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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
clever first time script, April 3, 2003
This review is from: Genius (DVD)
Despite its slow pace in the beginning this movie is a classic 'how to write a first script'. A senior in highschool can only date his dream girl if he becomes smart. The only person who can help him is his teacher with no self esteem for herself or respect for others. A generic story with a fresh spin makes the premises of genius. Twists and turns are placed so that every time we anticipate a certain direction we're pitched a curve ball. The locations are used cleverly. The same few locations are used again and again without us being aware of it. Every character has a specific purpose to the story. And they all play vital roles in influencing the two lead actors' character arcs. Special effects are used sparingly but at vital turning points in the story. The end twist may be original but we can almost expect something of this nature is going to hit us. 'El Mariachi' and 'Reservoir Dogs' are two must read scripts for all first time writers and producers. They show us how a good story can be told with minumum resources. This one falls in that category. The only trick these guys pull off is that they end up making their flick look like a stylish Hollywood movie.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligently wrapped, April 5, 2003
This review is from: Genius (DVD)
The female lead glows in an eye-catching performance of a teacher who has accepted her morally and socially low existence. The boy is a clean cut student who takes upon himself a task of introducing the teacher to her 'lost dreams'. Slowly she begins to realize the person she was and who she has become. Who is helping who and why who is helping whom is the big mystery which unravels into a bang of an ending. This is a story of friendship and faith and small acts of kindness. Something like a modern day version of 'Pygmalion' with a twist.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
one thousand and one'th way, April 2, 2003
This review is from: Genius (DVD)
This story could have been told in one thousand and one ways. But they chose that one perfect way. Although with occasional flaws in some respects, this movie was very well directed and acted. The elements of conflict were established early on, and the tension they created held me in their grip. The teacher plays the part of a troubled and depressed choco-holic who has given up on everything. But her quirkiness is somehow attractive. She doesn't care for those people around her or her students. I loved this part because I'm sick of movies where the teacher has an infectoius passion for life and forces his students to learn poetry and this causes all their lives to improve. Virtually every scene is embedded with symbolism. And many things that are said have a double meaning. Mike's final word, 'Ready', is brilliantly placed. Mike seems like a normal hormone obsessed kid till very slowly his dyslexia starts getting revealed. But Mike's educated and rich dad refuses to accept that his son is 'disabled'. This is what creates the driving conflict of the movie. The camera angles are exquisitely chosen. The same scene is shown from twenty different angles. Which almost made me feel like I was present with the characters and I absorbed the surroundings. The standard goofy teen cameo subplot is interjected throughout. And finally when we reach a satisfying conclusion something very incredible happens. Everything we believed. Every judgement we made about the characters and the story is flipped on its head. The final scene is what makes it worth the money. This one scene elevates the movie from good to excellent. And leaves you thinking for a long time.
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