Finding Forrester

"A wonderful story of an unlikely friendship and personal growth. An absolute classic film sort of a hidden gem. Sean Connery is fantastic!"

"4½⭐/5⭐ (Cons section in comments) + FINDING FORRESTER is as solid a movie as you are likely to come by and has many great moments within it. What hooks me in every time is the music, which melds the score, jazz soundtrack and remixes to give expression to the soul of the world in which it takes place. Looking at the music in the end credits I was surprised at just how much of Miles Davis's music this movie introduced me to without me knowing it at the time. It was used in this movie to create mood and punctuate certain character interactions, such as when one character sneaks into an apartment on a dare and is scared by a surprise visit in the living room. At the time I thought this was actually the score of the movie. Scorsese uses music similarly by making 60's and 70's Motown and Rock the backdrop of his films, but this movie makes the jazz standards seem more ethereal in nature, as if the music lives within the characters and buildings themselves. It blends well with the way the film is shot, adding a sense of culture and history. Every frame of the movie feels lived in with characters who are cut from the same cloth of the world we see. It takes place in The Bronx, and I love how the neighborhood has more in common with an old haunted mansion than it does a populated city with attractions like malls and food chain restaurants. It's as if in touching the screen you could come away with dirt and grime on your hands. Sean Connery is effortlessly wonderful, and Rob Brown holds his own, bringing a valuable sense of grounding. Their onscreen friendship is one of the more underrated gems in cinema. I not only resonated with their story, but also the insights that this film has about the writing process and how it is expressed through their interactions with each other. Also, Gus Van Zandt is probably one of the most poetic directors out there, and here he graces the plot with a beauty that isn't any one quality."

"Nice movie. Not a true story like some think, though Connery did base his character of JD Salinger. It is worth the watch if you are just looking for a feel good story. "

"Cute film, saw it in school"

"Great movie! Unusual friendships that just work!"

"Parts of the film are a bit ham-fisted, but overall it is a good film. I like some Gus Van Sant films: My Own Private Idaho and Elephant are amazing films."