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For his part, the eternally watchable Connery doesn't test the limits of his acting ability to play the curmudgeonly
Forrester (the portrayal isn't a mail-in, but it also isn't much of a challenge). This is a case when an actor's
reputation works in the character's favor. As written, Forrester is an irascible, unpleasant fellow, but audiences
are so used to liking Connery that it's impossible to accept that there isn't a heart of gold hidden beneath the
aging author's thick skin.
Chicago Sun TimesThe scenes between the old man and
the teenager are at the heart of the movie, and it's a pleasure to watch the rapport between Connery, in his 50th
year of acting, and Brown, in his first role
Film.ComIt's nice to watch Connery wrap his brogue around
literary insights, and he does well by Forrester's droll attitude
City PagesAs
for Connery, who wasted the entirety of his last self-produced movie licking his chops over Catherine Zeta-Jones,
he wraps himself in scarves here and summons a vulnerable, decidedly non-iconic performance.
Images JournalConnery
totally overwhelms Brown. He's an imposing presence incapable of playing second fiddle to anyone. Like John Wayne
or James Cagney, Connery completely obliterates anyone else in the same scene. I found it difficult to believe
such a virile, powerful presence could melt away once beyond the confines of his apartment. Connery's face certainly
looks marvelous on the movie posters, but I suspect Finding Forrester would have been more convincing with a more
neurotic force in the title role. But Connery is undeniably fun to watch on screen
Postnet The acerbic Connery relishes his role as the mentor.
He is equal parts Yoda, J.D. Salinger and Vince Lombardi
Robin Clifford Sean Connery is
a seasoned thespian who has achieved worldwide icon status, so there are certain expectations whenever he stars
in a movie. He has transitioned from the cool, suave James Bond persona into a senior statesman of the acting profession.
Now, he is usually positioned as the wise sage who dispenses his knowledge to his various neophytes (see "Name
of the Rose," "The Untouchables," "Rising Sun" and "Entrapment," among others).
He does that in "Forrester," but with a more vulnerable spin on the character. The vet thesp does not
try to upstage his costar, either, allowing the younger actor to effectively play off of Connery's character.
Variety.com Playing the Salinger-like writer of legendary stature,
Connery expertly fills the bill as a man who's at once ingratiating and infuriating, a recluse who needs to be
rescued from misanthropy. Role allows thesp to display his signature humor, a flourish of arrogance balanced by
depth. Connery hasn't only stopped masking his Scottishness, but now integrates it into the plot. Gus Van Sant's deftly crafted "Finding Forrester" provides a platform for Sean Connery
to deliver a definitive, career-summation performance as a reclusive, charismatic literary legend
Jam Movies It
is no surprise when Sean Connery dazzles. Effortlessly and gracefully, he has been doing it for longer than most
of his Finding Forrester co-stars have even been alive. So it is simply a pleasure to watch the Scottish master
at work in this movie, playing a reclusive, curmudgeonly writer
A good Review "Actingwise, Connery can do no wrong, no matter how lowly the project"
There's a suprise cameo in the Film from Matt Damon, who worked with the director previously on Good Will Hunting.
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Sony's premiere of ``Finding Forrester'' Friday night turned into a futile search for
the picture's star Sean Connery, who quietly slipped away in the minutes between the screening and dessert reception
at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills.
Helmer Gus Van Sant was willing to talk, though, and he commented on his decision to give Matt Damon a cameo in
the picture -- which, by the way, elicited the biggest audience response all evening. `It's interesting metaphorically,
because he had such good will with 'Good Will Hunting' and he's, like, sliding the keys over to Rob (Brown) --
and there's sort of a connection there between the two leads,'' Van Sant said. Guests included cast members Brown,
Mike Nouri, Lil Zane and Michael Pitt; and guests Roma Downey and Camryn Manheim. (5th Dec 2000)
Sean Connery Takes Young Actor Under His Wing
Acting newcomer Rob Brown has made his first friend in the business - Sean Connery. Sixteen-year-old Brown, who
stars alongside Connery in the upcoming movie Finding Forrester (2000), about the relationship between a reclusive
novelist and a brilliant young scholar-athlete, discovered a real-life mentor in the legendary Scottish actor.
Connery took him under his wing, inviting him back to his home whenever they got a free moment so they could chat.
Brown says, "I spent a lot of time at his apartment while we were shooting and we just talked for hours. I'd
be asking him questions and he answered all of them. We went to dinner together a lot." And Connery was equally
impressed with Brown, who he says needed no coaching from him for the film. He says, "I just thought he was
so surprisingly good. He's very intelligent, straight A scholar - and he's just 16. But Brown has yet to succumb
to the trappings of stardom - he's still concentrating on his schoolwork. He adds, "This is my first acting
thing - unless you count a school play I did in third grade. "Things are getting a lot busier now, but other
than that, it's still the same. When I'm not acting, I'm in school." (4th December)
Film runs for 2 hrs and 10 mins, at a cost of $42m
LA/NY Release Date: December 6, 2000, US Wide Release Date: January 12, 2001
SIR SEAN'S FURY OVER'GAY' ROLE Scots hard man Sean Connery is furious after being told
that his character in a new movie is a closet homosexual! Actor Connery blew his top when gay film director Gus
Van Sant claimed the Scot's character in Finding Forrester lusts after a 16-year-old black boy. Van Sant,48, said:
"I'm sure my gay sexuality plays into the kind of relationship Sean's character has with the young boy.It
has a certain subliminal overtone." But Connery, who plays a reclusive writer who befriends a young basketball
player, blew up when he heard the director's views. An insider said: " Sean went marching through the film
set looking for Gus and when he found him he didn't mince his words. He was furious." Connery, who turns 70
next Friday, later played down the outburst. He said: "On the issue of the gayness and whether that is in
the movie, it's Gus's cross to bear. "I suppose there could be undercurrents that my character is a closet
homosexual." (24th August 2000)
Busta Rymes interview: Yeah, "Finding Forrester." Sean Connery, Lil' Zane, couple of other cats in
the movie. It's a very good film. It's a movie about my younger brother getting accepted into a school on a scholarship,
an Ivy League school. Our family is from the Bronx, and he gets caught up fighting stereotypes and obstacles that
we all have to support him through. Sean Connery's character has something in common with my little brother because
he went through similar experiences. And he has to help my brother through a situation. If he wasn't there to help
him, my little brother wouldn't have been okay in the end. I don't want to give away too much of the story, but
just know that it's an incredible film, and it's a real positive kind of storyline. I think it's something that
would be good for everybody and their family to go see. (July 2000)
Taken from Sony site, A drama about a unique relationship between an eccentric, reclusive novelist and a young,
black, amazingly gifted scholar-athlete. This is the story of Jamal Wallace, an African-American athlete studying
at an all-white prep school (recruited for his athletic merit) After the novelist discovers that the young athlete
is also an excellent writer and secretly takes him on as his protégé, they develop an unlikely friendship.
As they learn more about each other, they learn more about themselves, and ultimately, with the help of his new
mentor, the basketball star must choose the right path between following his writing dreams or his hoop dreams.
17/3/00 - NEW YORK (Variety) - Seventeen-year-old ``Piano'' prodigy Anna Paquin has joined
fellow Oscar winners Sean Connery and F. Murray Abraham in Gus Van Sant's ``Finding Forrester.'' Paquin will play
the inter-racial love interest of a black high school basketball star/boy genius (Robert Brown). The Columbia Pictures
project is about Brown's prep school relationship with Paquin and an older J.D. Salinger-type writer (Connery)
who has never written a follow-up to his acclaimed first novel. Paquin is appearing in ``X-Men'' in July and the
upcoming untitled Cameron Crowe film. She won a supporting actress Oscar at age 11 for her role opposite Holly
Hunter in 1993's ``The Piano'' Connery won his for ``The Untouchables'' and Abraham his for ``Amadeus.''
22/02/00 Connery filming in Torronto, (Toronto Sun) Word is that we might have Sean Connery
around longer than we thought for Finding Forrester. The movie cast and crew were scheduled to arrive here April
3 and stay for a month. But director Gus Van Sant might adjust that, and shoot more in Toronto and less in New
York. Why? Less hassle here. And they can save lots more bucks with the Candian-U.S. exchange rate ...The cast
and crew of the Sean Connery picture Finding Forrester is scheduled to work here from April 3 to May 1. Good news
for the local industry, but it was almost bad news. The city nearly lost its bid to get the production. Director
Gus Van Sant was "skeptical" about getting what he wanted for the New York sequences. "In the end,"
says producer Laurence Mark, "he was surprised by what he found in Toronto." Like what, for instance?
"We needed a Bronx ghetto," reports Mark."They have a Bronx ghetto." In Finding Forrester,
Connery plays a reclusive author who befriends an inner city kid with a natural writing ability. "The kid
is this amazing writing talent," says Mark, "but he has trouble believing that anybody gets out of the
ghetto with it. The story is how they help each other." Sounds like a choice role for an up-and-comer. Mark
says that Van Sant is still looking for the right actor. (thanks Sue)
NEW YORK, Feb 7, 2000 (ENTERTAINMENT WIRE) -- Columbia Pictures will hold an open casting
call to find a teenage boy to star opposite Oscar(R) winner Sean Connery in the studio's drama "Finding Forrester,"
directed by Academy Award(R)-nominated director Gus Van Sant. Shooting is scheduled to begin on the film in Toronto
and New York in April. Casting is for the role of Jamal Wallace, a 16-year-old black scholar-athlete. The film
traces the unique relationship between Jamal and an eccentric, reclusive novelist (Connery). After the novelist
discovers that the young athlete is also an excellent writer and secretly takes him on as his protege, they develop
an unlikely friendship. As they learn more about each other, they learn more about themselves, and ultimately,
with the help of his new mentor, Jamal must choose between following his writing dreams or his hoop dreams.
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Gus Van Sant is on board to direct the drama "Finding
Forrester," which Sean Connery will star in and executive produce at Columbia Pictures. The studio intends
to have the project in production by spring. Columbia last year acquired Michael Rich's script, which was awarded
a Nicholl Fellowship, with Connery attached to star and exec produce. The studio and Connery have since been looking
for the right director. "Forrester" tells the story of a reclusive East Coast writer, reminiscent of
J.D. Salinger, and his relationship with an underprivileged young black writer who also excels in basketball. Laurence
Mark ("As Good as It Gets") will produce the film. Rhonda Tollefson, Connery's production partner in
Sony-based Fountainbridge Films, will exec produce with Connery. Van Sant directed "Good Will Hunting,"
"To Die For," "My Own Private Idaho" and "Drugstore Cowboy." (9/12/99)
Tuesday, July 27, 1999 – Mike Rich, Portland disc jockey on KINK FM and author, will talk about the screenplay
he recently completed, called “Finding Forrester.” Mike sold the script to Columbia Pictures, with Sean Connery
listed as the Executive Producer. Mike is also pitching a second idea for a movie to Paramount Pictures
Sean Connery is executive producing Finding Forrester, which he'll also star in, for
Columbia Pictures. He'll play a Salinger-esque writer who befriends a young black writer. (Cinezine 21/12/98)
Sean Connery will working on both sides of the camera in a deal for a new film, Finding
Forrester, which sees him producing as well as acting.
The deal, revealed by the Hollywood Reporter, is the latest in a series of films where Connery has begun to take
more active control. Since 1992's Medicine Man, Connery has been executive producer on many of his films. This
year he co-produced Christopher Hampton's Art. (BBC 18/12/98)
Sean Connery has been bonded to Finding Forrester, for which he will star and executive
produce. The film, which is based on a Nicholl Fellowship-winning script by Michael Rich, is about a reclusive
writer who develops a friendship with a young black writer. (TNT RoughCut 18/12/98)
SEAN CONNERY will star and produce FINDING FORRESTER, which tells the story of a writer
who creates a relationship with an under priveliged black writer. (EInsiders 17/12/98)
Connery ‘Finding Forrester’ Sean Connery will be executive producing and starring in
a drama called Finding Forrester for Columbia Pictures, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The film’s story is
about a reclusive writer William Forrester (to be played by Connery) who develops a relationship with an underprivileged
young black writer. Laurence Mark (Jerry Maguire, As Good as It Gets) will produce the film from a script by Michael
Rich. Connery will exec produce along with his partner Rhonda Tollefson through his Sony-based Fountainbridge Films.(Cinescape
16/12/98)
Sean Connery may soon get antisocial. The Hollywood Reporter says the Oscar-winning actor
is attached to star in and exec produce the Columbia Pictures drama Finding Forrester, written by Michael Rich.
The film, which the trade describes as having the same feel as Good Will Hunting and Scent of a Woman, centers
on a reclusive, J.D. Salinger-like author (Connery) who befriends a struggling young black writer. (Mr Showbiz
16/12/98)
Sean Connery has been bonded to Finding Forrester, for which he will star and executive
produce. The film, which is based on a Nicholl Fellowship-winning script by Michael Rich, is about a reclusive
east coast writer who develops a friendship with a young black writer. (TNT Roughcut18/11/98)
Sony Pictures picked up Michael Rich's first spec FINDING FORRESTER for a mid-against-high
six figures. This drama tells the story of a 15 year old black boy who is an excellent writer and begins a protege-mentor
relationship with an acclaimed writer--a union that changes both of their lives. Rich was repped by UTA and also
was the winner of the Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship Award, and in his "real" life is a morning DJ
up in Oregon. The film will be produced by Lawrence Mark. (Makingfilm.com 10/98)
THE DON & GEE NICHOLL FELLOWSHIPS IN SCREENWRITING 1998 Winner Michael
A. Rich FINDING FORRESTER
