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Finding Forrester  Hot
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Written by Staff Writer   
Saturday, 22 January 2005


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Finding Forrester

Grade

Content Grade: A
Sound Grade: B
Picture Grade: A

Specs

Directed by Gus Van Sant Anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) Dolby digital surround 5.1, 2.0, French mono 136 minutes, color, 2000

Review

Sean Connery stars in and co-produced this film, and is joined by Academy Award winners Anna Paquin, F. Murray Abraham, and newcomer Rob Brown. It is a drama of the highest caliber, written by Mike Rich, and a real change for Connery.
Young Jamal Wallace, played by Brown, is a good basketball player but a brilliant writer. One night, on a dare, he sneaks into the apartment of a known neighborhood recluse Frederick Forrester (Connery), leaving his backpack full of his writings behind. Connery is a well known author who never finished a second book and Jamal soon gets his writing back corrected by the author. This intrigues Jamal, and through determination, earns the trust of this isolated individual. Connery decides to help the young writer, and develop his art, while also trying to finally fulfill his second work. Jamal enrolls in an exclusive school, where he meets and is encouraged by Anna Paquin, and has to put up with the tirades of a his writing professor, played by Abraham. Only his basketball skills keep him in school, as he constantly resists the this inflexible teacher. More important, the development of the friendship between the student and reclusive mentor teaches them both valuable lessons about life and its values. Connery has never been better in his role, and is convincing and passionate in his character. Brown, who was a walk on try out for the part, has a an opportunity for a long and successful career as an actor with this performance. While this story might not be your typical Connery film, it is highly entertaining and thoughtful in its writing and story. There are many subtleties which make this an excellent film for repeat viewing.

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Picture and Sound

Picture-An anamorphic widescreen picture is photographed with many street scenes of New York, capturing the essence of the two worlds of the characters. Jamal's noisy apartment contrasts sharply with the dark and silent living quarters of Connery's. Scenes of the street are faithfully captured in the basketball play where Jamal hangs out after school. Technically, the film has few flaws, and showed no artifacts or defects. Sound-Very little information is fed to the rear speakers, and my receiver showed this film to be a 3 channel film, although he package states it is 5.1 Dolby. I found the sound to be well balanced and full throughout, and dialog is clearly understood without any adjustments.

Extras

The DVD contains a well written booklet contained within the packaging, about the evolution of the story and how Connery got involved in the production of the film, working with writer Mike Rich. The disc itself has a lot of extras, including an HBO special featurette on its production, a Rob Brown feature, deleted scenes, trailers, and still talent files with bios of the actors in the cast.

Summary

If you are looking for a well acted drama, Finding Forrester is it. Look for this one at the Academy Awards. Hopefully, it won't get overlooked because of its released date into theaters. It is a warm and very touching human drama, with Connery at his best.

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