Finding Forrester

Coming across this film that I should've seen 14 years ago I decided during this lazy afternoon to watch it on Netflix. It is the story of a talented basketball player/poet/writer named Jamal (some people have it ALL) from the Bronx and the relationship he forms with a reclusive writer named William Forrester (played magnificently by Sir Sean Connery). Rob Brown is phenomenal, especially considering he was 16 years old when shooting of the film started. It's refreshing when an actor can actually play basketball when he's supposed to be a scholarship athlete. Jamal experiences racism/prejudice at his new prep school who has a literature professor (the awesome F. Murray Abraham) who refuses to believe Jamal writes the work he submits. He connects on a final paper Jamal hands in that is titled and uses the first paragraph from a work by Forrester submitted to the New York Times in the 60's. Jamal doesn't mention that Forrester is helping him/allowed him to use his work, but instead faces a looming decision of the school board that may include expulsion, but not before the almighty state basketball tournament that Jamal has led the team to. The film is carried by two excellent performances with some excellent help from Abraham, Anna Paquin, a sprinkle of Michael Pitt & Busta Rhymes as well. You can predict most of what happens, but that's alright because Somewhere Over the Rainbow being performed at the end was a surprise that was awesome. Bottom Line: 7.2 out of 10. Glad I saw it and recommend you should too. It's just a story we've all seen before for the most part.