FINDING FORRESTER -----------------
Jamal Wallace (newcomer Rob Brown) loves to read and write in his journals, but hides this fact from his family and buddies in the Bronx. In public, he spends his time playing basketball at a local court watched over by a mysterious stranger from a window in an old building. On a dare, Jamal enters the stranger's apartment, but is frightened by the old man who lives there and runs, leaving his backpack. This fortuitous event will be the beginning of an unusual mentorship and great friendship in "Finding Forrester."
LAURA:
"Finding Forrester" skates in upon a slate of comparisons to director Gus van Sant's own "Good Will Hunting." While there are similarities, the new film has quite a different feel than the Boston blue collar drama.
Jamal sees his backpack hanging in that mysterious window - is it a taunt? an invitation? He resists, and wins, when the pack suddenly lands at his feet in the street one day. Reunited with his beloved journals, Jamal is first shocked, then intrigued to find that his writings have been marked up like school assignments by an obviously intelligent and interested reader.
A few false starts later, and Jamal meets the stranger, a gruff, Scotch swilling Scotsman (Sean Connery) who gradually opens up, pleased to share a love of the written word. Then Jamal's secret is blown with his mother and brother Terrell (Busta Rhymes, "Shaft") when test scores reveal his intelligence and result in a scholarship to Mailer Callow, a Manhattan prep school that needs a winning basketball team.
At Mailer Callow, Jamal, a black teen from the Bronx, must navigate the world of the white and wealthy. Claire (Anna Paquin, "X-Men") steps in to lead the way, beginning another odd relationship for Jamal. When his story's conflict arrives it's twofold. Jamal discovers that his Scottish friend is William Forrester, a J. D. Salinger-like reclusive legend, who obviously wishes Jamal to keep his identity secret. Professor Crawford (F. Murray Abraham), a failed author and Forrester devotee, doesn't believe a boy from the Bronx is capable of writing Jamal's words and sets out to discredit him.
While Mike Rich's screenplay doesn't offer any real surprises, sometimes dipping into cliche, rebounding with good dialogue, the amazing chemistry between veteran actor Connery and the untrained Brown is palpable. Brown, who answered a casting call in hopes of getting wages as an extra to pay off a cell phone bill, is one of the year 2000's great acting discoveries. Brown gives Jamal grace, confidence and smarts, holding his own against the Scottish Oscar winner. Rob Brown is the main reason to see this film. Connery also gives a fine performance, but isn't given as much to work with. Support is OK, but only Busta Rhymes as Jamal's brother and the (uncreditted?) actress who plays his mom really distinguish themselves. Abraham is a bit too patently villainish.
Van Sant's tech crew does a fine job, with fluid camerwork by Harris Savides ("The Yards") and nuanced art direction by Jane Musky ("At First Sight"). Unfortunately, he allows his film to play for over two hours and the material doesn't warrant it. A cutesy cameo at film's end may have seemed a good idea at the time, but calls too much attention to itself, working against the cinematic experience. Still, "Finding Forrester" is a solid entry into the 'teacher/student' genre and the first film of a potential new star.
B
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