The pursuit of happIness
I saw Pursuit of Happyness last night, a movie which has interested me and bugged me at the same time. Interested as the pursuit (and attainment) of being happy is one greatly aligned with my life. Bugged because that spelling is a bit jarring.
So, witnessing Will Smith’s character, Chris Gardner, taking the time to point out the bad spelling within the first few minutes of the film was definitely a great way to begin it. Witnessing the hardships of Chris as he struggled to make ends meet and find a place for his son to lay his head at night, was not as easy. In some ways, it was shocking to see an individual placed in a position he could not control, and to contemplate that life could deal anyone a similar hand. However in other ways, it was also inspiring to see that struggle resolved in a positive fashion, one that does brand hope in my eyes.
Sure — it is Hollywood — some of these events took place across a period of time etc. But the biggest part of it, the parts that were real — the implacable determination to be there for his son, the indomitable will to succeed and an almost inexorable passion for doing what he wanted and not being held back. Perhaps it is this fiery intensity that at times scared me the most about Will’s portrayal of Chris, to see what an individual would do to see his dream realised.
How many people have that kind of fervor for their goals? I’d say many people at times, have that passion… just often, those times don’t align with times they can act upon them. But how many people have the gifts he had — the fine-tuned mind for numbers and his speedsolving with a Rubix cube garnered attention from the people who had the power to grant him what he wanted. Call me crazy, but I think everyone’s got a talent somewhere. It might not make a movie, but it’s there, whether we call it that or not.
I thought Jaden Christopher Syre Smith (above) was awesome. Adorable, yet, such an amazing performance. He may well challenge Bindi for the “8 year old entertainer’s awards” with his portrayal of Chris’ son.
It was great that the real Chris Gardner had a cameo in the film; a bit reminiscent of the recent Starsky and Hutch remake, when the older and newer duos met.
All in all, a good film it was, with a fresh bite of what reality can be like at times. It’s not really a tear-jerker, but can be a little shocking in some parts. There are inspirational moments, but perhaps the fact that most of these events really happened to someone, is what hits home the most.
If there’s one thing to take away from the film, it should be this:
You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can’t do it. You want something? Go get it. Period.
Go watch it 
chris gardner, film, happiness, philosophy, pursuit of happyness, will smith Find similar posts: philosophy, film
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January 20th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Crazy. I disagree. I have no energy to state my point right now. The movie made it seem like the pursuit of happiness was all about the pursuit of money. They needed to weigh a bit more on the fact the little boy at least - and occasionally Chris, - could be content with love and family alone, rather than truely happy when he got the job that would make him a multi-millionaire. The pessimist in me wanted less subtlelty on that point.
January 21st, 2007 at 10:39 am
I had very high expectations for this film. For one thing I’m a Will fan, I was very excited about the prospect of a serious Will movie, secondly it had been talked up everywhere that I’d looked.
Generally when a movie receives rave reviews of that kind I end up being disappointed due to expecting more than I get… but it wasn’t the case for this one
I found the movie was well made, Will’s son was superb (both for the acting/real relationship displayed on screen and purely in his own right). Definitely not a tear-breaker aye, but touching.
It did actually cross my mind, and bother me a bit that his pursuit of happiness was based so intensely on money.. but in that situation where he had so little of it, I guess it would be the first stepping stone to get back to some regular stream of it. On thinking on it more, it’s fairly understandable IMO - they didn’t have enough money to really live when he started the movie, the reason that he became so interested in the stock brokering was because ‘they all looked so happy’, and it seemed more about wanting to have the money to give his son a decent life and the kind of things he left he deserved, rather than wanting hordes of money in itself - a prime concern when he was reduced to rushing from work every day to a homeless person’s shelter so that they would have somewhere safe to sleep.
January 23rd, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Havent seen the movie yet, but from what I understand of it, its not saying that money is everything, its just that he wants to teach his kid to better himself and do better at providing for the family. They only have each other, and he will do anything to make his kids life better and give his kid a chance to succede, and money is a big part of that…
But, thats my unedumacated guess…
January 24th, 2007 at 9:06 am
no unedumacated guesses allowed
See the movie
January 24th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
see the movie with what money? i mean, come on… not everyone has rich parents that have money to spare (cuz they are spending it on other things such as the big D) or plush jobs while still trying to finish college….. lol
January 28th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
hey adam remember purple monkey dishwasher!!! im so excited we hsould like make up a thing like a hand hsake but i kinda feel bad for lala cuz shes making it and like i feel like im leaving her out….do u think we should make oh my hairy legs! we hsould make a youth top!!!!! i was in a youth and they had jackets and caps and singlets for the girls i still have the cap it was so kewl! ur the teacher so ur the leader u should make up like a logo or a design i tell lala we can all design it together!! yay!! wot do u think.
dont take to long to reply!
xx ttyl xx jo
February 13th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
/me thinks frads needs to update
February 27th, 2007 at 9:03 pm
You are an elusive chap. Get in contact.
March 2nd, 2007 at 11:02 am
Where you at? Whats with the non new bloggage.
August 27th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
Though this movie’s character Chris Gardner is very focused on money we need to realize that our society bases happiness on how much money we accquire. Now you cant possibly think that without money, living on the streets with all of the love in the world would make you just as happy as living WITH money, in a nice place with a roof over your head and the love of your family and the joy of your son growing up with an education.
This movie is exceptional. It should make people realize that even though they have their own troubles that they can be resolved and being grateful is a must.