When his beloved grandfather passes away, fifth-grade Catholic schoolboy Joshua (Joseph Cross) has a crisis of faith. He asks both the nuns and his parents (Denis Leary and Dana Delany) difficult questions as he sets out on a mission: to find God and make sure his grandfather is OK. As if that weren't enough, he also has to contend with schoolyard bullies, the sudden appeal of girls, needy schoolmates, and the recklessness of his best friend David (Timothy Reifsnyder). Though the precociousness of the children is a little hard to believe, there's a genuine feeling and a surprising complexity of thought about faith that makes Wide Awake unexpectedly affecting. Despite the largeness of the theme, the movie is made up of small images and gentle humor, which keep it grounded in reality and consistently engaging. The strong supporting cast includes Julia Stiles (10 Things I Hate About You), Camryn Mannheim (Happiness, TV's The Practice), and Rosie O'Donnell (A League of Their Own, The Flintstones, Harriet the Spy), as a nun who explains the Bible with sports metaphors. A pleasantly subtle comedy from M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense). --Bret Fetzer
(15 votes)
2.
In M. Night Shyamalan's first Hollywood feature, WIDE AWAKE, 10-year-old Joshua (Joseph Cross) embarks on a spiritual quest after his beloved grandfather (Robert Loggia) succumbs to bone marrow cancer. The determined child is resolved to find out--from God or other sources--what happens to the spirits of the dead. Joshua's sports-loving teacher, Sister Terry (Rosie O'Donnell), advises him to approach a cardinal who is coming to visit the nearby girls school. While there, he meets a young girl and falls for her. As the school year progresses, Joshua continues his search for answers and finds them in very unexpected places. Though markedly different from Shyamalan's moody (and more well-known) films, THE SIXTH SENSE and UNBREAKABLE, the movie does involve a search for truth and a meditation on death--themes present in all of his projects.
(15 votes)
3.
She Had All The Answers…Until Now!
Rosie O'Donnell (Beautiful Girls, Harriet The Spy) stars with Denis Leary (Wag The Dog, Small Soldiers) and Dana Delany (Fly Away Home, Tombstone) in this feel-good comedy about the laughter, excitement and fun that come with being a kid! Joshua is a thoughtful 10-year-old looking for some simple answers to life's eternal questions. The problem is that no one -- including his concerned parents (Leary, Delany) and his colorful 5th-grade teacher (O'Donnell) -- seems to be making any sense! Therefore, Joshua makes it his personal mission to unravel the mysteries himself…and in the process reminds everyone what it's like to wake up to the world for the very first time! With great performances from an incredible cast -- you'll love all the comedy and adventure in this altogether unforgettable motion picture!
(15 votes)
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