Enjoyed movie, Nolte solid as Socrates

Rating: 7/10 (14 June 2006)

I read this book and enjoyed this movie version. I am glad they reduced the emphasis on food/purity but wish they had spent a little more time on the development of Millman's relationship with Joy, a critical 'destination' for his journey.
I like that they got in and out of the sports stuff quickly - that can get old on screen if the sport shown is not 'your' sport. I also like that they didn't emphasize any 'supernatural' visual phenomenon. Like most movies, I feel that they 'pushed' it along to get to the end, but that's Hollywood - God forbid a 3 hour story takes 3 hours to tell! But the moral of the story is to 'live in the present' and rushing the movie seems contrary to that.
But overall, I liked it and was inspired by it enough to where I will be re-reading the book very soon. This is a story worth telling, worth hearing - just in case it strikes a cord in somebody's spirit. If even one person (maybe me? maybe you?) turns a positive corner as a result of it - that would be a wonderful payoff. I'd recommend it to anybody who feels like they've lost their way or someone who needs a jump-start to the next phase of their life.
The guys playing Millman and his buddies/gals were good. Nolte was very good - a perfect role for a guy with that gravelly voice! Good film.