(Rated PG-13)
No it’s not a drug-free “The Basketball Diaries” and it’s not “Good Will Hunting” in the hood. It’s the recently knighted Sir Sean Connery, under the direction of Gus Van Sant starring in this drama about a reclusive J. D. Salinger type who mentors a black student (newcomer Rob Brown) in a quintessential prep school. Problem is it lacks the sexual appeal of Affleck and Damon but successfully includes Anna Paquin as the Minnie Driver love interest. The name Forrester is taken from the famed author William Forrester of a single published novel some 50 years ago. The novel won a Pulitzer driving the author into hiding, until now. Of course once the young man begins writing at a level far superior than his peers, he is blamed for plagiarism and of course the fact that he can play a good game of basketball, doesn’t help either. The story is predictable, long and meant to be a feel-gooder and it is. Busta Rhymes should be credited for some excellent comic relief, but it’s Joey Buttafuoco, yes, Joey Buttafuoco as the security guard that got my interest up.
