The story of Chris Gardner, a man with vision, a role model to his son and a classical example of how a homeless man with a child can exert himself from being poor to become one of the most outstanding man who successes, and go above and beyond what people think of him.   In describing Chris Gardner personality traits, I would say it consist of the fact that he very aggressive ambitious and loyal to his son. Referring to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, his physiological thirst was become a stock broker to improve his living condition. In providing   his child with a safety place to bathe, sleep and eat.   Chris knows that he poor therefore, he accepted himself for whom he is.   His self-actualization is that do better for himself and his son is drive to achieve the goal that he established for himself. From reviewing the interview and movie he seems to be a person that doesn’t give up.

He works extremely hard to get to where he needs to be.   An example being raped by other men or being abused by his step father doesn’t stop or causes him to give up.   Chris Gardner is determined to succeed as he quoted “you can beat me down, but I could read and I’m going place”.   With the responsibility of supporting himself and his son he made a pact to himself that he would not abandon his son like his father has done. Thru thick and thin, both will work together to get through the obstacle that arises.Using the big five personality mode, I think that Chris is a very extraversion individual in that in order for him to work as a sale men or become a stock broker he need to show that his a very gregarious and sociable person.   He need to have the willingness o be open minded.   One of the trait of become a sale person is that to make sales, he need to be outgoing, talkative and confidence   of his ability to make the sales.   Chris is a very conscientiousness person because he shows that...

Based on the real life story of Chris Gardner, the Pursuit of Happyness looks at the crests and troughs in Chris' life on his way to becoming a stock broker, and eventually as everyone knows, a multi-millionaire. Will Smith played the role of Chris Gardner while Smith's son, Jaden Smith played Gardner's 7 or 8-year-old son. At one level, even though the movie is titled The Pursuit of Happyness (deliberately spelt wrong), it is pretty depressing. Yes, the movie is supposed to focus on the struggles of the main protagonist as he chases what seems like a chimerical dream. However, every time you think that things are going to get better, they only get even worse for Chris. As Chris and his son move from one slump to another, you begin to wonder is there truly light at the end of the tunnel for this man?

The movie starts off with Chris desperately trying to sell, with not too much luck, a bone density monitoring system. Every hospital he approaches does not seem to find a need for

such a system. But at different stages in the movie, I did find it strange that, when things start going really wrong, and when you know he needs to dig deep to find a way out, Chris does manage to sell that very system to different doctors, even as he is trying to do his best at an unpaid internship at Dean Whitter brokerage firm, and also struggling to find a place to stay at night for himself and his son. So, initially, couldn't he sell it because he didn't try hard enough or because he knew that even if he didn't sell it there was a way out with his wife doing two shifts at work?

It seems even weirder because the movie seems to focus on the strength of trying despite failures, on Chris' unwavering perseverance and determination. Two scenes in the movie actually reflect this very well: first, when Chris gets a chance to impress his future employer, in 10 to 20 minutes on a cab ride. As the cab races to the destination, Chris struggles with the Rubik's cube, turning it round and...

The Pursuit of Happyness, Member Bookworm91

The Pursuit of Happyness is about Christopher Gardner, a man who went through many trials and tribulations to be successful. He was born to a mother who spent time in jail and experienced abuse. He did not know who his father was; his mother’s abusive boyfriend threw that in his face every chance he got. Chris joined the Navy as an adult and began medical training. He got married and had a son. His wife left him due to financial issues. The experience of having no father allowed Chris to be a good father to his son at all circumstances. After seeing a red Ferrari, he wanted to be a stockbroker. He worked towards that, homeless and all. That shows determination and motivation; to work towards a goal when it seems almost impossible. After being hired by Bearstone’s stock company, Chris gradually succeeded as a stockbroker. He later went on to open his own brokerage firm. I think the message to readers is to not give up when things get difficult and that success is worth working hard for. I think the book is a good book for teenagers who want to know where they want to go in life. People who hadn’t really been through anything should read this book and realize how fortunate they are. I think this book teaches readers that they are one choice away from being in Chris’s former predicament. I like this book because it shows the steps Chris took to become successful. The book didn’t just go straight to the success story. I recommend this book to high schools, colleges, and correctional institutions and jails should offer this book as an option because it gives off a good message.

Review by Matthew Rodgers

Will Smith is a bonafide box office phenomenon, Fact. So much so that for a period of time the coveted 4th of July weekend was given the moniker “Big Willie Weekend” in the US. The former Fresh Prince hasn't just been elevated to the top of the earnings list by busting intergalactic bugs, being a bad boy, and “getting jiggy wit it”. Will Smith can act, fact. Performances in Six Degrees of Separation, the much maligned The Legend of Bagger Vance, and an Oscar-nominated turn in Michael Mann's Ali have proven this. You can now add The Pursuit of Happyness to the list.

Telling the “true” story of Chris Gardner (Smith) and his excruciating battle to be a committed father despite the insurmountable obstacles that life is throwing his way; His wife Linda, a suitably bitchy Thandie Newton (Crash) has abandoned him as she is constantly disappointed by his failure to live up to the dreams they once shared, coupled with this he has been evicted from his apartment and forced to sleep in shelters, bus stations, and all with his young son Christopher (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) in tow. How does a father find the strength to chase the American dream and keep his fractured family afloat?

It sounds like “movie of the week” scripting and in the wrong hands it could have fallen straight into a large vat of sickly sweet Hollywood self indulgence, but with the Spanish director of The Last Kiss (which was recently given the remake treatment starring Zach Braff), Muccino on hand it avoids veering into that territory too often. Muccino's direction is extremely subtle. The film is given an 80s context to exaggerate the aforementioned American dream which would have been lost had the film been set in a disillusioned modern society and this is done subtly using the odd film poster scattered on bus stops or an 80s song on the radio.

Muccino's main strength though is to keep the camera still and let it focus on the combined talents of his major players. Newton is immensely dislikeable and extremely convincing in her brief role, all restrained anger and pent up hostility towards a man that despite his shortcomings is doing everything he possibly can for the family he loves. That man is Will Smith in perhaps his most restrained role to date as the deteriorating father. There isn't the physical presence of his impeccable Ali role here, or the cocksure nature of all his quip firing roles in the summer blockbusters. He is even given an unnecessary grey tint in his hair so that we take him more serious.

However, the filmmakers needn’t have done that because it is a performance that elevates the film above its humble ambitions. It is almost impossible not to feel the bottom lip tremble as Chris has to take shelter in a public toilet with his five-year old son because he has nowhere else to go, foot against the door to prevent anybody coming in, it is one of the most uncomfortably effective scenes in a long time – no words, just a powerhouse performance from a fantastic actor.

The relationship between father and son must also be believable because that is who Chris is doing this for, and it is, so it's no surprise to find that Smith's real life son is playing his onscreen counterpart. He is never as annoying as your standard Hollywood rent-a-sprog and the chemistry shared by the two is extremely effective.

The Pursuit of Happyness (spelt that way for the purpose of the story) isn’t going to win awards for scriptwriting or originality but it is a superbly predictable, emotional wallop of a movie that is worth seeing for Will Smith's performance alone.

 

  The story of Chris Gardner, a man with vision, a role model to his son and a classical example of how a homeless man with a child can exert himself from being poor to become one of the most outstanding man who successes, and go above and beyond what people think of him.   In describing Chris Gardner personality traits, I would say it consist of the fact that he very aggressive ambitious and loyal to his son. Referring to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, his physiological thirst was become a stock broker to improve his living condition. In providing   his child with a safety place to bathe, sleep and eat.   Chris knows that he poor therefore, he accepted himself for whom he is.   His self-actualization is that do better for himself and his son is drive to achieve the goal that he established for himself. From reviewing the interview and movie he seems to be a person that doesn’t give up.

He works extremely hard to get to where he needs to be.   An example being raped by other men or being abused by his step father doesn’t stop or causes him to give up.   Chris Gardner is determined to succeed as he quoted “you can beat me down, but I could read and I’m going place”.   With the responsibility of supporting himself and his son he made a pact to himself that he would not abandon his son like his father has done. Thru thick and thin, both will work together to get through the obstacle that arises.Using the big five personality mode, I think that Chris is a very extraversion individual in that in order for him to work as a sale men or become a stock broker he need to show that his a very gregarious and sociable person.   He need to have the willingness o be open minded.   One of the trait of become a sale person is that to make sales, he need to be outgoing, talkative and confidence   of his ability to make the sales.   Chris is a very conscientiousness person because he shows that...

Based on the real life story of Chris Gardner, the Pursuit of Happyness looks at the crests and troughs in Chris' life on his way to becoming a stock broker, and eventually as everyone knows, a multi-millionaire. Will Smith played the role of Chris Gardner while Smith's son, Jaden Smith played Gardner's 7 or 8-year-old son. At one level, even though the movie is titled The Pursuit of Happyness (deliberately spelt wrong), it is pretty depressing. Yes, the movie is supposed to focus on the struggles of the main protagonist as he chases what seems like a chimerical dream. However, every time you think that things are going to get 

better, they only get even worse for Chris. As Chris and his son move from one slump to another, you begin to wonder is there truly light at the end of the tunnel for this man?

The movie starts off with Chris desperately trying to sell, with not too much luck, a bone density monitoring system. Every hospital he approaches does not seem to find a need for

such a system. But at different stages in the movie, I did find it strange that, when things start going really wrong, and when you know he needs to dig deep to find a way out, Chris does manage to sell that very system to different doctors, even as he is trying to do his best at an unpaid internship at Dean Whitter brokerage firm, and also struggling to find a place to stay at night for himself and his son. So, initially, couldn't he sell it because he didn't try hard enough or because he knew that even if he didn't sell it there was a way out with his wife doing two shifts at work?

It seems even weirder because the movie seems to focus on the strength of trying despite failures, on Chris' unwavering perseverance and determination. Two scenes in the movie actually reflect this very well: first, when Chris gets a chance to impress his future employer, in 10 to 20 minutes on a cab ride. As the cab races to the destination, Chris struggles with the Rubik's cube, turning it round and...

The Pursuit of Happyness, Member Bookworm91

The Pursuit of Happyness is about Christopher Gardner, a man who went through many trials and tribulations to be successful. He was born to a mother who spent time in jail and experienced abuse. He did not know who his father was; his mother’s abusive boyfriend threw that in his face every chance he got. Chris joined the Navy as an adult and began medical training. He got married and had a son. His wife left him due to financial issues. The experience of having no father allowed Chris to be a good father to his son at all circumstances. After seeing a red Ferrari, he wanted to be a stockbroker. He worked towards that, homeless and all. That shows determination and motivation; to work towards a goal when it seems almost impossible. After being hired by Bearstone’s stock company, Chris gradually succeeded as a stockbroker. He later went on to open his own brokerage firm. I think the message to readers is to not give up when things get difficult and that success is worth working hard for. I think the book is a good book for teenagers who want to know where they want to go in life. People who hadn’t really been through anything should read this book and realize how fortunate they are. I think this book teaches readers that they are one choice away from being in Chris’s former predicament. I like

this book because it shows the steps Chris took to become successful. The book didn’t just go straight to the success story. I recommend this book to high schools, colleges, and correctional institutions and jails should offer this book as an option because it gives off a good message.

Review by Matthew Rodgers

Will Smith is a bonafide box office phenomenon, Fact. So much so that for a period of time the coveted 4th of July weekend was given the moniker “Big Willie Weekend” in the US. The former Fresh Prince hasn't just been elevated to the top of the earnings list by busting intergalactic bugs, being a bad boy, and “getting jiggy wit it”. Will Smith can act, fact. Performances in Six Degrees of Separation, the much maligned The Legend of Bagger Vance, and an Oscar-nominated turn in Michael Mann's Ali have proven this. You can now add The Pursuit of Happyness to the list.

Telling the “true” story of Chris Gardner (Smith) and his excruciating battle to be a committed father despite the insurmountable obstacles that life is throwing his way; His wife Linda, a suitably bitchy Thandie Newton (Crash) has abandoned him as she is constantly disappointed by his failure to live up to the dreams they once shared, coupled with this he has been evicted from his apartment and forced to sleep in shelters, bus stations, and all with his young son Christopher (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) in tow. How does a father find the strength to chase the American dream and keep his fractured family afloat?

It sounds like “movie of the week” scripting and in the wrong hands it could have fallen straight into a large vat of sickly sweet Hollywood self indulgence, but with the Spanish director of The Last Kiss (which was recently given the remake treatment starring Zach Braff), Muccino on hand it avoids veering into that territory too often. Muccino's direction is extremely subtle. The film is given an 80s context to exaggerate the aforementioned American dream which would have been lost had the film been set in a disillusioned modern society and this is done subtly using the odd film poster scattered on bus stops or an 80s song on the radio.

Muccino's main strength though is to keep the camera still and let it focus on the combined talents of his major players. Newton is immensely dislikeable and extremely convincing in her brief role, all restrained anger and pent up hostility towards a man that despite his shortcomings is doing everything he possibly can for the family he loves. That man is Will Smith in perhaps his most restrained role to date as the deteriorating father. There isn't the physical presence of his

impeccable Ali role here, or the cocksure nature of all his quip firing roles in the summer blockbusters. He is even given an unnecessary grey tint in his hair so that we take him more serious.

However, the filmmakers needn’t have done that because it is a performance that elevates the film above its humble ambitions. It is almost impossible not to feel the bottom lip tremble as Chris has to take shelter in a public toilet with his five-year old son because he has nowhere else to go, foot against the door to prevent anybody coming in, it is one of the most uncomfortably effective scenes in a long time – no words, just a powerhouse performance from a fantastic actor.

The relationship between father and son must also be believable because that is who Chris is doing this for, and it is, so it's no surprise to find that Smith's real life son is playing his onscreen counterpart. He is never as annoying as your standard Hollywood rent-a-sprog and the chemistry shared by the two is extremely effective.

The Pursuit of Happyness (spelt that way for the purpose of the story) isn’t going to win awards for scriptwriting or originality but it is a superbly predictable, emotional wallop of a movie that is worth seeing for Will Smith's performance alone.