Product Details

• Actors: Joseph Cross, Timothy Reifsnyder, Dana Delany, Denis Leary, Robert Loggia
• Directors: M. Night Shyamalan
• Writers: M. Night Shyamalan
• Producers: Bob Weinstein, Cary Woods, Cathy Konrad, Harvey Weinstein, James Bigwood
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Walt Disney Video
• VHS Release Date: April 8, 2003
• Run Time: 88 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305051135
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,484 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DIFFICULT QUESTIONS, SIMPLE ANSWERS: ENCHANTING FILM, July 4, 2004

By 

Shashank Tripathi (Gadabout) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wide Awake (DVD)

You know when you catch a late night movie on a film channel and it hooks you on, then you keep watching it, laugh, cry and just purely enjoy it and feel good that you flicked on the channel at the right time? This is one of those movies.

I am not sure why some reviewers lament that it's a pretentious theme. Sure, it's not anything that'd be seen rocking boxoffice records or winning grand prizes, it even has some necessary contrivances. But it moved me, impelled me to think, and impressed me with a number of brilliant moments that are sensitive and engaging without becoming cloying.

Shyamalan is now a familiar name, so I approached his debut effort with high expectations, and while it could be sappy in bits for some people, I'm guilty of having clung on until the very last shot. The writing is taut and the production values are all-round immaculate. I was not disappointed one bit!

If you have kids, this is a fantastic movie to watch because of the sweet yet universal messages it couches. Plus, the kids in the movie are not freckled 10-year old brats, they have thoughts deeper than what you and I give them credit for.

The script is by no stretch of imagination an overly ambitious one, but I highly recommend this underrated gem for its thoughtful dialogue and crisp direction.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A little movie with so much to say..., October 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Wide Awake (DVD)

I saw this film in the theatre when it was released and immediately urged friends and family to see it as well. It was one of those films that you can't stop thinking of for days. The cast was incomparable and the story line so touching. Anyone who can remember back to our innocent ideas of life when we are young will relate to this movie. But especially those who have dealt with such a loss, searched for answers and found the disapointment of what doesn't make sense at the moment but eventually leads to a greater realization at the end. An excellent film, for any age at any time.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heart Warming and Awakening!, January 29, 2003

By 

Andrew Blackwell (Newcastle, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wide Awake [VHS] (VHS Tape)

It is a surprise to me that young Joseph Cross has not gone on to greater things as a hollywood actor. In this film he once again puts the adults to shame with his natural acting skills as he did in the film Jack Frost (1998). But now Joseph is getting back into acting in the American TV show "The O'keefes" in 2002/2003 and I hope that he may do another movie as an eigteen year old to see how his acting skills hav developed since he was ten years old. The film looks at the transaction from boy to man or girl to woman and how hard it is for kids to make that move. With issues such as death and the dissapearence of that "magic" as Josephs character Joshua describes it during the movie. From a world of creativity and unrestricted boudaries to just seeing the plastic and paint in a toy car. Th film also raises the issue of how we should allow children to handle the death of a loved one as Joshua has to manage when his grandpa dies of bone marrow cancer. It is shown that we shouldn't hide the facts of death from our childrebut discuss it openly and allow them to say their final goodbyes by allowing them t attend the funeral insead of keeping them away as I personally was as a child. In all this is a great movie with realism, humour and overall brilliant acting. Strongly recommended.