Pay It Forward

I was watching Pay It Forward, the movie starring Haley Joel Osment - you know, the kid from the film Sixth Sense with Bruce Willis? Okay, up to speed now – and was amazed to discover my girlfriend hadn't seen the movie before! This is a film definitely on my must watch list, so thought I'd better blog about it quick before someone else got the idea! Having said that, the film was made in 2000 ;)

Film making is all about storytelling and Pay it Forward is a great story with a brilliant premise: a twelve year old boy makes a difference to the world. It sounds like he must have some kind of super powers or, perhaps, divine inspiration, doesn't it? But no, the boy, Trevor McKinney, played by Osment, takes a school assignment seriously. Simple. It is a difficult school assignment mind you. No short cuts to research on this one. The assignment is a challenge to the students to devise a plan to change the world. See what I mean about the premise? Brilliant!

Mimi Leder directs this wonderful story by Catherine Ryan Hyde (screenplay by Leslie Dixon) and I get the distinct feeling Mimi has held a very loose rein on the actors as this film is a genuine collaboration with actors, director and producers each making serious emotional investment. The chemistry between Kevin Spacey, Trevor’s teacher, and Helen Hunt, Trevor’s mother, is a wonderful and inspiring story in its own right, but Haley Joel Osment is simply stunning as Trevor. Like he did in Sixth Sense, he completely seduces the audience, winning hearts, minds, souls and tears by the bucket full – ensure you have a new box of strong tissues handy.

Pay It Forward is a film title that suggests Trevor’s devised plan to change the world. It is a remarkable story, an inspiring film and a real lesson to us all. Changing perspective will change your mind.

Tim Rees

Tim's novel Raw Nerve is available on Kindle Click Here

And the Movies Greats website features Tim's favourite Hollywood film stars. Click Here

The Brave One

Without doubt, the most powerful acting performance I have recently seen is Jodie Foster's portrayal of night owl radio host Erica Bain. Jodie was nominated for a Golden Globe Best Actress for the role, but why she didn't win is a mystery to me as is the fact the film didn't sweep the Oscars, including best actress! Possibly the film is a little too raw? I don't know... Anyway, to the important stuff. If you haven't seen the film already, you are in for one major treat! And I won't spoil the film by telling you how the story ends. It won't spoil your "experience" of this film if I tell you, Jodie Foster's character, Erica suffers a deeply traumatic event and we experience this event in graphic detail. Traumatic events change us. We are challenged. Our world is turned upside down and the trauma is deepened when the act or event that changed us is totally unnecessary cruel, brutality. When another person enters our life with the sole intent to victimize, injure or kill it is a shock. When that person enters our life totally unprovoked and devastates our world the shock is numbing. We see this numbing shock written all too clearly on Jodie's face as she brilliantly portrays Erica's sheer horror, grief and emotionally crippling pain. This is a painful film to watch, but if you stick with it you will experience your heart-wrenching sympathy for Erica turn to pride and to awe... We learn something about ourselves in this film. Jodie Foster's performance is so powerful, so brave, she holds a mirror to the face of humankind and we see how we can all dig deep in times of terrible trauma and discover a strength that will surprise us all. I heartily recommend this film.

Tim Rees
My novel Raw Nerve is available at Amazon - Click here.
At my Movie Greats website you can read about may favourite Hollywood film stars! Click Here.