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Movie Review | 'The Pursuit of Happyness'

Climbing Out of the Gutter With a 5-Year-Old in Tow

By Manohla Dargis

Dec. 15, 2006

A fairy tale in realist drag, “The Pursuit of Happyness” is the kind of entertainment that goes down smoothly until it gets stuck in your craw. Inspired by a true story, as they like to say in Hollywood, the film traces the fleeting ups and frightening downs of Chris Gardner, whose efforts to keep his family from sinking into poverty evolve into a life-and-death struggle of social Darwinian proportions. It’s the early 1980s, and while Ronald Reagan is delivering the bad economic news on television, Chris is about to prove you don’t need an army to fight the war on poverty, just big smiles and smarts, and really sturdy shoes. (It also helps that the star playing him is as innately sympathetic as Will Smith.)

Given how often Chris breaks into a run on the streets of San Francisco, it’s a good thing his shoes are well built; his lungs, too. Written by Steven Conrad and directed by Gabriele Muccino, “The Pursuit of Happyness” recounts how Chris, plagued by some bad luck, a few stupid moves and a shrew for a wife, Linda (Thandie Newton), loses his apartment and, with his 5-year-old, Christopher (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, Mr. Smith’s own beautiful son), joins the ranks of the homeless, if not the hopeless. Evicted from the mainstream and bounced from shelter to shelter, Chris holds firm to his dignity, resolve, faith, love and independence. His optimism sweeps through the film like a searchlight, scattering clouds and dark thoughts to the wind.

It’s the same old bootstraps story, an American dream artfully told, skillfully sold. To that calculated end, the filmmaking is seamless, unadorned, transparent, the better to serve Mr. Smith’s warm expressiveness. That warmth feels truthful, as does the walk-up apartment Chris’s family lives in at the start of the film, which looks like the real paycheck-to-paycheck deal. As does the day care center, which is so crummy it can’t even get happiness right (hence the title).

This is no small thing, considering the film industry’s usual skewed sense of economic class, a perspective encapsulated by the insider who described the middle-class family in “Little Miss Sunshine” to me as working class, perhaps because the mother drives a gently distressed Miata rather than next year’s Mercedes.

Money matters in “The Pursuit of Happyness,” as it does in life. But it matters more openly in this film than it does in most Hollywood stories that set their sights on the poor, largely because Chris’s pursuit of happiness eventually becomes interchangeable with his pursuit of money. He doesn’t want just a better, more secure life for himself and his child; either by scripted design or by the example of the real Chris Gardner, he seems to yearn for a life of luxury, stadium box seats and the kind of sports car he stops to admire in one scene. His desires aren’t just upwardly mobile; they’re materialistically unbound. Instead of a nice starter home, he (and the filmmakers) ogles mansions. It’s no wonder he hopes to become a stockbroker.

That may sound like a punch line, at least to some ears, but it’s the holy grail in “The Pursuit of Happyness.” A self-starter, Chris has sunk all of the family’s money into costly medical scanners that he tries to sell to doctors and hospitals. But the machines are overpriced, and the sure thing he banked on has landed them in debt. Forced to work two shifts at a dead-end job, Linda angrily smolders and then rages at Chris, which seems reasonable since he has gambled all of their savings on an exceptionally foolish enterprise. (And, unlike her, he hasn’t signed up for overtime.) But this is a film about father love, not mother love, and Linda soon leaves the picture in a cloud of cigarette smoke and a storm of tears.

Chris and the filmmakers seem happy to see her go, but life only gets tougher once she and her paychecks disappear. Much of the film involves Chris’s subsequent efforts to keep himself and his child housed and fed while he is enrolled in an unpaid internship program at a powerful stock brokerage firm. Bright and ferociously determined, Chris easily slides into this fantastical world of shouting men, ringing phones, gleaming surfaces and benevolent bosses. He goes along to get along, and when one of his bosses asks for money to pay for a cab, he quickly opens his wallet. Chris himself stiffs another working man for some money because that wallet is so light. But this is a film about him, not the other guy.

How you respond to this man’s moving story may depend on whether you find Mr. Smith’s and his son’s performances so overwhelmingly winning that you buy the idea that poverty is a function of bad luck and bad choices, and success the result of heroic toil and dreams. Both performances are certainly likable in the extreme, though Mr. Smith shined brighter and was given much more to do when he played the title character in Michael Mann’s underrated “Ali.” That film proves an interesting comparison with this one, not in filmmaking terms, but in its vision of what it means to be a black man struggling in America. In one, a black man fights his way to the top with his fists; in the other, he gets there with a smile.

“The Pursuit of Happyness” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). It includes mild adult language and some parental fighting.

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS

Opens today nationwide.

Directed by Gabriele Muccino; written by Steven Conrad; director of photography, Phedon Papamichael; edited by Hughes Winborne; music by Andrea Guerra; production designer, J. Michael Riva; produced by Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch James Lassiter and Will Smith; released by Columbia Pictures. Running time: 117 minutes.

WITH: Will Smith (Chris Gardner), Thandie Newton (Linda) and Jaden Christopher Syre Smith (Christopher).

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The pursuit of happyness, common sense media reviewers.

Inspirational but often emotionally wrenching story.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Strong messages about the importance of persistenc

Noble father dotes on son and is dedicated to taki

Parents' loud argument worries their son; Chris is

Mother appears briefly in her bra and panties whil

"F--k" written as graffiti on wall, noted and spok

Most products are used to mark the year (1981): A

Mom smokes cigarettes several times.

Positive Messages

Strong messages about the importance of persistence, hard work, believing in yourself, and being there for each other. The heart of the movie is the strong father-son bond between the two main characters.

Positive Role Models

Noble father dotes on son and is dedicated to taking care of him through thick and thin. He takes his son along on job-related excursions and lies in front of him (the kid looks appropriately skeptical when he hears it). Chris also briefly discourages and yells at his son, after which he is immediately apologetic. Perpetually irritated mom abandons her son early in the movie.

Violence & Scariness

Parents' loud argument worries their son; Chris is hit by a car, leaving his face bruised and clothes bedraggled; father yells at son for crying, frightening him into obedience; Chris starts to fight a man in line at a shelter, frightening his son, who cries.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Mother appears briefly in her bra and panties while changing into her work uniform.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

"F--k" written as graffiti on wall, noted and spoken by father and son; several uses of "damn," "hell," "s--t," "ass," and "a--hole." "You suck" written on wall.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Most products are used to mark the year (1981): A Rubik's cube figures prominently in the plot; Members Only jacket; Raging Bull movie poster; Magic Johnson poster, Captain America action figure. Chris goes to work for the Dean Witter brokerage.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Will Smith will draw kids to this movie. But it's not an action flick or slapstick comedy -- it's an inspirational and often emotionally wrenching story. It includes some very sad scenes between family members, as well as a couple of emotionally scary ones. The mother becomes so frustrated with her husband's inability to make a living that she leaves him and their son. Later, the father yells at his son for a trivial reason and gets in a fight, scaring the boy and making him cry. If your child is in a clingy period with you, this might upset him or her. There's a very brief allusion to the mixed effects of classism and racism on the son. The father's frustration sometimes leads to tears and sometimes to angry language (mostly damn and "s--t"). A graffitied "f--k" leads to a brief discussion of the word, and the son says it out loud. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

Parents say (16)
Kids say (49)

Based on 16 parent reviews

that kid'll getcha

Real life issues - refreshing break from anthromorphism and fantasy, what's the story.

Based on a true story and set in 1981 San Francisco, Pursuit begins as Chris Gardner ( Will Smith ) and his wife, Linda ( Thandiwe Newton ), are having troubles. She works double shifts doing hotel laundry; he's trying to sell bone density scanners (i.e., specialty medical machines that, as Chris admits in voiceover, are too expensive for most doctors to buy). When Linda abandons the family, Chris remains determined. He spends six months working in an unpaid internship at Dean Witter, dead set on becoming a stock broker. He's smart enough and good with numbers, he figures, having proved that much by solving a Rubik's cube in front of a Dean Witter broker. As he studies and scrapes by, barely earning enough each week to pay for meals, Chris is sure he's going to make it.

Is It Any Good?

Jaden Smith is adorable; he delivers an endearing performance as Gardner's son, Christopher, in what turns out to be a simple, sentimental, but ultimately inspiring movie. The film deals with the American Dream from a particular perspective, focusing, as the title implies, on the constitutional right to "pursue" happiness, rather than the right to be happy. In this manner, the movie is able to avoid focusing much on institutional racism and how that factors into achieving the Dream. Instead, the relationship between father and son, through all the ups and downs of family strife and economic instability, take center stage, with lovely results.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the appeal of stories like Chris'. Why do people like rags-to-riches tales? Why are they considered good material for movies? How close do you think the movie version is to the true story?

Families can also talk about the risks that Chris takes to provide a "better life" for his son. How does the movie show that little Christopher is both scared of having no place to sleep, but also utterly trusting of his dad? Is it OK that Chris tells a white lie in front of his son to get a job?

How does the film portray the decision by Christopher's mother to leave him? From whose point of view do you see this choice?

Movie Details

In theaters : December 14, 2006
On DVD or streaming : March 27, 2007
Cast : Jaden Smith , Thandiwe Newton , Will Smith
Director : Gabriele Muccino
Inclusion Information : Female actors, Black actors
Studio : Columbia Tristar
Genre : Drama
Run time : 117 minutes
MPAA rating : PG-13
MPAA explanation : some language.
Award : Common Sense Media Award
Last updated : January 21, 2024

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The Pursuit of Happyness Reviews

It is Will Smith's lead performance in this that really stole the show and won me over. It really elevated this movie.

Full Review | Original Score: 7.5/10 | Sep 4, 2021

The Pursuit of Happyness reveals the soul-wasting nature of poverty and the lack of prospects for those condemned to economic oblivion.

Full Review | Sep 2, 2020

Will Smith can carry a film. And carry it he does, because without him, Happyness would founder in its own schmaltz.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jun 6, 2019

Director Gabriele Muccino has so overloaded the story with glib anecdotes that it's often depressing and, worse, monotonous. Everything that is admirable, and there is much, is down to Smith's verve.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 3, 2018

Save some of those Kleenex for The Pursuit of Happyness.

Full Review | Jan 5, 2018

The Pursuit of Happyness is a very Hollywood film, which could be good or bad depending on your point of view. It tries very hard to be profound and inspirational, but ultimately it's not up to the task.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Apr 25, 2011

Counterfeit emotion and submerged racism

Full Review | Aug 28, 2009

Sap, sentiment, and hokey plot devices bog down an otherwise down to earth story.

Full Review | Apr 29, 2009

Smith turns in a career-capping performance, and director Gabriele Muccino ingeniously turns the material inward, cautioning us all to be grateful for what we have, for we're closer to the edge than we think.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 23, 2009

Will Smith is getting all the awards buzz, but it's his real-life son, Jaden, who transcends all expectations in Happyness.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Nov 20, 2008

Full Review | Original Score: C | Oct 18, 2008

Even the glossiest of surfaces can't extinguish the genuine emotions running beneath them here.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Apr 6, 2008

Few films so convincingly portray the titanic struggle that some people face day in and day out just to survive.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Feb 28, 2008

This is Will Smith's movie from start to finish and he carries it wonderfully.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 14, 2007

[A] calculatedly emotional, sterilizingly cleancut drama.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 23, 2007

Hokey title, but sometimes movie is good.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | May 10, 2007

In an effort to make a crowd-pleasing film, the horrors that Gardner must have experienced on the streets feel glossed over by the Hollywood machine.

Full Review | Mar 24, 2007

The American Dream as white, rich and all male.

Full Review | Mar 21, 2007

Will Smith gives the performance of his career in a movie for which phrases like "heart-warming" and "life-affirming" were made.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 19, 2007

Sem jamais tratar o papel como uma simples oportunidade de mostrar seu alcance dramático, Will Smith comove justamente por demonstrar o esforço de seu personagem para se conter em momentos de grande emoção.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 3, 2007

The Pursuit Of Happyness Review

12 Jan 2007

117 minutes

Pursuit Of Happyness, The

Everybody reacts to disappointment in different ways. Some go out and get shit-faced. Others buy a pram, fill it with toys and start throwing. Will Smith, however, makes a series of empty, visually appealing action movies.

We should explain: the disappointment in this case is losing out on Oscar back in 2002. He’d been hotly tipped to scoop the little gold geezer for his turn in Ali, but then along came Denzel Washington’s Training Day and that was that. This glaring oversight on the Academy’s part seemed to crush his spirit — hence the autopilot likes of Bad Boys II; I, Robot; Hitch and Shark Tale. All charming in their own way, but as tests of his capabilities as an actor, a Fresh Prince movie might have been more of a stretch.

Now, though, he’s back on the ‘serious-actor’ horse in The Pursuit Of Happyness, a film that does allow him to grow. In fact, Smith’s Pursuit Of Oscar is a muted affair. There are no grandstanding moments of high emotion, no obvious award-show clips. Smith’s Chris Gardner gets angry, yes. He cries, yes. But the emphasis here is on restraint and interesting choices — in the movie’s climactic moments, when most other actors would holler and bawl for all they’re worth, Smith opts for an understated and virtually wordless reaction, tears tickling his eyes. It works beautifully.

Although the movie Gardner is a man almost entirely without flaws (Thandie Newton, in contrast, labours with a thin ‘bitch-wife’ role), it’s a dream of a part and a heck of a tale — and, albeit with the usual Hollywood liberties, it’s all true. Gardner and his son did sleep in a locked railway station toilet. They did line up at homeless shelters with down-and-outs, scrabbling for a bed for the night — and all while Gardner was working at his internship, with no income and little chance of a job at the end of it.

And all, it seems, because of a line in the Declaration Of Independence that grants every American the inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness (don’t worry, pedants, the misspelling of the title is explained early on). Today, Gardner is a multi-millionaire with a best-selling book, but, as the title indicates, this is about the pursuit, and there’s real drama as Gardner pushes himself to breaking point, trying never to let his son (played with no little charm by Smith’s own kid, Jaden) realise the dire extent of their situation.

It’s clear from the off that we’re in rags-to-riches, wish fulfilment territory here, but this doesn’t quite stir like a Capra, or even a modern-day equivalent like Jerry Maguire or Shawshank. That’s partly because director Gabriele Muccino — the Italian helmer of L’Ultimo Bacio (the original version of The Last Kiss) — lends the film a muted autumnal palette which, sadly, dampens emotional engagement, while too much emphasis is placed on an unnecessary voiceover.

Yet, despite its flaws, the movie still warms the heart thanks to Smith, whose natural, irrepressible likeability carries the movie through its more formulaic moments. And if he should wind up on the podium at the Kodak Theatre next year, well… how’s that for an American Dream?

Movies | 09 01 2007

International edition
Australia edition
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The Pursuit of Happyness

W ill Smith's new film is an old-fashioned Hollywood heartwarmer: a Horatio Alger-type tale based on the true story of US multi-millionaire Chris Gardner, who experienced hardship and homelessness before he found success. For all the film's occasional cheesiness, it's entertaining, good-natured and decently acted - and interesting in that it talks about the unglamorous subject of poverty.

This was a man who managed to grow very rich, that most politically incorrect of things, by founding his own stockbroking firm. For some, the fact that this is about poverty overcome and defeated will render the movie inauthentic or even mendacious. I wonder. Will Smith plays Gardner, a blue-collar guy who cares about standards: he complains about the misspelling of "happiness" on the mural near his son's playschool. His wife (Thandie Newton) leaves him and he and his boy are in desperate straits. Then Gardner, with his smart head for figures, manages to get an unpaid internship at a top brokerage firm: fate has given him a kind of bridging loan between a grindingly poor present and a possible comfortable future. But as he studies, Gardner is thrown out of his apartment for non-payment of rent, and he and his boy have to spend the night at homeless hostels, and even in a subway men's room. Frantically, Gardner keeps up appearances in front of the wealthy Ivy Leaguers who study alongside him.

This is an aspirational movie. But, unlike Billy Elliot, Gardner wants not to dance but make some serious bucks. That may cause a little squeamishness and nose-wrinkling in some quarters. The genial and likable Will Smith might be a very idealised version of what the fiercely driven Gardner was actually like - and the exact circumstances of his marital breakup are probably not rendered with absolute realism. But what is interesting is the taboo subject of how close the middle classes can get to poverty. Even in an admirable film like Nick Broomfield's Ghosts, the immigrant Chinese are the poor ones and the indigenous Brits are the wealthy ones, and ne'er the twain shall meet. In this film, they meet in the person of the hero himself. Maybe it would have been more statistically truthful to show someone trying and failing. The opposite, however, is not necessarily dishonest. It's certainly entertaining.

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Black History In Film: ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ Review – “It All Feels Real”

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Throughout the month of February, Full Circle Cinema celebrates Black History Month by revisiting films made for and told by prominent Black men and women. We will reflect on an extraordinary history filled with moments both triumphant and tragic in the still ongoing fight for equality and justice for all. Through the sharing of stories, we pay tribute to the storytellers. Check out our first and second installments of Black History In Film here and here .

“Don’t ever let somebody tell you that you can’t do something… not even me. Alright?”

From Vittorio De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves to Sam Mendes’ Road to Perdition , movies have a long history of depicting the complicated dynamic of father and son. However, few of these films center on the relationship between a Black father and his Black child. Ugly stereotypes often depict Black fathers as lesser than their white counterparts. However, in reality, anyone with a Black father will undoubtedly recount nothing but admiration for the man who raised them. In fact, it’s especially hard not to admire someone for having hope when they are in a dire situation. Raising a child without the immediate means to do so is definitely one of those such occurrences. A perfect example of this rarely explored notion is also one of the most heartwrenching films this writer has ever seen, The Pursuit of Happyness.

To start things off, The Pursuit of Happyness is based on Chris Gardner’s 2006 best-selling memoir of the same name. Gardner is a highly successful American businessman and motivational speaker. However, Gardner’s story is drenched in tragedy. From a very young age, Gardner was deprived of a positive father figure. With his dad absent, his stepfather was abusive to Gardner, his mother, and many siblings. Unfortunately, his mother was convicted of trying to kill his stepfather by burning down the house while he was inside.

READ: ‘Minari’ Review: “Finding What Really Matters”

This led to Gardner growing up in the foster care system while seeking relationships with his uncles. Following a short stint in the Navy, Gardner began his career as a research assistant at the University of California Medical Center. However, following a bevy of poor decisions, a stay in jail, and a few failed relationships, Gardner is left homeless and the sole caretaker for his young son, Christopher Jr.

The Pursuit of Happyness benefits hugely from the chemistry between a real-life father and son. Casting Will Smith as Chris Gardner and a young Jaden Smith in the role of Christopher Jr. is a stroke of genius. This raises the stakes for the viewer. The story kicks off with Smith’s Gardner taking a pretty big risk. Investing his life savings in portable bone-density scanners, he seeks to demonstrate the tool to doctors. To his credit, he sells most of them. However, his inability to turn a profit takes a toll on his relationship with his wife (Thandie Newton). While they continuously exhibit behavior seen in doomed marriages, they both continue to shower their son with the love and attention he deserves.

Gardner’s luck seemingly takes a twist of fate after he meets Jay Twistle, a manager for Dean Witter Reynolds, an American stock brokerage and securities firm. This chance meeting offers Gardner the chance to impress Twistle with his impressive display of completing a Rubik’s Cube during a taxi ride. However, while impressed, Twistle exits the cab, leaving Gardner with the fare. Not having enough to cover the fee, Gardner flees the taxi driver, losing one of his scanners in the process. The sequence of events poignantly depicts the fleeting moments of hope. Right after taking the chance to show off his intelligence, he is forced to face his financial situation. As he dives deeper into poverty, the glimmer of hope continues to gleam in the eyes of this man simply seeking a chance to prove himself.

READ: ‘Music’ Review: “A Tone-Deaf Drama Without Borders”

Another fine example of hope vanishing is when Gardner strikes a deal to paint his apartment to avoid eviction. This comes the day before an interview he obtains to become an intern at Jay Twistle’s firm. However, two policemen greet him at his doorstep and haul him to jail for unpaid parking tickets. Nevertheless, Gardner does not allow the world’s incessant ability to hold him down to change his mind. He is going to succeed. He has to for his son.

Fortunately, after spending a night in jail, he impresses the interviewers and lands an unpaid internship. He would be amongst 20 interns competing for a paid position as a stockbroker. More hope. However, unimpressed by the unpaid status of his new gig, Gardner’s wife leaves for New York. A bitter scene sees Gardner exert his frustration and claims his wife is unfit to be a single mother. After an eviction, Garnder finds himself as a single father with $22 to his name. Hope begins to diminish while never truly extinguishing.

It is difficult to take the rags-to-riches story of Chris Gardner, a story audiences know has a happy ending, and imbue it with suspense. However, seeing the real emotion Will Smith manages to capture from taking his son to homeless shelters or sleeping in the bathroom of a subway station with one foot firmly on the door, is heartwrenching. The pain Gardner feels is felt through the screen thanks to a performance Smith will never get enough credit for. Furthermore, the pure elation the Oscar nominee expresses when the happy ending is reached is one that will be regarded as one of his best career performances.

READ: Sundance 2021: ‘Try Harder!’ Movie Review

The film manages to steer away from feeling inauthentic in its execution. Gardner is struggling to make a go of it by any means possible. The film never feels corny nor does the narrative of angst and disappointment ever overstay its welcome. Instead, The Pursuit of Happyness tells the story of an extraordinary man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. More importantly, the story is about a father’s desire to give his son what he never had. The motivation for Gardner’s success appears to be his hope to live up to his unending potential. However, when viewing the story as a Black father fighting his way through countless obstacles, the true motivation is to get a child out of a situation in which they have no control over. It all feels real. – Christian Hubbard

In honor of the unconscionable murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless other Black lives, please take a moment to visit the Black Lives Matter homepage and see how you can help. Spread awareness!

Did you enjoy this article? If so, consider visiting our YouTube channel, where we discuss the latest and greatest in pop culture news.

Christian Hubbard

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Movie Review: The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

General Disdain
Movie Reviews
4 responses
--> December 24, 2006

Come Christmas time, or should I say Holiday time (for all the politically correct douchebags out there), Hollywood without question drops the old rags-to-riches, feel good movies into our laps. So it is no surprise that The Pursuit of Happyness shows up just in time for the gift exchange.

Even though most folks who know me (and many who don’t) call me a cynical asshole, and in a general sense I agree with them, I am still a sucker for these cream-puff movies. Perhaps it is my own misgivings or inner demons that cause me to be transfixed by these melodramatic offerings. Or perhaps it is because I can always expect to see a roomful of girls with tears in their eyes — easing pickings for a predator. I prefer the latter explanation.

Now on to the movie — Will Smith plays Chris Gardner a man down on his luck (fucked up job, fucked up wife, etc.), who decides he needs to make a life altering change to raise himself and his child above the chaos and poverty that is their current existence. To do this he decides to become a stock broker at one of the largest firms in the country — without knowing a damn thing about stocks or bonds. Quite a feat, and one that proves the axiom “you can do anything if you put your mind to it”. Why? Because, The Pursuit of Happyness is a true story.

But beyond the typical take a look in the mirror and decide if you like what you see plot, the movie offers insights into the homeless and society as whole. The underlying racism is used as a backdrop, but given enough light for the viewers to take notice of it. This movie also shows how truly fucked up things are, when a man and his 5 year-old child have to sleep in a subway bathroom or on a bus. All the while people around them pay little to no attention to them and continue on with their own petty lives. Other movies have had similar themes, but it really strikes home when a small child is involved. Never, ever should a child be homeless.

And even though, I’m not the biggest fan of Will Smith, I must say, he carried the role well. The cockiness that he normally oozes out of his skin is nowhere to be found and I found myself actually feeling sorry for his character’s situation and applauding him for trying like hell to make something better. If only every man in the world had this mans’ convictions. A more pleasant surprise is the acting of Jaden Smith. Jaden portrays the son, and from what I can tell this is his first real acting experience. The sky is the limit with this kid, as he does an excellent job of capturing the hope and fear that this boy feels. As for the rest of the supporting cast — they do their job well enough, not really adding much, mostly ensuring they aren’t fucking anything up.

So it comes a shock to me, as much as to you, that I actually think this is an Oscar winner for Will Smith. The Pursuit of Happyness has all the needed elements in place to make this a reasonable guess. Great acting, good theme, well received — and the biggest reason — it’s all about a black guy. What more could you fucking want?

If The Pursuit of Happyness can’t get you off of your fat, sweaty ass, you’re hopeless. And do the rest of us a favor and shut the fuck up.

Tagged: son , stock broker , true story

I'm an old, miserable fart set in his ways. Some of the things that bring a smile to my face are (in no particular order): Teenage back acne, the rain on my face, long walks on the beach and redneck women named Francis. Oh yeah, I like to watch and criticize movies.

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'Movie Review: The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)' have 4 comments

March 23, 2007 @ 3:36 pm JerseyMike

You’ve got to be kidding me right? One dog pile? I’d give this a four big steamy piles.

This movie was the worst pile of garbage I’ve seen in quite some time. The movie had no real “meat” to the plot. Sure it tries to tug at your heart, but fails in a real big way. The editing and film shots were horrible, I think a High School student could have done better.

With all the hype to this movie, I want money back.

August 9, 2007 @ 1:55 pm Martha

This was a really heartwarming story. Will Smith was marvelous in it.

November 24, 2007 @ 9:52 am MrBlueCN

I was utterly disgusted with Will Smith’s character. The choices he made regarding his son were made completely selfishly, with no regard for the child’s best interest. Just as the most glaring one, the fact that if he had let his wife take the child, the child would not have had to sleep in a subway bathroom/homeless shelter, etc. Just because it all turned out in the end is not a reason a child should have to go through suffering of this sort to satisfy his father’s self-serving motions.

December 8, 2007 @ 1:56 pm General Disdain

MrBlueCN — I agree no child should ever have to go through something like this, but what do you think would have happened to the boy if his mother did get custody. As I recall she didn’t even want him with her when she left, so I suspect he may have ended up in a worse position.

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The Pursuit of Happyness review | An emotional rollercoaster

Movies have the power to make you laugh, become emotional, and even profoundly move you at the same time. the pursuit of happyness is an inspiring story for the audience. read on for the pursuit of happyness review ., table of contents, the journey of pursuit, the pursuit of happyness review, thoughts about the movie, key takeaways.

Many of us can relate to the struggle of deciding which movie to watch. The Pursuit of Happyness, unlike other films, emotionally moves the audience because it is based on a true story. It will give you the right inspiration to go forward and catch your dreams. If you are interested in a career in filmmaking, reading movie and book reviews can help you shape your ideas for your projects and give you an understanding of the viewer’s mindset, all the while keeping in mind what you should and shouldn’t do.

Keep reading to see what The Pursuit of Happyness review has to offer.

‘The Pursuit of Happyness,’ written by Steven Conrad and directed by Gabriele Muccino, is a moving story about fatherhood, poverty, and preserving childhood innocence. The film was moving and executed so that it inspires genuine emotion in its viewers throughout its nearly two-hour runtime. The film is a high-quality drama with a powerful message about society and the American dream .

The film’s strength stems from its expert portrayal of a man who finds hope at rock bottom and succeeds in keeping his son safe even when circumstances force them to live on the streets. Chris Gardener, played fabulously by Will Smith, barricades himself and his son Christopher inside a subway station bathroom so that his son can sleep throughout the night with some feeling of security and safety. It is the film’s most powerful scene.

The genius of the scene and the film is that Chris keeps his son’s innocence intact by telling him they went back in time. He says that the subway bathroom is a cave and that they’re hiding from imaginative dinosaurs while hiding his tears and grief.

Another strong point is the film’s message, portrayed in an emotional monologue on a rooftop basketball court. “Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something,” Chris tells his son and, by extension, the audience. “You’ve got a dream. You’ve got to protect it,” he says after inadvertently dampening Christopher’s dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. “You want something, go and get it.”

It’s a message we’ve all heard before, but the conviction with which Smith delivers those lines, and the story, demonstrates the point so well breathes new life into the somewhat generic ‘follow your dreams’ speech.

The film reminds us how short life is not to be as happy and cheerful. We forget to be grateful in this fast-paced world, and this film reminds us of that. Reality can break you, but how you deal with it is entirely up to you. It reminds us to be grateful for the opportunity to spend time with the people we care about and spend time with them.

There are minor faults in the face of such incredible acting and beautifully emotional events. ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ remains an excellent film that uses emotion and childhood innocence to challenge viewers to respect and admire what they have while striving to achieve their dreams.

From The Pursuit of Happyness review, we learn that we often try to pursue happiness when we miss the smaller ‘happiness’ in our lives. This message in the film was exactly what everyone needed to hear.

The Pursuit of Happyness takes us through an emotional ride and teaches valuable life lessons.
The father-son bond is something you cannot give a miss.
The movie tells its viewers to find real happiness and enjoy what they have while still chasing their dreams.

Explore the world of movies and the work that goes on behind the scenes. If you would like to know more or have any queries regarding filmmaking and pursuing it as a career, then please get in touch with us .

Liked this blog? Read next: Harry Potter book series | A magical adventure.

1. What is the main theme of “The Pursuit of Happyness” movie?

Answer: The main theme of “The Pursuit of Happyness” revolves around family, determination, and never giving up on one’s dreams despite facing extreme adversity. The film portrays the journey of a father, played by Will Smith, who finds hope and success even when living on the streets with his son, all while preserving his child’s innocence.

2. How does “The Pursuit of Happyness” inspire its viewers?

Answer: “The Pursuit of Happyness” inspires its viewers through the portrayal of a man who overcomes challenging circumstances and manages to keep his son’s innocence intact. The film delivers a powerful message about pursuing one’s dreams and not letting anyone deter you. It encourages the audience to protect their dreams and take action to achieve them, with an emotional monologue from Will Smith’s character serving as a memorable moment in the film.

3. What is the key takeaway from the movie, as mentioned in the blog?

Answer: The key takeaway is to appreciate the smaller moments of happiness in life, remain grateful, and pursue dreams with determination

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Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — In Pursuit of Happiness — Review of the Movie ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’

The Pursuit of Happyness: Movie Review and Analysis

Categories: In Pursuit of Happiness Movie Review

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Published: Apr 8, 2022

Words: 764 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Works Cited:

Baer, J. (2013). Coca-Cola's Content 2020 Advertising Strategy. Convince & Convert. https://www.convinceandconvert.com/content-marketing/coca-colas-content-2020-advertising-strategy/
Bragesjö, F. (2011). Coca-Cola: History, Advertising and the American Dream. Culture Unbound, 3, 413-435. Crossland, K. (2019). The History of Advertising: A Comprehensive Timeline, From Print to Digital. Hubspot. https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/history-of-advertising
Gaffney, J. (2019). How Coca-Cola Became the King of Advertising. HousingWire.
Green, C. (2019). Coca-Cola's Evolution of Ads: From Polar Bears to Sustainable Development. Triple Pundit.
Kleinberg, A. (2014). The Evolution of Advertising. Inc.
Nudd, T. (2014). History of Advertising: How We Got Here. Adweek.
Raye, A. (2015). A Brief History of Coca-Cola Advertising Slogans. The Daily Meal. https://www.thedailymeal.com/drink/brief-history-coca-cola-advertising-slogans
Sabatier, G. (2019). Digital Advertising: Past, Present, and Future. Millennial Money.
Stanton, J. W. (2007). Coke's Recipe for Success. Harvard Business Review, 85(11), 30-32.

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Will Smith's 10 Best Movie Roles, Ranked

The Willennium may have started nearly a quarter of a century ago, but Will Smith has been dominating on screen since the early 1990s. The Academy Award-winning star has been a blockbuster juggernaut with a commanding presence on screen, dabbling in anything and everything. Serious fare like "Concussion," edgy superhero stories like "Hancock" and "Suicide Squad," action-packed dramas like "Enemy of the State," sci-fi thrillers like "I, Robot," musicals like "Aladdin," and plenty of goofy nonsense like "Shark Tale" and "Wild Wild West" have all let Big Willy Style flex his acting muscles and show that he truly is a jack of all trades. From his humble beginnings in the ensemble piece "Where the Day Takes You" to the recently announced "Bad Boys: Ride or Die," Smith is one of Hollywood's most prolific and profitable performers. And fortunately, he's also one of the best. It's time to get jiggy wit' it and discuss Will Smith's 10 best movie roles, ranked.

10. Alex Hitch Hitchens (Hitch)

Okay, okay, now before you come at me with some thinkpiece about how this movie and the entire culture of 2000s pick-up artists/date doctors are all rooted in manipulation and misogyny ... I KNOW, I LIVED IT, I WAS THERE! All of that said, it's a testament to Will Smith's talent as an actor to make a character like Alex "Hitch" Hitchens so damn endearing. Smith shines as the titular "Hitch," mentoring his unlucky-in-love client, Albert (Kevin James) while simultaneously falling into his own romantic situation with tabloid reporter Sara Melas (Eva Mendes). Smith has always been a charmer, and Hitch allows him to really play into that aspect of his personality.

On paper, I should despise Hitch as a person, but in the hands of Will Smith, I can't help but love him. Smith effortlessly portrays Hitch as the smooth, confident ladies' man he advertises himself to be, but there's always this wink of vulnerability simmering underneath — making the character's backstory feel earned when it finally comes to light. "Hitch" should have been one of those aughts rom-coms that drifted into obscurity, but the power of Smith turned it into a box office smash and a film constantly cited as an underrated gem.

9. Agent J (Men in Black series)

Will Smith will always be the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to folks of a certain age, but for that generation just a little bit younger, he'll forever be cemented in their minds as Agent J in the "Men in Black" series. Recruited by the mysterious unofficial government agency after years of success as an NYPD officer, Agent J brings a delightfully chaotic flair to the M.I.B. order. His colleagues are stuffy, conservative, and serious, while Agent J is here to bring the spice and the party. His personality is huge and he's constantly spitting family-friendly barbs at his partner, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones). The chemistry between the pair is palpable, and the ungodly huge box office performance helped launch a franchise beyond the comic book source material that continues to this day.

Action comedies, especially sci-fi action comedies, are difficult to pull off. But with the "Men in Black" films, Smith was crowned as the king. Not to mention, his tie-in single for the film, also titled "Men in Black," reached number one in multiple countries and earned Smith a Grammy Award in 1998 for Best Rap Solo Performance. The song heavily samples "Forget Me Nots" by Patrice Rushen, which was a trending song on TikTok with its own viral dance (that eventually made its way into "Fortnite"). Will Smith's influence is ever present, and "Men in Black" was just the start of his empire.

8. Nicky Spurgeon (Focus)

Remember when Will Smith and Margot Robbie starred opposite one another in a crime comedy? Yeah, I didn't think you did either, and that's a real bummer because it's home to one of Smith's most underrated performances! "Focus" had a bit of a difficult production history, with Ryan Gosling and Ben Affleck originally slated to play veteran conman Nicky Spurgeon, who takes a would-be femme fatale under his wing to show her the ropes of a career in crime. Alas, after both men dropped out, leaving the project with a pre-Harley Quinn/"I, Tonya" Robbie as the main draw, Warner Bros. wasn't sure if the project would move forward without "a name." Sounds silly to think of a time when Margot Robbie wasn't a license to print money, but that's showbiz, baby!

Luckily, Smith answered the call, showed up, and gave a startlingly great performance that felt beyond his usual fare. As a film, "Focus" isn't reinventing the low-stakes crime thriller wheel by any means, but this is a different brand of "cool" for Smith. He's not leaning into his usual schtick nor is he taking the character too seriously. It's a suave performance where he gets to play a professional liar, teacher, and chameleon his way into different con personas. It's a truly inspired turn from an actor most think they've "figured out" by now, and one that stands on its own from a script of endless plot twists.

7. Paul (Six Degrees of Separation)

In the middle of Will Smith's run on "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and when his music career was starting to explode, director Fred Schepisi cast Smith in his breakthrough leading film role for "Six Degrees of Separation." Adapted from John Guare's Pulitzer Prize-nominated play of the same name and based on the real-life crimes of David Hampton, Smith plays the charming and enigmatic Paul, a young, gay Black man who shows up on the doorstep of wealthy art dealers Flan and Ouisa, claiming to know their children from Harvard. The family welcomes him in without question, but when he claims to be the son of the trailblazing Black artist Sidney Poitier , the family starts to investigate to discover the truth.

At only 24 years old, Smith is holding his own against powerhouses like Donald Sutherland and Stockard Channing (who was nominated for an Oscar for her performance) without breaking a sweat. Once his con is uncovered, all of the wealthy WASPS he's duped revel in how well he pulled a fast one on them all, which is the sign of a truly effective scammer. Only a character played by Will Smith could take advantage of you and make you feel grateful for the experience. Smith's first leading film role more than proved that he's always had the juice.

And while I'm here, let the record state I firmly believe Smith should remake this film as a director and tell the story from Paul's perspective.

6. Chris Gardner (The Pursuit of Happyness)

There are a few moments that are guaranteed to trigger instant waterworks out of me, and watching Will Smith's Chris Gardner cry as he holds his son (played by his actual son Jaden Smith) while also trying to keep a train station bathroom door shut so people won't discover they're homeless and seeking shelter inside is easily in my top five. Based on the real story of Chris Gardner who went from homelessness to becoming a stock broker on Wall Street, "The Pursuit of Happyness" earned Smith his second Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards, and his heartfelt performance is still hailed as one of his best.

The film itself is, admittedly, beyond melodramatic. But there's a relatable groundedness to Smith's performance that prevents the overall story from becoming a fluffy tearjerker. Smith is downright mesmerizing in this role and the lived-in love between him and his son is immeasurable. When he cries, we cry, because he makes the stakes feel tangibly monumental. When his character is finally offered a job as a stockbroker, the emotional journey Smith's face takes is nothing short of brilliant. He struggles to hold it together while being washed over with the joy of realizing he got the job, the relief that he's not going to be homeless, and the released floodgates of everything he's been refusing to feel in order to succeed all exit at once. There's a reason this moment is used as a reaction gif all over social media. We've all felt half a dozen emotions at once, and Smith is one of the very best at showcasing what that looks like.

5. Captain Steven Hiller (Independence Day)

When I think about "Will Smith: Movie Star," the first character that comes to mind is Captain Steven Hiller, the wise-cracking, alien-defeating, hopelessly romantic hero of Roland Emmerich's "Independence Day." His first major film following the end of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," Smith's turn as the savior of the American people (alongside an always delightful Jeff Goldblum) immediately made him one of the most bankable blockbuster stars.

Given the severity of aliens about to take over the world, everyone in "Independence Day" is playing their role as seriously as a car wreck, but Smith's natural sense of humor kept the energy fun and gave us a character to really root for. Sure, Bill Pullman solidifies himself as the greatest cinematic president with his now iconic, world-uniting speech, but it's Captain Hiller who is the true heart and soul of the film.

His delivery of lines like "Welcome to Earth," "Now that's what I call a close encounter," "Elvis has left the building," and "I have got to get me one of these!" have become cultural touchpoints, and while "Independence Day: Resurgence" was a lot of dumb fun , it was in desperate need of Smith's charm. And yes, yes, smoking is bad, but has anyone ever looked cooler with a cigar? I think not.

4. Cassius Clay Jr./Muhammad Ali (Ali)

Largely considered to be the role that helped a majority of the world realize "Holy crap, Will Smith can act ," his turn as Cassius Clay Jr. aka Cassius X aka Muhammad Ali was a massive risk that earned Smith some serious accolades. His first venture into the realm of biopics could have been a disaster given the fact the subject is literally known as "The Greatest," but Smith portrayed the champion boxer with unbelievable grace. Paired with director Michael Mann's vision, "Ali" is an absolute triumph. As /Film's Jeremy Smith pointed out :

"Though Mann's 'Ali' was generally well-received when it was released in 2001, critics complained that it essentially told the same 'Rumble in the Jungle' story as Leon Gast's Oscar-winning 1996 documentary, 'When We Were Kings.' In doing so, they overlooked what is easily the most technically detailed and accurate dramatization of 'the sweet science' ever put to film. Gast's movie was a rousing historical document. Mann's masterpiece is a deeply absorbing portrait of inconceivable greatness. To pull it off, Smith couldn't just look the part; he had to be the part.

And be the part he was. Smith trained with Angelo Dundee, performed his fight sequences against actual boxers, and beautifully captured the more intimate moments of one of the greatest athletes to ever do it.

3. Richard Williams (King Richard)

"King Richard" is another example of Smith taking on the role of a real-life person, this time tackling famed tennis coach and father of tennis champions Venus and Serena, Richard Williams. The film is a pretty standard dramatic sports biopic, but Smith's performance as the titular man elevated it into an entirely different stratosphere. Smith spent the entire year leading up to the 2022 Academy Awards as the no-questions-asked front-runner for Best Actor and was eventually awarded the statue for his portrayal.

As /Film's Hoai-Tran Bui said in her review of the film , "The actor has coasted by on his mega-watt charisma since his days in Bel-Air, but every now and then, he'll slouch those broad shoulders and wrinkle that handsome brow and prove that he can, indeed, act. And when he does it well, he can damn near disappear into the role, as he does in Reinaldo Marcus Green's 'King Richard.'"

Unfortunately, the night Smith was finally awarded for his decades of work was also the night presenter Chris Rock publicly ridiculed Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, the final straw in what had been years of antagonizing her on a public stage. Smith took to the stage and slapped Rock in the middle of the ceremony, earning himself a 10-year ban from all Academy events or programs, and his resignation as an Academy member. This has unfortunately become the legacy of Smith's performance in "King Richard," which is a shame because it's definitively one of his very best.

2. Detective Lieutenant Mike Lowrey (Bad Boys series)

Some roles feel synonymous with the actor who plays it, a cherished example of a person being seemingly born to bring the character to life. In the filmography of Will Smith, that character is Miami PD detective Mike Lowery in Michael Bay's "Bad Boys" series. One-half of the action-packed buddy cop team (alongside Martin Lawrence's detective Marcus Burnett), Mike is a wealthy playboy with an excellent sense of fashion but still great at his job. He kicks ass, he unloads perfectly timed one-liners, and he's got the best sunglasses in the game. Simply put — Mike Lowrey is Will Smith's coolness distilled into a single character. While the role might not be as emotionally challenging as some of his more dramatic roles, all three (soon to be four) "Bad Boys" films are anchored by Smith's dynamite performances.

Smith was just 26 when he first stepped into the role in 1995's "Bad Boys" for Michael Bay's feature directorial debut, which means the character has aged and evolved as the actor has. While he's not as spry or coasting off of a false sense of invincibility as he did nearly 30 years ago, that charismatic young gun is still present after all these years. If you ever doubt how or why Will Smith became one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, pop in "Bad Boys II" and let him blow you away.

1. Dr. Robert Neville (I Am Legend)

Will Smith has proven he can do it all, and only one role in his filmography has truly allowed him to showcase the range of his talent — Dr. Robert Neville in "I Am Legend." Disregarding the constant drama and debate surrounding the film's controversial ending (which was a huge change from the Richard Matheson novel source material), "I Am Legend" is Smith's so-far magnum opus. He spends the majority of the film completely alone, acting against himself or his pet dog, and trades in his usual smart-mouthed snark for the determined stillness of a scientist trying to survive the end of the world. This film lives and dies through the effectiveness of Smith's performance, and Smith's performance is certainly responsible for the film's massive box-office success and continued legacy.

It's also one of the roles that Smith himself is most proud of, telling the Awards Chatter podcast , "I'm obsessed with trying to put small character dramas into the middle of blockbuster packages." He continued, "The most successful I've ever been with that concept is 'I Am Legend.'" And this is precisely what he accomplishes. "I Am Legend" is a post-apocalyptic thriller that borders on horror, but Smith delivered a serious character study about the presumed last man on Earth. There are plenty of sharp-tongued actors who can play similiar Blockbuster roles and plenty of dedicated thespians who can pull off a moving biopic drama ... but "I am Legend" is Will Smith.

The Greatest Book-To-Movie Adaptations of the 2000s

S ome of the best projects from the decade at hand were based on literary counterparts from around the world. Most of these titles were nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at their respective Oscars ceremony, if they didn’t win the award outright. But they were also directed by absolutely massive names of the industry, with well-known actors amid the respective casts, as well.

You should undoubtedly recognize the movies on this list. But even if not, you'll be familiar soon enough. These are the twelve best book-to-movie adaptations of the 2000s, ranked.

The Pursuit of Happyness

Starring Will Smith as a homeless salesman named Chris Gardner, this is perhaps the most poignant project of the bunch just from a standpoint of sheer emotional resonance. Its memoir counterpart of the same name released in this same year, with a unique spelling to its title that sees an eventual explanation within the plot itself.

But what’s perhaps most prominently worth writing home about with The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) is that it costars Jaden Smith, the aforementioned performer’s real-life son. It was the young actor’s debut, nonetheless, and marked the first of several collaborations he would share with his father. They both hit home with their performances, landing this project at the top of the list.

Related: The True Story Behind the Pursuit of Happyness

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Unlike its many sequels, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) comprises nearly every primary plot point featured in the 1997 novel of the same name. Of course, this juggernaut fantasy franchise was originally created by J.K. Rowling. But here with the movie adaptation, it was director Chris Columbus as the head honcho of Hogwarts.

And while the franchise today is seen in a negative light for a portion of original fans out there, there’s no denying the charm and intrigue featured in the very first live-action romp through the Wizarding World. The Sorcerer's Stone remains the most accurate depiction thereof and should without a doubt be cited among the best adaptations of its decade.

Adapted from Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name, the literary counterpart of The Road (2009) could very well be considered from a standpoint of sheer quality as the best novel of the list. And its adaptation by John Hillcoat is undoubtedly an entertaining joint through an apocalyptic landscape despite coming up short of the novel overall.

There’s solid camerawork herein worth writing home about and of course its plot is well-structured and entertaining from the start thanks to the novel’s rock-solid basis. But there are also several solid performances from thespians like Viggo Mortensen, Guy Pearce, Robert Duvall, and Uma Thurman that helped land The Road here at number ten.

American Psycho

Starring Christian Bale as the infamous Patrick Bateman, this of course is among the more fan-favorite films on the list thanks to its devout cult following. And those particular audience members are justified in their obsession with American Psycho (2000), as director Mary Harron faithfully adapted the 1991 novel counterpart, which was in turn penned by Brett Easton Ellis.

It follows Bateman as an investment banker in New York City who — as the title may suggest — can also be classified as a serial killer . The breakthrough performance from Bale really defined the film for most fans, but it also features a generally compelling narrative no matter who filled Bateman’s shoes. It’s just that Bale’s efforts almost single-handedly land American Psycho in the ninth spot.

Related: The Wacky American Psycho We Almost Got, Explained

Children of Men

Co-written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, there’s much worth noting here from a technical perspective of filmmaking that it feels nearly wasteful to mention the original 1992 novel, The Children of Men by P.D. James. And that’s because this adaptation succeeds from a standpoint of screenwriting, for starters.

But it also has mesmerizing camerawork, genius art direction, and notable performances from everyone involved: Clive Owen, for example, along with Julianne Moore, Michael Caine, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. But in the end, perhaps the most prominent facet of filmmaking that warrants this placement for Children of Men (2006) would be its action sequences that were filmed in single shots . They were truly inventive cinematographic techniques that remain iconic today.

Revolutionary Road

Off the bat: Revolutionary Road (2008) marked the second on-screen collaboration of American performers Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. Of course, their first partnership came in the prior decade with Titanic (1997) by James Cameron. And while the project at hand doesn’t hold anywhere near the name value as that epic disaster film, Revolutionary Road is perhaps of greater quality.

Directed by Sam Mendes, it features the aforementioned actors as a married couple going through a bit of a rough patch in their relationship. It featured a great effort from Kathy Bates as well, who also appeared in Titanic with DiCaprio and Winslett. But two other names are truly worth noting: Michael Shannon, who picked up an Oscars nod for Best Supporting Actor, along with Roger Deakins. The latter is among the greatest cinematographers to ever live , and he ultimately played a prominent role in landing Revolutionary Road here on the list.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Directed by Wes Anderson, this critically acclaimed stop-motion animated film was based on a children’s novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. The aforementioned filmmaker cowrote the script for Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) with Noah Baumbach — a talented creative in his own right. But with regard to Anderson: this particular project features all the eccentricities that have defined his career since the mid-1990s.

Shots of perfect symmetry, warm and engrossing color palettes, and a quirky roster of characters all voiced by some of the biggest names that Hollywood has ever produced. George Clooney and Meryl Streep, for example, along with a litany of frequent Anderson collaborators like Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Owen Wilson to name a few. It’s one of Anderson’s best films, and undoubtedly a faithful adaptation.

The Pianist

Starring Adrien Brody in the definitive role of his career, this project spelled “Oscar darling” from the onset of production. The aforementioned performer of course picked up the honor for Best Actor with great reason. But The Pianist (2002) also featured admittedly competent direction from controversial American filmmaker Roman Polanski .

But with regard to the plot: it’s based on an autobiography from 1946, and both account for his experiences as not just a survivor of the holocaust, but also a well-revered composer. He’s a wizard when it comes to the piano, and Brody’s performance drove home the poignance that came with the film’s setting to an admirable degree. It comes in here at number five.

City of God

Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, a writer named Bráulio Mantovani penned the script, adapting it from a 1997 novel of the same name by Paulo Lins. And although this might hold the least amount of name value from a perspective of modernity, there’s no denying that the Brazilian film City of God (2002) is among the highest-quality adaptations from the decade at hand.

It’s set in the Cidade de Deus suburb of Rio de Janeiro and follows the war between a drug dealer called Li'l Zé and a criminal nicknamed Knockout Ned. Most of the actors herein were legitimate residents of favella locations in Brazil, only adding to the caliber of their performances. And the overall product even picked up a couple nominations at the Oscars . Despite coming up short therein, in lands here at number four.

There Will Be Blood

Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the critically acclaimed film at hand was adapted from Oil! by Upton Sinclair. And while the final film product was somewhat of a far cry from the literary counterpart, the changes made to its plot were undoubtedly for the better. After all, There Will Be Blood (2007) is often considered among the finest pieces of the 21st century.

It follows the cold-blooded business ventures of an oilman named Daniel Plainview — played to an Academy Award-winning degree by Daniel Day-Lewis. He exhibits pure power in his portrayal of the protagonist as he quests for wealth during the oil boom of Southern California. The film also features performers such as Paul Dano and hit home from nearly every technical perspective that the medium has to offer, from continuity editing to cinematography. It’ll likely go down as a classic.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

This may be a hot take for fans of the famous fantasy franchise from director Peter Jackson, but the penultimate spot should be nothing to hang one’s head about. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) holds tremendous name value today, and upon release it received widespread critical acclaim. Of course, it also dominated at the box office , but neither of those statistics truly indicate the quality of the adaptation at hand.

Each character portrayed their parts with poise and poignance around every corner of the film’s fantasy-based plot. Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, Ian McKellan as Gandalf, Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn — and that’s truly just touching the surface of the performances herein. Of course, its ensemble cast is far from the only qualitative element worth noting with regard to this fantasy epic, but it’s likely you already knew that. Fellowship ultimately comes in at number two.

No Country for Old Men

Adapted by Joel and Ethan Coen from Cormac MacCarthy’s 2005 novel of the same name, No Country for Old Men (2007) basically swept the 80th Academy Awards. It should go down as not just the best book adaptation of the 2000s, but one of the greatest titles thereof, ever. Just look at how perfectly they were able to portray the sociopathic tendencies of Anton Chigurh, the story’s main antagonist.

But there’s more to the brilliance of No Country for Old Men than the character therein. The subtext of its plot and dialogue in tandem with brilliant sound design rendered the film’s atmosphere palpable, almost macabre from the start. And that tone is seen into fruition until the film’s final frame, with thrilling moments and wonderful camerawork around every compelling corner. It undoubtedly deserves the top spot.

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The Pursuit of Happyness

A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he's poised to begin a life-changing professional career
Based on a true story about a man named Christopher Gardner. Gardner has invested heavily in a device known as a "bone density scanner". He feels like he has it made selling these devices. However, they do not sell well as they are marginally better than x-ray at a much higher price. As Gardner works to make ends meet, his wife leaves him and he loses his apartment. Forced to live out in the streets with his son, Gardner continues to sell bone density scanners while concurrently taking on an unpaid internship as a stockbroker, with slim chances for advancement to a paid position. Before he can receive pay, he needs to outshine the competition through 6 months of training, and to sell his devices to stay afloat. — John Wiggins, Alf Fonz
1981, San Francisco. In what limited academic opportunities he has had in his life, Chris Gardner has demonstrated that he is a smart man. Yet he is struggling financially in his life. He has invested all his money on portable bone density scanners, which he personally sells to physicians. Despite being a better product than x-rays machines, they are also far more expensive, meaning that they are an unnecessary luxury for most physicians. He needs to sell three scanners per month just to meet the basic necessities to support his family, his wife, Linda, and their five year old son, Christopher, on who he dotes since he didn't know his own father when he was a child. But lately, that has been three per month more than he has sold, resulting in an increasing embittered Linda continually needing to work double shifts doing manual work at a laundry, which still isn't enough to cover those basic costs, they being currently behind three months rent. Chris can't afford to pay his parking ticket, meaning that he has to take the bus everywhere now as the clamp remains on the tire of his car. Feeling like the scanner is not the answer to their financial problems, Chris, with or without Linda's blessing, decides to take a chance by switching careers when he sees that brokerage and securities firm Dean Witter has a six month internship program, which only admits twenty applicants, leading to only one intern being hired at the end of the process. It isn't until he is well immersed into the process that he learns that the internships are non-paying. Based largely on his chutzpah, Chris, against the odds, gets one of the twenty positions. With some changes in their lives resulting in fewer expenses, Chris figures he needs to sell his remaining six scanners just to scrape by for those six months. But some unexpected issues arise which leads to the Gardners possibly not making it through this phase of their lives financially, something he has to hide from his superiors at Dean Witter if he has any chance at all of making it through the internship and getting that paying job with them. — Huggo
Already struggling to eke out an existence, against the backdrop of early-1980s San Francisco, the earnest and hard-working bone-density-scanner salesman, Chris Gardner, finds himself with the back to the wall. Left with nothing when his wife abandons the family, the financially hard-pressed father will have to take care of his five-year-old son, Christopher, all by himself when, unexpectedly, the prestigious stock brokerage firm of Dean Witter offers Gardner an unpaid six-month internship. Now, bent on becoming a stockbroker, Chris is willing to go to great lengths to succeed; however, life can be challenging and cruel. Will Chris' efforts pay off? Can the determined parent make his dream come true? — Nick Riganas
In 1981, in San Francisco, the smart salesman and family man Chris Gardner ( Will Smith ) invests the family savings in Osteo National bone-density scanners, an apparatus twice as expensive as an x-ray machine but with a slightly clearer image. This white elephant financially breaks the family, bringing troubles to his relationship with his wife Linda ( Thandiwe Newton ), who leaves him and moves to New York where she has taken a job in a pizza parlor. Their son Christopher ( Jaden Smith ) stays with Chris because he and his wife both know that he will be able to take better care of him. Without any money or a wife, but committed to his son, Chris sees a chance to fight for a stockbroker internship position at Dean Witter, offering a more promising career at the end of a six-month unpaid training period. During that period, Chris goes through a lot of hardship personally and professionally. When he thinks he is "stable," he finds that he has lost $600 when the government takes the last bit of money in his bank account for taxes. He is rendered homeless because he can't pay his rent. He is forced at one point to stay in a bathroom at a train station, and must scramble from work every day to the Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, which offers shelter to the homeless. He must leave work early every day so that he is there by 5:00 in the evening along with his son so that he may be assured of a place to sleep. He is seen carrying his suitcase to work because he doesn't have a home. At work, there are nineteen other candidates for the one position. One day, he is called into an office and in it were the heads of Dean Witter. Chris thinks that he is about to be told the job will not be his as he says that he wore a shirt and tie for his final day. Then they tell him that he has been an excellent trainee and that tomorrow he will have to wear his shirt and tie again as it will be his first day as a broker. Chris struggles to hold back tears. Outside he begins to cry as the busy people of San Francisco walk past him. He rushes to his son's daycare, hugging him and knowing that after everything him and his son had been through things would be all right. The final scene shows Chris walking with his son down a street. His son is telling him a joke, when a wealthy business man in a suit walks past. Chris looks back as the man continues on. The man in the suit is none other than the real Chris Gardner.

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