Plot
A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor.
Release Year: 2006
Rating: 7.8/10 (129,341 voted)
Critic's Score: 64/100
Director:
Gabriele Muccino
Stars: Will Smith, Thandie Newton, Jaden Smith
Storyline Based on a true story about a man named Christopher Gardner. Gardner has invested heavily in a device known as a "Bone Density scanner". He feels like he has made these devices. However, they do not sell as they are marginally better than the current technology at a much higher price. As Gardner tries to figure out how to sell them, his wife leaves him, he loses his house, his bank account, and credit cards. Forced to live out in the streets with his son, Gardner is now desperate to find a steady job; he takes on a job as a stockbroker, but before he can receive pay, he needs to go through 6 months of training, and to sell his devices.
Cast: Will Smith
-
Chris Gardner
Jaden Smith
-
Christopher
(as Jaden Christopher Syre Smith)
Thandie Newton
-
Linda
Brian Howe
-
Jay Twistle
James Karen
-
Martin Frohm
Dan Castellaneta
-
Alan Frakesh
Kurt Fuller
-
Walter Ribbon
Takayo Fischer
-
Mrs. Chu
Kevin West
-
World's Greatest Dad
George Cheung
-
Chinese Maintenance Worker
(as George K. Cheung)
David Michael Silverman
-
Doctor at First Hospital
Domenic Bove
-
Tim Ribbon
Geoff Callan
-
Ferrari Owner
Joyful Raven
-
Hippie Girl
Scott Klace
-
Tim Brophy
Opening Weekend: $26,541,709
(USA)
(17 December 2006)
(2852 Screens)
Gross: $304,850,102
(Worldwide)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
Mr. Ribbon ask his secretary to call Mr. Ristuccia. This surname is often used by director Gabriele Muccino in his movies.
Goofs:
Anachronisms:
When Chris is viewing Candlestick Park from the 'box seats', the camera pan shows glassed-in luxury boxes. Those were added in the 1980s.
Quotes: Christopher:
You're a good papa.
User Review
Will Smith is Oscar-worthy, no doubt about it.
Rating: 9/10
Here's the deal: It's real, it's heavy, and it's inspirational, but NOT
AT ALL cheesy. Don't like that? Don't see it. I won't say much else. I
will say that Will Smith was shockingly good now that he's paid his
dues with "Men in Black" and "Bad Boys."
I was very happy that this film never got political and blamed Reagan
for the number of "down on their luck" people that were shown, nor was
the race card ever pulled out. It was also refreshing that Smith's
character never blamed anybody for his troubles.
It's very funny at parts, but be prepared for some serious drama. In no
ways is it cliché or contrived or boring. Let's just say that's it not
Oliver Stone dramatic. This truly is a must see. To say "I laughed, I
cried" would be really lame. It is the truth, though.
We know that Scorsese's crowning achievement "The Departed" is going to
take the cake at the Oscars, and I won't be complaining. But this movie
deserves to be experienced and taken in by the masses.
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