"There are two things I don't like about you - your face. So why don't you shut both of them&qu...
"There are two things I don't like about you - your face. So why don't you shut both of them" Felicia (Priscilla Queen of the Desert)
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Can a little imagination change the world? Can a little boy create a group to help people? Can these groups change people’s lives?
If you would have asked me those questions a couple of days ago, I would most certainly say no to all of the three questions. But, after watching Pay It Forward it changes my views on those questions and most importantly my views on life…
It stars Kevin Spacey – L.A Story, American Beauty; Haley Joel Smith – Sixth Sense, A.I: Artificial Intelligence; Helen Hunt – As Good As It Gets and the Comedy Series Mad About You. All three create atmosphere in the film.
It is rather odd because it isn’t a film that all of a sudden lets you get to know the characters, but by the end you feel you do know them. I feel in most films they give us all this background to each character early on in the film, but in Pay It Forward it doesn’t do this; it keeps you guessing to the end.
It revolves around Trevor – a little boy who lives in Las Vegas. His Mother - Arlene - is an alcoholic and is trying so hard to stop drinking to help her little boy. On the first day back at school – Trevor is now in seventh grade – there’s a new teacher waiting for him in his class - Mr Eugene Simonet.
Mr Simonet isn’t a teacher like all the other - he has mysterious scars on his face, he’s more kind to the children and has a weird assignment for the class, which will last for a whole year. The task is to – Think of an idea to change the world – and put it into ACTION!
To be honest, I thought this was a very intriguing task. The words in it are very heavy for eleven-year-old children – Think, Change, and Action. But Trevor manages to do these things with a simple yet genius and extraordinary plan.
“What if I helped three people, and they help a further three people, it will get even bigger, But it has to be something big!” I found this scene very intriguing; Trevor was giving a speech on his Pay It Forward idea. Everyone sat in disbelief. How could someone that age think up an idea so brilliant?
Over a space of time Eugene – Trevor’s teacher, and Trevor’s mother get very close and fall in love. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not one of those soppy love stories that has a lonely kid who has an alcoholic for a mother, but then suddenly his life is turned around and him, his teacher and mother live happily ever after, that is totally the opposite of the story.
Throughout the film we also see a reporter investigating the pay It Forward plan, trying to track down the beginner of this wonderful and genius plan. Whilst investigating this he finds many astonishing truths and finally tracks down the beginner of this brilliant solution to life, which leads to the end of the film.
This is a very Shakespearian film in my opinion. It’s happy, sad, controversy, tragic- very Shakespeare. It is acted brilliantly, and although the film was said to be a weak screenplay of the book, I totally disagree. Brilliant acting and plot makes this a must-see and must-read, the film firstly in my opinion as the film shocks you more, and then the book, it is very well written. It is more obvious in the novel what is going to happen, yet is still shocking.
Please do not snub this film, don’t think – ‘Oh, one of those what is the world? Film/book’ I am definitely not a continual asker ‘what are we here for?’ person, yet I really enjoyed this film - Tragic endings are the best.
So, Sit down and watch this wacko yet genius film. Take Trevor’s advice – Recommend the film to three friends: Pay It Forward. Written by: Matt Roberts
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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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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]")
Feb 9th, 2003
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