Finding Forrester (2000)

A young writing prodigy finds a mentor in a reclusive author.

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writer:

Mike Rich

Stars:

Sean Connery, Rob Brown, F. Murray Abraham

5 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sean Connery	...	William Forrester
Rob Brown	...	Jamal Wallace
F. Murray Abraham	...	Prof. Robert Crawford
Anna Paquin	...	Claire Spence
Busta Rhymes	...	Terrell Wallace
April Grace	...	Ms. Joyce
Michael Pitt	...	John Coleridge
Michael Nouri	...	Dr. Spence
Richard Easton	...	Prof. Matthews
Glenn Fitzgerald	...	Massie, Forrester's Delivery Man
Lil' Zane	...	Damon (as Zane Copeland Jr.)
Stephanie Berry	...	Janice Wallace
Fly Williams III	...	Fly
Damany Mathis	...	Kenzo
Damion Lee	...	Clay

Storyline

Because of scoring exceptionally high on a statewide standardized exam and being an exceptionally good basketball player Jamal Wallace is sent to a prestigious prep school in Manhattan. He soon befriends the reclusive writer, William Forrester. The friendship leads William to overcome his reclusiveness and for Jamal to overcome the racial prejudices and pursue his true dream - writing.

---

Plot Keywords:

school | writing | basketball | new york | mentor | 

---

Taglines:

In an ordinary place, he found the one person to make his life extraordinary.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some sexual references

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

12 January 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Descubriendo a Forrester

Filming Locations:

Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$43,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$701,207 (USA) (29 December 2000)

Gross:

$51,768,623 (USA) (13 April 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Finding Forrester Productions, Fountainbridge Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

136 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS (8 channels)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stock footage of housing projects in the Bronx is reused from Q & A (1990).

---

Goofs

During the close up of the typewriter, the letters should appear on the page as the letters are struck. But all the words are already on the page and just scroll across rather than get created as they are typed.

---

Quotes

Forrester: I have an homeland that I have not seen for too long.
Jamal: Oh, you mean Ireland?
Forrester: Scotland, for God's sakes!
Jamal: I'm messing with you, man.

---

Crazy Credits

Jamal and friends play basketball through the end credits from the window of Forrester's apartment.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Tracey Fragments (2007)

---

Soundtracks

Gassenhauer
by Carl Orff

User Reviews

a very good film

September 2004.... While walking through the aisles of Blockbuster in search of films my wife and I may have missed through the years, we stumbled on "Finding Forrester". I had a slight recollection of a recommendation from a friend some time ago. In a nutshell, we really enjoyed this film. Both main characters are charming and convincing. The story makes you think and is clever. If you liked "Good Will Hunting" you will probably like this movie too, since it has a similar flavor to it. Though the film is 4 years old, the story is timeless and worth watching. Enjoy, Jimmy