Finding Forrester
             Writing, often having to deal with strictly a writing utensil and paper, becomes cinematic in the feel good film "Finding Forrester" directed by Gus Van Sant. William Forrester, brilliantly created by Sean Connery, wrote a Pulitzer Prize winning book called "The Avalon," and suddenly disappeared from the critics and classrooms alike.
             Jamal Wallace (played by Rob Brown) is a quiet, average, sixteen year old boy who finds himself excelling in basketball court, but not in school. The surprisingly talented African American athlete is recruited by a top of the line private school and he looks for guidance to make the choice whether or not he should leave the place he knows for a better education. One night Jamal decides to sneak into the "hidden from society," Forrester's apartment on a dare. Through the bizarre break in and Jamal's completed edited notebooks Jamal and William become quick friends.
             Professor Crawford (F. Murray Abraham), a literature professor at Mailor, proves to be Jamal's toughest battle. Jamal is told by classmates not to talk back or challenge the teacher in anyway. The racist and cynical professor cannot be convinced that a sixteen-year-old African American kid from the Bronx has the level of talent Jamal does in his writing. Crawford even goes as far as having Jamal writing a paper in his office after school. The tension between the two makes the film enjoyable. At points I just felt like getting back at the teacher for his views.
             The film is rated PG-13, for brief strong language and some sexual references, helping to create the New York atmosphere, and real way of high school students. The film does a great job of bringing New York into the film, including the slang that goes on there. I thought when Jamal's friends hung out it was quite funny, because of the sarcastic borderline remarks. Friends have a way of communicating to each other ...