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APRIL 2005: Hello all, yes, I am still alive! See Personal Homepage for more! :)
Member since:18.08.2001
Reviews:61
Members who trust:27
Did Pay It Forward (PIF) bypass you when it was released in the cinema? It did me. I saw a few trailers and thought ‘Hmm, Kevin Spacey’ but pretty much forgot it and as far as I can remember, there wasn’t a lot of hype surrounding it.
But I can tell you now that this is a wonderful, wonderful film. Whenever I was in Blockbuster, PIF was the only film that had all the rental copies still stacked up behind it. So I thought that if no-one ever rented it, it couldn’t be that good. But I went in the other night, read the back of the DVD and decided to get it. I hope you do the same.
PIF is the story of a school assignment given to a seventh grade class. The assignment is ‘Think of an idea that will change the world – and put it into action’. One child in the class, Trevor McKinney (Haley Joel Osment), thinks of his idea while he’s biking home that afternoon and passes a group of homeless people. He brings one man, Jerry (Jim Caviezel) home
with him and feeds him, lets him take a shower and lets him sleep in the garage – Favour One. Trevor’s mother Arlene (Helen Hunt), who is alcoholic, comes back late that night from her job as a cocktail waitress in a seedy Las Vegas bar and crashes on her bed, drunk. She wakes the next morning to discover the strange homeless man in her house, chucks him out and then has an argument with Trevor over what he has done.
When the time comes for the class to explain their ideas, Trevor explains his idea of ‘Paying it Forward’. The premise of his idea is to do a big favour for three strangers, something which the person could not do by themselves. In turn, each person is expected to Pay it Forward for three other people – you can never pay back, only forward. Trevor’s teacher, Eugene Simonet (Kevin Spacey), is inspired by Trevor’s idea. Little does he know that Favour Two is for him, whereby Trevor gives him a note ‘from his mother’ in order to set them up. Though troubled at first, Eugene and Arlene soon form a friendship only for it to flounder when the two become close. Trevor’s third Favour is to try and help his friend Adam, who is always being beaten up by bigger kids.
As time goes on, Trevor believes that Pay it Forward has failed. Arlene and Eugene stop talking after things go sour, Jerry appears to be on drugs, and Trevor cannot pluck up the courage to defend Adam against the bullies. However, the Pay it Forward ‘movement’ soon spreads and near to the end of the film, a visit by a journalist (Jay Mohr) trying to track the beginnings of the idea confirms that the movement has spread as far as LA. I won’t go any further because it will spoil the story and reveal some important elements - I know this probably means I’ve left you a bit confused, but I ask you to take a chance on this film anyway.
In my opinion (yes, that’s right), this film has it all. I was chuckling at quite a few scenes and warmed by much of the film. The relationship between Eugene and Arlene reaches a heart-wrenching point where some horrible truths are revealed. The ending to the film is very unexpected and inspirational to say the least.
There are other reviews I have read of this film which have said it doesn’t come to much, but I don’t believe that’s true. PIF made me laugh and cry, feel inspired and feel entertained. The actors are all great, as one might expect. Helen Hunt plays the alcoholic though loving mother extremely well. Kevin Spacey, as ever, is remarkable and brings real depth to his character, who I can only say is a teacher I wish I had had when I was at school. Haley Joel Osment doesn’t act like a freak, as many people think he does! He doesn’t talk weird or overdo things and I, for one, think he is very talented. So there!
There’s not much more to say about this film. I can’t expand too much on the plot otherwise it will be ruined and I think I have made clear the way the film made me feel. I was extremely pleased I rented it and I do intend to buy it soon. I recommend this film highly, and would be interested to hear what other people think about it.
PS) If you get to the opening credits and suddenly think you’re watching another of Kevin Spacey’s films, then yes, the score is composed by Thomas Newman – who also composed the score for American Beauty.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Drama - Director: Chazz Palminteri - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz, Paul Walker, Alan Arkin, Marcus Thomas, Donna Hanover, Robin Williams
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
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: 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
Brilliant - i love Kevin Spacey so I'll be straight down to the video shop to check this one out!
stevecook 08.11.2001 09:38
I was lucky enough to see PIF for free after being offered tickets after watching another film. I only went because Kevin Spacey was in it and enjoyed it. Good OP:o)
shanecahill 04.11.2001 12:40
Hmmm.. have to disagree about the film, although the opinion was excellent and Kevin spacey is my favourite actor. I thought besides the three main performances this film wasn't worth leaving the house for, and the ending left me feeling cheated. As I said though it's excellently written.
Shane
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...
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...
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
Advantages: Brilliantly acted, good idea, really enjoyable movie for the family to watch together Disadvantages: I did not like the ending at all, and really didn't see the relevance
poet831 03.07.2001 (06.07.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Pay It Forward (DVD)
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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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Pay It Forward (DVD)
![Pay It Forward [DVD] [2001]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78523606.jpg "Pay It Forward [DVD] [2001]")
Oct 8th, 2001
very helpful by (97%):
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