Finding Forrester(2000)

[edgitarra]

A young writing prodigy finds a mentor in a reclusive author.

I really liked this movie. The director Gus Van Sant managed to catch a good contrast between the suburbs of Bronx and the elite's society, and the difficulties of a gifted child to make it through his way in life. It is similar to Good Will Hunting, but it differs in some points. I won't tell too much not to spoil the plot.

For more info:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181536/?ref_=nv_sr_1

 

[Palinurus]

Thanks for posting, edgitarra. :)

This movie is a long time favorite of mine, especially because of Sean Connery as the reclusive author. And for the story itself of course which resonated deeply with me, as having myself been in comparable circumstances several times in my life -- but without the luck of finding a suitable mentor when I really needed one.

So, at first watch, it provided to deliver an unexpected and rather painful journey down my personal memory lane, which subsequently had an equally unexpected cathartic flavor around it later on. All in all, nothing but fond memories abound at present.

A similar story of personal experiences can be told about the already mentioned Good Will Hunting movie (except for the math part of it, that is).

Gus van Sant is a very skillful director IMO and he has made at least a handful of memorable little master pieces. He's very capable of creating a fitting and convincing atmosphere sustaining the narrative in a supporting and enabling way.

Therefore, I'm also very much taken in by his My own private Idaho -- again mainly for very personal reasons.

Along these lines, learning certainly can be fun I think.

Anyway, if you really liked this particular one as you wrote, you would probably also like another similar story: Wonder Boys. Highly recommended!

Sources:

_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gus_Van_Sant
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Will_Hunting
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Own_Private_Idaho

_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonder_Boys_%28film%29
_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sveK_fhIqhs

 

[gdpetti]

Yea, Wonder Boys is a good one along that same line, only with a touch of sexual comedy to punch up the situation. The others follow a 'straighter' line of storytelling, but they all seem to be dealing with the same theme of potential talent held in the balance, with Wonder Boys adding a touch of seemingly lost talent seeking rebirth... or something like that.
Finding Forrester adds the ethnic issue and the elder mentor that saves the day after feeling forced to accept his situation and stop hiding from himself as well as others., whereas Good Will Hunting adds its own spice of authenticity with personal issues and the issue of being a big fish in a small pond, but not likely the pond very much... osis... and the mentor has his problems as well, as all three films showcase with older actors, who have a decent script for a change, and how rare is that?

 

[Rich]

Have yet to see Finding Forrester but thoroughly enjoyed Good Will Hunting and Wonder boys - great tear-jerkers and really fit my mood at the moment. Love the quote in the latter from Terry Crabtree played by Robert Downy Jnr:

All I'm saying is that sometimes, subconsciously...

a person will put themselves

in a situation...

perhaps even create

that situation...

in order to have an arena in which

to work out an unresolved issue.

It's a covert way, if you will,

of addressing a problem.