of Happyness.....
Lots of Oscar clip footage of Will Smith running around "the streets" of San Francisco flailing his long limbs trying to catch buses, thiefs, running from taxi fares, etc. I would say at least 2/3 of the movie is about Will playing Chris Gardner doing just this. The other 1/3 explains his situation. Will plays earnest and low-key here. This is NOT action star Will. It is the typical "true" (after Million Little Pieces nothing is true for me anymore) story, rags to riches, in some places LONG and repetitive saga of hero du jour Chris Gardner. Worked his way out of the homeless shelters of SF with child and became a stock broker, profiled on 60 minutes, played by Will Smith in a major Hollywood film and now commanding 30,000 for 90 minute speaking engagements (he will be speaking at one of my conferences in April). Nice work if you can get it! Will will :) be nommed for an Oscar and already has been for a GG. Im thinking that he will be a front runner in male category for both. Both he and the story are well-liked in Hollywood and that is 1/2 the battle. Im still not certain what the Peter O'Toole factor will play in this race. Old actor who should be dead by now in a movie no one has seen and probably never will.......could spell OSCAR!!!! And too ugly to look at Forrest Whitaker could spoil Wills Oscar chances as well. Im thinking the Academy will not go for an actor playing real-life monster Idi Amin. They only like heroes and fictional monsters like Hannibal Lecter. Thandie Newton has a throw away, thankless role as Will/Chris's girlfriend/Wife??? (was never really made clear) and mother of Will and Jadas real life son Jayden. He is adorable and there is one scene with him that got the old water works going for me concerning a Captain America doll. This is my first review post.......the Good Shepherd is up next I think........with Lips and Matty (my BOY!!!!!)
**1/2 standard fare stars for this pursuit
Saturday, December 30, 2006
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OK, good, this works! So...WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?? Will Smith front runner? Yeah, I'd say you have a head cold alright - of the brain. What are you on, by the way? OK, I'll fess up though: 1) I never liked Will Smith, probably never will (like your Beyonce thing), and 2) I probably won't see the movie because of #1. If only we got paid to watch movie like those other 2 critics who will go unnamed - then I might see it. Buy me the ticket and the popcorn and 2 hours of a workday plus a salary - you'll see me there. That being said, the Big O factor (Oprah) will weigh heavily (read: 'Crash' last year). And O LOVED Will Smith. But, she also loved Forest Whittaker (I can't believe I'M discussing what O likes, that pit of gushing banality). And so did just about every single critics group so far. You just know that is the type of role few will see, most in the Academy will hear about, most know him and he has a good rep (and he's a director), and, I think, most will vote for. Think Jessica Lange in 1994 - did anyone see Blue Sky in the theater?? Poor Will. Me think he'll have to be happy with his $20mil/pic and wait about 7-10 more years before he's done marinating.
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