I yam what I yam. I currently witter on about wine on the web.
I yam what I yam. I currently witter on about wine on the web.
Member since:21.06.2000
Reviews:72
Members who trust:16
Having seen the trailers for this movie I feared I had possibly seen the best of it. The simple, yet beautiful idea of doing big favours for three other people and having them pass that idea forward, seemed like an excellent short story, but how on earth could it be dragged out to fill two hours?
I have to admit, having seen the film I could have sat through an extra hour and not noticed the time pass.
Haley Joel Osment (the one and only child actor i8n the world, or so it seems after The Sixth Sense and now A.I.) steals the show as the seventh grader with an idea. His mother is ably played by Helen Hunt who moves further away from 'Mad About You' territory with a more troubled character to play than the mother in 'As Good As It Gets'. Kevin Spacey stars as the emotionally and physically scarred social studies teacher. His physical disfigurement in the story is sensitively handled and expertly made up.
Pay It Forward is not the happy feel good movie I thought I was going to see. It is a complex and sometimes dark tale tackling issues like suicide, substance abuse and domestic violence. The stories contained within it unfold beautifully, with two main story tracks running in contrasting chronological order adding to the suspense factor within the film.
Perhaps the biggest downside for me was the pointless, characterless contribution of Jon Bon Jovi. His portrayal of a nasty drunk really added nothing to the story and served to remind me that I was watching a film, with people acting parts.
I did expect to see a lot more publicity surrounding this movie and would not have beeen surprised to encounter people aiming to Pay It Forward in the same way that people practice random acts of kindness. However, it has to be said that no such do-gooding occured!
The central theme of the film appeals to my idealistic side, but there is plenty to keep the romantic, confused, wounded and cynical parts of my personality entertained to.
On release the film was touted as an Oscar contender, but it's not anything new and whilst the acting is good it's certainly not enough to get excited about.
I would definitely recommend Pay It Forward, but don't expect to be filled with hope and warm fuzzy feelings, plan instead for a slightly downbeat discussion on what is wrong with society today.
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Production Year: 2007 - Drama - Director: Mike Binder - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett, Liv Tyler, Saffron Burrows, Donald Sutherland, Mike Binder
Production Year: 1998 - Drama - Director: Carl Franklyn, Carl Franklin - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Meryl Streep, William Hurt, Renee Zellweger, Tom Everett Scott, Nicky Katt, Lauren Graham
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Director Mimi Leder's third movie,Pay it Forward, finds her moving into softer, more ... more
intimate territory after making her name with a pair of high-budget action spectaculars,The PeacemakerandDeep Impact. This is a would-be heart-warming fable about the ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Director Mimi Leder's third movie,Pay it Forward, finds her moving into softer, more ... more
intimate territory after making her name with a pair of high-budget action spectaculars,The PeacemakerandDeep Impact. This is a would-be heart-warming fable about the ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Is it possible for one idea to change the world? Just imagine. You do a favor that really ... more
helps someone and tell him or her not to pay it back but to pay it forward to three other people who in turn each pay it forward to three more - and on and on ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Tormented by an abusive and absent father (Jon Bon Jovi), young Trevor McKinney (Haley ... more
Joel Osment - The Sixth Sense) takes his teacher's (Kevin Spacey) challenge to make the world a better place as part of a school assignment, seriously. He comes up w...
Advantages: Somewhat original story, original concept, great performances, touching, makes you think Disadvantages: A bit over sentimental for some (you'll need to be armed with tissues!)
IzzyS 30.12.2007 (30.12.2007)
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Review of Pay It Forward (DVD)
![Pay It Forward [DVD] [2001]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78523606.jpg "Pay It Forward [DVD] [2001]")
Jul 2nd, 2001
(Jul 3rd, 2001)
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