2/4/2001
Finding Forrester stars Sean Connery as William Forrester, Robert Brown as Jamal Wallace, F. Murray Abraham as Professor Robert Crawford, Anna Paquin as Claire Spence, Busta Rhymes as Terrell Wallace, Fly Williams III as Fly, and Matt Damon as Steven Sanderson.
Finding Forrester is the feel good movie of the year. It is about a black high school student who has two talents, basketball and the ability to write. As a student in the Bronx, he maintains a "C" average to maintain his social status with his friends. A daily basketball game is viewed by a mystery man from the top window of an old apartment house across the street from the "playground". The guys dare Jamal to go into the apartment and retrieve any item to prove that he was there. Later that evening he enters via the fire escape. He is amazed by the large library and stacks of books everywhere. He sees a knife to take as his trophy. However, the occupant surprises him. Jamal runs out of the place leaving his backpack behind. The next day he sees his backpack hanging in the window, haunting him.
Later the backpack is dropped from the building into the street close to Jamal. After checking the contents, he finds that all of his journals have been corrected and annotated. Jamal is fearless enough to approach the apartment from the front to confront the occupant. But the grizzly voice form the door only tells him to write 5000 words on "Why he shouldn't bother him". Of course, after a little jousting they meet.
Jamal is now a frequent visitor to the apartment where he is being taught to write. Through some sleuthing. he finds out his gruff mentor is none other that a famous writer, who published one book and stopped. Along comes the scholarship offer to a snobby private school that wants him for his academic achievement. And by the way, his ability to play basketball did not go unnoticed. At the new school he fits socially like a square peg in a round hole. Claire, the daughter of the president of the school, befriends Jamal, causing quite a stir in the school. They both attend a literature class hosted by Professor Robert Crawford. Forrester's book is the mandatory reading this term. It seems that Professor Robert Crawford has some past history with Forrester. Professor Robert Crawford is also convinced that Jamal is not doing his own work. In fact, Jamal is accused of plagiarism. His eminent expulsion has to wait until after the state basketball finals.
Finding Forrester is a film that explores the mutual benefits of a relationship between two people who both give a world of experience to each other. One has stopped living while the other is just starting. They form a synergy that is a triumphant statement of life.
The acting is superb by everyone. I was annoyed by the few cheap attempts at humor, this film didn't need them.
