Alice was born on 24th April. I will get back to reading and writing eventually...
Alice was born on 24th April. I will get back to reading and writing eventually...
Member since:05.01.2006
Reviews:31
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The Plot ======= Based on the book by Catherine Ryan Hyde, the story begins in Los Angeles with a man giving a reporter who is hassling him a really nice car. The reporter thinks there has to be a catch. The man says that all he has to do is do three big good turns for other people (i.e. "Pay It Forward"). We then switch to some time earlier and the start of the school year in Las Vegas. Mr Simonet - the new social studies teacher who has a mysteriously scarred face - sets his class an unusual assignment. They are told to find a way to change the world and implement it.
Most do not take the assignment very seriously but Trevor (Haley Joel Osment), son of a struggling lone parent (Helen Hunt) takes it very seriously. When Trevor takes in a homeless drug addict for his assignment, his mother is furious and goes into school to vent her anger at Mr Simonet. Trevor then comes up with the idea of the "Pay It Forward"
scheme. Under this scheme, he plans to do some big good turn for three people. The idea is that rather than pay it back, they pay it forward to three other people. That way it will spread and lots of people will be doing good for each other and the world will be a better place.
For most of the film, we follow two strands. One is Trevor's attempts to do good turns for people including trying to set up his mother with Mr Simonet. The other is the journalist from the beginning tracking back through the people who have paid it forward in order to find the inventor of this scheme. As the story progresses, some dark problems both past and present are revealed. As the film nears its end, the two strands meet as the journalist finally tracks down Trevor and interviews him. The final conclusion is both surprising and predictable, shocking and utopian.
The Cast ======= Kevin Spacey: Eugene Simonet Helen Hunt: Arlene McKinney Haley Joel Osment: Trevor McKinney Jay Mohr: Chris Chandler James Caviezel: Jerry Jon Bon Jovi: Ricky McKinney Angie Dickinson: Grace David Ramsey: Sidney Parker Gary Werntz: Mr. Thorsen Colleen Flynn: Woman on Bridge Marc Donato: Adam Kathleen Wilhoite: Bonnie Liza Snyder: Michelle Jeanetta Arnette: Nurse Hannah Werntz: Thorsen's Daughter Tina Lifford: Principal
The Blurb ======== "Tormented by an abusive and absent father (Jon Bon Jovi), young Trevor McKinney (Haley 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 with an idea whereby instead of paying back good deeds, they are paid forward, by helping other people. The Pay It Forward system has massive repercussions transforming the lives of, amongst others, his alcoholic mother (Helen Hunt), struggling to support and raise her son, and his teacher, as they are forced to deal with their painful pasts. Their cult is both devastating and heart warming."
Other Information ============== Director: Mimi Leder Theme: Emotional Drama Classification: "12" Length: 119 minutes
My thoughts ========== Although this story seems to address some difficult issues (such as child abuse and alcoholism), it is rather sentimental and to some extent predictable. I would possibly even describe it as "cheesy". Having said this, I would still say it is an excellent film. The film seems to promote itself on the basis of the calibre of the three stars of the film rather than on the basis of the film itself and I think that this is justified. The film is excellent purely because of the superb quality of all three actors. In particular, Haley Joel Osment (whom I had not seen before) puts in an excellent performance. So many child actors just make me laugh as they are so wooden and unrealistic but he played the role beautifully. He was so natural in his role particularly in the scene where he is interviewed on film by the journalist. He seems shy and tongue tied and acts better than many adult actors.
Conclusion ========= Overall I would recommend this film to anyone old enough to see it. It is a good quality film due to the great performances put it in by Spacey, Hunt and Osment but I would only recommend it for rental rather than purchase due to the weakness of the plot and the rather saccharine ending.
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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]")
Apr 4th, 2006
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