FINDING FORRESTER

2000

Unless you're a complete racist and can't accept the fact that a genius can come out of the African-American community of the South Bronx, then you'll surely love this excellent film. In the tradition of "Good Will Hunting" and "Dead Poets Society," the movie is a perfect starring vehicle for Sean Connery in his "golden years." In fact, it is one of the best roles that he's ever undertaken. On going into the theater, I thought of some of the words that I was sure that I would be using in my review of "Forrester; words like "sappy," "corny," "predictable" and "boring." None of these words apply to the film that I saw. This story of a J.D.Salinger-like reclusive author and his unlikely protege is beautifully written, directed (by Gus Van Sant,) and acted. The young man  (obviously an excellent basketball player in real life,) who plays the "ghetto-genius," has a fine career in films ahead of him, if he chooses that path. A literary "Rocky!"

5 Stars

NJB

I cannot help feeling that after his failure with the Psycho remake, Gus Van Sant decided to go back to a familiar formula. Its pretty much Good Will Hunting 2, with a mysterious, hermit, has-been author instead of a broken psychologist and a young genius from the Bronx instead of a young genius from Southie. So does it work again? Yes, it does, but it gets a serious downtick in the originality department. Sean Connery and newcomer Robert Brown (whom i understand really IS a great basketball player) are very strong in their roles. And don't get me wrong, it IS a good story. I just couldn't help, however, feeling like I had seen it before. One other thing worth mentioning- Van Sant fills his movies with awful music except for one or two songs. With the exception of one song at the end, this film is no different.

3.5 Stars

CDF