pretty much everything that has nothing to do with plot is wonderful, with Van Sant’s careful gaze and good ear in good form. But when it has to move things along, Finding Forrest turns uncertain, unsure if it should play up the more maudlin elements of its story or try to tone them down. This is still a lot better than its rep as assembly line oscar hopeful suggests, the good stuff is truly goodand Brown and Coonery have a very nice rapport the allow the film to move along as well as possible under circunstances.
don’t pause the film to read the digitally archived newspaper copy about Forrester, because it’s so much of a dummy that it just repeats and repeats and repe
Mike Rich's script is rather substandard and nothing we haven't seen before or after, but thanks to Sean Connery and Rob Brown's excellent performances and Gus Van Sant's typically solid and engrossing direction, Finding Forrester is elevated to a compelling drama that's able to work in spite of its predictability.
Some age, others mature.
-Sean Connery (RIP 1930 – 2020)
The typical “old forgotten teacher figure finds value in himself again through a new student”. Hits all the usual beats, but feels special because of Sean Connery and Rob Brown’s performances and their chemistry in an unlikely friendship.
I liked Connery especially. Throughout his career he hadn’t played a lot of vulnerable characters, which was a shame because he had greater range than always playing the tough guy.
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Degrees of Separation from Last Movie:
-Finding Forrester with Sean Connery
-Was in The Anderson Tapes with Christopher Walken
-Was in True Romance
Though this wasn't a script that would naturally appeal to me, it intrigued me enough, especially with the cast and since it was from Gus Van Sant, to give it a shot. A quiet, simple story eloquently made. I like Sean Connery's work a lot, and it was very interesting seeing him in this role, rather a step back from what one usually sees from him. Not something I would watch frequently, but a beautiful little film that I'm very glad I've now seen.
I would consider this a mid-level Van Sant film. He's hit-or-miss with me, and this, to me, is a minor hit for him.
