The Pursuit of Happyness

audiobliss
audiobliss Posts: 12,518
edited March 2007 in Music & Movies
I went and saw The Pursuit of Happyness new year's eve, and was very pleased with it. Will Smith, in my humble opinion, always does a great job, and this movie was no exception. I think the fact that the kid who played his son in the movie was actually his son added some, too. Made a lot of the emotional scenes more intense and realistic.

It was really a touching story, perhaps even more so than The Family Man, which was previously the most touching movie I had ever seen. It obsviously had a great plot to work with, a young couple with a young child falling upon hard times, dealing with relationship issues, seeking to better one's station in life, and, of course, seeking that 'happiness' which seems all too fleeting the few times it is achieved.

This movie was also surprisingly clean. I was very shocked, and in a VERY good way, about that. With the sole exception of one word (which the son saw written on a wall and asked about), I can't recall anything that should make a Christian the least bit hesitant about seeing it. A huge thumbs up there.

So, anybody else see this film yet? I'll certainly be buying (uh, well, asking Dad to buy it :D) when it comes out.
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Comments

  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited January 2007
    So do you think Will Smith finally got the ability to act with this movie? The theme looks compelling, and it's a true story of a guy from Milwaukee so I would like to check it out, but if he's the same old Will Smith...

    This is a great man, and he's a pleasure to talk with:

    happyness-large.jpg
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited January 2007
    I saw it and agree 100% with everything you said, word for word. It was an outstanding movie. Both my wife and I really, really enjoyed it.

    Edit: I meant to imply I agree with audio, not Demi.
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited January 2007
    Shizelbs wrote:
    I saw it and agree 100% with everything you said, word for word. It was an outstanding movie. Both my wife and I really, really enjoyed it.

    Edit: I meant to imply I agree with audio, not Demi.

    :p:p
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited January 2007
    Demiurge wrote:
    So do you think Will Smith finally got the ability to act with this movie? The theme looks compelling, and it's a true story of a guy from Milwaukee so I would like to check it out, but if he's the same old Will Smith...
    Well, like I said, I enjoyed all of the Will Smith movies I've seen (Bad Boys 1&2, Wild Wild West, Men in Black), so you still may not like his acting in this movie. However, I thought he did a great job playing a driven, determined man who is, overall, a very 'good' man of character who has found himself at rock bottom economically, and the movie does a great job at sharing the story of how he meets the seemingly impossible odds with hope, persistance, and often times even with a smile.

    I also think it's fairly realistic, as it does show a lot of the harder times one may face, and he really does hit rock bottom, and he then recovers in a seemingly completely legitimate way, not with the aid of some magic movie producer's fairy dust. In other words, he doesn't recover from his plight the same way Rocky always comes back in his fights! :p

    Even if you hate Will Smith's guts...I'd really urge you to watch it for the story it tells, because it tells an all too real story (though, admittedly, not everyone who hits rock bottom makes it back out).

    It can also be a tear-jerker sometimes, so be sure to sit on the end of the row if you see it with a bunch of friends, so you can turn to the wall every now and then to wipe your eyes. :p
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited January 2007
    Will Smith is like Denzel Washington to me (and it has nothing to do with race, so don't start) - they both are really good actors, but they only play one part. Will Smith is always the wise-cracking guy, and as long as he plays that part, he's perfect. Denzel is always the intense yelling guy, and as long as he plays that part, he's perfect. So I'm skeptical of Will Smith in this type of role.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited January 2007
    bobman1235 wrote:
    Will Smith is like Denzel Washington to me (and it has nothing to do with race, so don't start) - they both are really good actors, but they only play one part. Will Smith is always the wise-cracking guy, and as long as he plays that part, he's perfect. Denzel is always the intense yelling guy, and as long as he plays that part, he's perfect. So I'm skeptical of Will Smith in this type of role.

    Robin Williams is like this too.
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • MrNightly
    MrNightly Posts: 3,370
    edited January 2007
    That is why Johnny Depp is my favorite actor. He flat out rocks and can play any and every type of character. A True actor in my book.
    Honoured to be, an original SOPA founding member
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited January 2007
    MrNightly wrote:
    That is why Johnny Depp is my favorite actor. He flat out rocks and can play any and every type of character. A True actor in my book.

    Yep, he's a fantastic actor.
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited January 2007
    So you think the movie wouldn't have worked with Snoop Dog in the lead role:D

    Sounds like a good movie, it has a lot of critics buzzing. I got an Oscar feeling. Flags of Our Fathers will be the critic's favorite, but it's way too dark for me.
    Carl

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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited January 2007
    bobman1235 wrote:
    Will Smith is like Denzel Washington to me (and it has nothing to do with race, so don't start) - they both are really good actors, but they only play one part. Will Smith is always the wise-cracking guy, and as long as he plays that part, he's perfect. Denzel is always the intense yelling guy, and as long as he plays that part, he's perfect. So I'm skeptical of Will Smith in this type of role.

    Kinda describes the majority of the most popular actors in Hollywood -- Robert Deniro, Al Pacino, Julia Roberts, Gene Hackman, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Nicole Kidman, etc... They typically play characters that don't deviate too far from their personalities. It's what makes them so believable. And the audience expects/demands it.
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  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited January 2007
    Sorry Early, but I couldn't disagree more. Obviously casting is important - Tom Cruise couldn't play a part meant for an imposing black man - but what makes a good actor is something called "range". Almost everyone you've listed has at least played a couple of types of roles - from drama to comedy to action - and done well in all of them. Pacino played a blind man, a mobster, and the devil and was pretty believable as all of them. Granted he was always yelling, but they were still different characters.

    Whatev, sorry for the thread derail.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited January 2007
    De Niro is one of my favorite actors, and he certainly isn't typecast like Will Smith (used to be?). He does comedy, drama, and action with ease.
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  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited January 2007
    Gary Oldman has never played the same role twice. He embodies "range".

    From a black pimp in True Romance to a Romanian vampire to a nerdy, wiry Commisioner Jim Gordon to a dog (Beethoven) nyuk nyuk nyuk....
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited January 2007
    Demiurge wrote:
    So do you think Will Smith finally got the ability to act with this movie?

    I think Don Cheadle would have been a better choice to play Chris Gardner. Cheadle is a much better dramatic actor, plus he somewhat resembles Gardner. I realize that Will Smith has better name recognition and box office draw.
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited January 2007
    zombie boy 2000 wrote:
    Gary Oldman has never played the same role twice. He embodies "range".

    From a black pimp in True Romance to a Romanian vampire to a nerdy, wiry Commisioner Jim Gordon to a dog (Beethoven) nyuk nyuk nyuk....
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited January 2007
    DarqueKnight wrote:
    I think Don Cheadle would have been a better choice to play Chris Gardner. Cheadle is a much better dramatic actor, plus he somewhat resembles Gardner. I realize that Will Smith has better name recognition and box office draw.

    Well, Will Smith is no slouch when it comes to acting. I wasn't impressed with his acting skills until he played Muhammad Ali. The movie wasn't very good, but his acting was exceptional.
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited January 2007
    You can argue that so and so is a better actor overall than Will Smith until you are blue in the face, but the fact is (well, my opinion really) Mr. Smith did a marvelous job in this particular movie.
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited January 2007
    DarqueKnight wrote:
    I think Don Cheadle would have been a better choice to play Chris Gardner. Cheadle is a much better dramatic actor, plus he somewhat resembles Gardner. I realize that Will Smith has better name recognition and box office draw.

    Just out of curiousity, did you see it? I haven't yet, but what's keeping me away from it is my opinion that Smith can't act very well. He may be able to prove me wrong based on some of the reviews here. I agree with you on Cheadle. He's always good.
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  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,765
    edited January 2007
    Yes, I have seen the movie and plan to purchase the DVD when it becomes available.

    I have never considered Will Smith a "bad" actor. I consider him an average actor with average "range" who is considerably better that a lot of the Hollywood "eye candy" that is so prevalent these days.
    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
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  • HiPerf360
    HiPerf360 Posts: 436
    edited January 2007
    The movie was Will Smiths idea......

    I dont think anyone else was in the running for the lead role...

    Great movie, Will Smith does not come across as the typical Will Smith in this movie.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited March 2007
    Watched it last night. Very good movie. The little kid was exceptional.
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited March 2007
    damn, barely 4 months and it's already rushed to DVD. What ever happened to waiting? lol
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

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