A Movie Worthy To Pursue

Rating: 9/10 (17 April 2007)

In a dreadful year for movies, this inspirational gem helps to save the day; one of the rare good movies of 2006.
Will Smith is quickly proving himself to be one of the leading men with great range, ingratiating character, and emotional depth. Will Smith is terrific here and richly deserved an Oscar nod.
Besides the acting in Pursuit which is universally good, there are five other positive things to say about Pursuit:
1. It was entertaining without any need for violence, cursing, sex, or death. Can we please see more movies like this?
2. Despite the underlying story of a black man trying to win a job in a white man's world, no aspect of race, racism, or prejudice is ever implied. Wow - can this be? Thank the Almighty.
3. The movie demonstrates the power of the human will to not only survive but succeed at whatever singlemindedness it chooses to latch on to, though the road may be exceedingly difficult indeed. Pursuit of Happiness is not only a well-acted, well-directed, entertaining film but a story with an eternal moral to inspire all of us - at least those with an ear to hear.
4. Great, great, great score!
5. The necessity of faith-based charity. At one point in Chris Gardner's nadir, it was a Christian charity that provided the respite and physical/spiritual care he needed for himself and his son. Those that have never experienced such despair and poverty as Chris did may not realize how essential such charity is for so many lives.
There are 3 negative things that can be and have been said: 1. The movie takes some unnecessary liberty with the details of the real story. For example, the competitive internship was not nonsalaried.
2. We never really see Chris Gardner study any books. A competitive internship was not only about working the phones and hobnobbing. We know he is something of a prodigy but one cannot learn through osmosis either. I admit this is nit-picky though.
3. The concept of happiness to Chris Gardner seems a bit too shallow, deceptive, and purely capitalistic. Becoming a stressed-out stockbroker is something I would consider hell on Earth and brokers have more of a reputation of jumping out windows than being a paradigm of contentment.
Nevertheless, it was not really about being a broker or about being wealthy that seemed to have driven him but having the financial freedom to not always have to struggle and survive, which this movie vividly depicts as hellish. And indeed it is.
Great movie. 9 stars.