Ahmad Jamal - Live (+CD)

Advantages: well acted,good storyline
Disadvantages: not quite as good as directors earlier good will hunting

...Finding forrester is an intelligent and at times moving drama starring Sean connery as retired and reclusive writer William forrester and Rob Brown as student Jamal Wallace.The support cast is made up of f,murray abraham as a univeristy professor and Anna paquain as a fellow student.The film is directed by Gus van sant who had made the eariler oscar winning Good will hunting and more recently the remake of pschyo. The story starts of with Jamal playing basketball in the park with his friends when he spots somebody looking out of there Appartment window.Later on he finds out it is a retired writer who now lives life as a recluse.Because jamal is excellent at story writing he forms an unlikely friendship with the writer.They agree a deal where jamal will get help with his writing as long as he does not mention the writer to anyone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: good acting, well shot
Disadvantages: might be slow pacing for some people

...Finding Forrester is one of thise films that doesn't set the box office alight but is far better than the usual dross clogging up the screens around the UK. The story follows a young black american Jamal Wallace (Rob Brown) who lives in an urban part of New York and is quite gifted at writing but keeps it a secret from his friends. Jamal wins a scholarship to a prestigous New York school but faces some opposition from a bitter teacher (F. Murray Abraham). One day for a bet Jamal ventures into the apartment of a reclusive William Forrester (Connery) and is found out. Jamal finds out that Forrester is the author is a well respected book and slowly edges his way into Forresters life. Forrester at first is apprehensive but with time the pair become friends and he teaches Jamal the true ethics of writing that lead him to better his work... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: good performance form Rob Brown
Disadvantages: nothing distinctive about it

...Finding Forrester is the story of gifted 16 year old basketball player Jamal Warner (Rob Brown) and his relationship with Pulitzer Prize winning recluse William Forrester (Sean Connery). It is directed by Oscar nominated Gus Van Sant, has a jazz soundtrack featuring Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman & Bill Frisell and features Busta Rhymes as Jamals older brother. Jamal is a regular kid who lives with his mother in Bronx and gets C grades in school. The film begins with Jamals recent test results revealing that he is exceptionally gifted and one of the top private schools in the New York to offering him a full academic scholarship and ant the chance to play basketball with their championship winning team. While all this is going on Jamal meets and befriends reclusive writer William Forrester who has virtually locked himself in his apartment... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful