Finding Forrester
starring: Sean Connery, Rob Brown, F. Murray Abraham, Anna Paquin, Matt Damon
directed by: Gus Van Sant
directed by: Gus Van Sant
List Price: $9.95
Prices subject to change.
Price: $5.99
You Save: $3.96 (40%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Description:
Jamal Wallas is a 16-year-old basketball star with a secret passion for writing. William Forrester is a famous, reclusive novelist who is angry at the world. After an unexpected meeting, Forrester becomes Jamal's unlikely mentor and both men learn lessons from each other about the importance of friendship.
Amazon.com:
Finding Forrester could have been a shallow variant of TheKarate Kid, congratulating itself for featuring a 16-year-old black kid from the South Bronx who's a brilliant scholar-athlete. Instead, director Gus Van Sant plays it matter-of-fact and totally real, casting a nonactor (Rob Brown) as Jamal, a basketball player and gifted student whose writing talent is nurtured by a famously reclusive author. William Forrester (Sean Connery) became a literary icon four decades earlier with a Pulitzer-winning novel, then disappeared (like J.D. Salinger) into his dark, book-filled apartment, agoraphobic and withdrawn from publishing, but as passionate as ever about writing. On a dare, Jamal sneaks into Forrester's musty sanctuary, and what might have been a condescending cliché--homeboy rescued by wiser white mentor--turns into an inspiring meeting of minds, with mutual respect and intelligence erasing boundaries of culture and generation.
Comparisons to Van Sant's Good Will Hunting are inevitable, but Finding Forrester is more honest and less prone to touchy-feely sentiment, as in the way Jamal and a private-school classmate (Anna Paquin) develop a mutual attraction that remains almost entirely unspoken. The film takes a conventional turn when Jamal must defend his integrity (with Forrester's help) in a writing contest judged by a skeptical teacher (F. Murray Abraham), but this ethical subplot is a credible catalyst for Forrester's most dramatic display of friendship. It's one of many fine moments for Connery and Brown (a screen natural), in a memorable film that transcends issues of race to embrace the joy of learning. --Jeff Shannon
Jamal Wallas is a 16-year-old basketball star with a secret passion for writing. William Forrester is a famous, reclusive novelist who is angry at the world. After an unexpected meeting, Forrester becomes Jamal's unlikely mentor and both men learn lessons from each other about the importance of friendship.
Amazon.com:
Finding Forrester could have been a shallow variant of TheKarate Kid, congratulating itself for featuring a 16-year-old black kid from the South Bronx who's a brilliant scholar-athlete. Instead, director Gus Van Sant plays it matter-of-fact and totally real, casting a nonactor (Rob Brown) as Jamal, a basketball player and gifted student whose writing talent is nurtured by a famously reclusive author. William Forrester (Sean Connery) became a literary icon four decades earlier with a Pulitzer-winning novel, then disappeared (like J.D. Salinger) into his dark, book-filled apartment, agoraphobic and withdrawn from publishing, but as passionate as ever about writing. On a dare, Jamal sneaks into Forrester's musty sanctuary, and what might have been a condescending cliché--homeboy rescued by wiser white mentor--turns into an inspiring meeting of minds, with mutual respect and intelligence erasing boundaries of culture and generation.
Comparisons to Van Sant's Good Will Hunting are inevitable, but Finding Forrester is more honest and less prone to touchy-feely sentiment, as in the way Jamal and a private-school classmate (Anna Paquin) develop a mutual attraction that remains almost entirely unspoken. The film takes a conventional turn when Jamal must defend his integrity (with Forrester's help) in a writing contest judged by a skeptical teacher (F. Murray Abraham), but this ethical subplot is a credible catalyst for Forrester's most dramatic display of friendship. It's one of many fine moments for Connery and Brown (a screen natural), in a memorable film that transcends issues of race to embrace the joy of learning. --Jeff Shannon
Related Items:
Browse for similar items by category:
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- If you like Sean Connery
This is a wonderful movie about a young black boy who is great at basketball and want's to write.Sean Connery plays a reclusive writer who ends up being a great mentor to boy.It is by far a great "feel good" movie.
Rating: - Finding Forrester, uncovering a gem
Reflecting on my fondness for the movie, I had hoped to share it with some high school students as a recommended film which inspires courage and overcoming adversity. Thankfully, I viewed the movie again before making the recommendation because the language/sexual reference of the film is strong; not something I would feel comfortable recommending to underage students. But as a parent who feels the language is in context and appropriate for the message, I highly recommend the film (for PG-13 audiences ... Read More
Rating: - Finding Forrester
I loved this movie, it was such a nice surprise. The young man I haven't seen in any other films, but I did recognize a young Anna Pacquin. Sean Connery was the best part of the film for me, thoroughly enjoyable.
Rating: - Phenomenal Movie
I was highly impressed with the movie. It came on time and also in superb condition. I had no issues with the company that sent it. Thanks!
Rating: - It's not about basketball
This is one of my favorite movies. Don't let the picture on the front fool you. It's about friendship, trust and being a good mentor. You will like this movie I guarantee it.
- If you like Sean ConneryThis is a wonderful movie about a young black boy who is great at basketball and want's to write.Sean Connery plays a reclusive writer who ends up being a great mentor to boy.It is by far a great "feel good" movie.
- Finding Forrester, uncovering a gemReflecting on my fondness for the movie, I had hoped to share it with some high school students as a recommended film which inspires courage and overcoming adversity. Thankfully, I viewed the movie again before making the recommendation because the language/sexual reference of the film is strong; not something I would feel comfortable recommending to underage students. But as a parent who feels the language is in context and appropriate for the message, I highly recommend the film (for PG-13 audiences ... Read More
- Finding ForresterI loved this movie, it was such a nice surprise. The young man I haven't seen in any other films, but I did recognize a young Anna Pacquin. Sean Connery was the best part of the film for me, thoroughly enjoyable.
- Phenomenal MovieI was highly impressed with the movie. It came on time and also in superb condition. I had no issues with the company that sent it. Thanks!
- It's not about basketballThis is one of my favorite movies. Don't let the picture on the front fool you. It's about friendship, trust and being a good mentor. You will like this movie I guarantee it.
