Why review this movie on a blog about a book series in Gifted Fiction. Quite simply: I think this movie contains one of the more accurate portrayal of average giftedness. Whether or not it was intentional by the movie makers, the movie embodies the debate occurring within society about what giftedness is and how it is perceived. Like most things I perceive, you might find what I write about the movie a bit "odd":
Not your typical Disney movie. Very sentimental and very philosophical. A real tear jerker but happy ending. People who expected a slapstick romp or a comedy left 2/3rds of the way through. Timothy is designed to be the kid every parent could love---a kid with a huge heart. Timothy is an accurate portrayal of a gifted child: some big talents yet some big flaws. He creates beautiful art, is able to engage and motivate adults yet he is ignorant of some knowledge people presume all kids know---honest to a fault yet inspirational. A sharp contrast to the social climbing relatives who drill their kids mercilessly, brag about a gifted program at a school like it is a social badge and are basically dead inside. The agenda of the movie comes through pretty clear: to clearly show how the heart, soul, and talent of a truly gifted child comes from within and is not beat into them by pushy parents.
If you want an extremely heartwarming movie this is it. Shallow romp, look elsewhere.
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I saw the movie yesterday and thought it was wonderful, even though the professional critics didn't.
ReplyDeleteYes, it will not be in the movies long. The movie's pacing is closer to a real life, contemplating pace, which seems to be despised in literary and movie circles. If it had been cut to standard pacing it would only been about 1/3rd as long. The subtleties in between the plot steps were often the most beautiful moments though. I sympathize with the movie because my writing often gets slammed for the same reasons.
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