Bankers Dream

Rating: 5/10 (12 April 2007)

This film is a great pleasure for any individual who works in finance.
The film's hero has his epiphany after meeting a stockbroker who exiting his Ferrari bumps into our protagonist and announces on demand his profession. It becomes clear to Will Smith's character, Chris Gardner, that if he is ever to achieve wealth and hence happiness (sic) he must enter finance.
We then follow the heart wrenching story of a single parent who does not want to fail in his task of becoming an intern at asset management firm Dean Witter. This includes periods of extremely destitution, when Gardner; who is looking after his son (played by Will Smith's own son Jaden Smith) following the departure of his wife (Thandie Newton) for financial concerns; and among other hardships such as living in homeless shelters and metro stations.
The film moves along with a loud sound track, laughs, tears, and the occasional philosophical jab at big government. Any person who has ever questioned why they plug away in some mundane job in finance, should watch this film. I have already raised it with HR as a possible motivational video at my company's annual dinner. Will Smith both cries and gets run over for a place with Dean Witter Asset Management, something that pleased all of my banker friends very much.
All in a not a bad film but certainly not worth being run over.