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Author Topic: Movies about the gifted
Lisa
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The recent thread about Searching for Bobby Fischer made me think about other movies I've seen where the hero of the movie is someone gifted, and the drama of the movie revolves around how they deal with the gift and how others deal with it.

Other examples:
Good Will Hunting
Little Man Tate
Finding Forrester

I've really enjoyed all of these movies. I was just wondering whether there are others that I haven't come across in this vein. Any suggestions?

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Farmgirl
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Glad you mentioned Little Man Tate. That was the first one that came to my mind when I read the thread title. I liked that movie.

Some could argue that Rainman qualifies -- he was very gifted in specifics ways, despite (or because of) the autism.

FG

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BlackBlade
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Though not EXACTLY the same in terms of plot, I think the elements are similar.

Awakenings: Robin Williams (in a serious role) and Robert DeNiro.

From Wikipedia: Awakenings is a 1990 drama film based on Oliver Sacks' memoir, Awakenings. It tells the real story of a doctor (Oliver Sacks, fictionalized as Malcolm Sayer) who, in 1969, discovers beneficial effects of the then-new drug L-Dopa. He applied it on catatonic patients who survived the 1917-1928 epidemic of encephalitis lethargica. The patients awaken after decades of catatonic state and have to deal with a new life in a new time.

Your question about movies where a genius awakes to his gift and has to decide how to use it just seem to reasonate with this movie as it is about normal people who have slept for decades who suddenly wake up and have to face reality and decide what they are going to do with their time.

The movie is really moving, if you have not seen it, I suggest you do. As a side note, the theme for the character Doctor Sayers is a wonderful song.

Still need to think about movies that actually fit your bill as you described it Lisa.

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BlackBlade
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Sorry for double posting but have you seen "Amadeus?"

Its obviously based on Mozarts life but done with the some poetic licence. Still I think its a great movie, and it won quite a few deserved (IMO) Academy Awards.

When I was in 4th grade I read my first biography and it was a biography about Mozart. I loved it, so I guess it makes sense that I love this movie.

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ketchupqueen
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The Mighty. Makes me cry every time.

(Although it's more about the relationship between a gifted boy and a "slow learner" and them against the world.)

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Dan_raven
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What was that movie about the Rocket program developed by the kids in West Virginia's coal country? I read the book, but can't remember the name.
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James Tiberius Kirk
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October Sky?

--j_k, who added a question mark

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rivka
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That was a GREAT movie.
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vonk
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Would Phenomenon count? I'm not sure whether I'd call what he had a gift or not. But, as I recall, I really enjoyed this movie.
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Shawshank
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A Beautiful Mind I think is an awesome movie.

For some reason when I read this thread title I thought of The Emperor's Club. It isn't necessarily about gifted people - but it does seem to fit in a way (at least in my brain).

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SoaPiNuReYe
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shawshank u stole mine [Razz]
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Shawshank
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Sorry Soap.
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Chanie
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Billy Elliot
Frida
The Aviator
Million Dollar Baby
Walk the Line

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rivka
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quote:
Originally posted by Chanie:
Million Dollar Baby

Isn't that the one about the boxer?
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Chanie
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Yes, the movie is about her developing her boxing gift. Oh, was it only supposed to be academically gifted?

I'm also adding (assuming it doesn't have to just be academic):
What's Love Got to Do With It
The Sixth Sense

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rivka
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Oh, I don't think it's just academic/intellectual. But I also don't consider being good at bashing someone's face in any kind of gift.

And I have huge issues with how that movie dealt with the notion of assisted suicide and related issues.

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Papa Moose
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Ender's Game?
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rivka
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I think she wants movies she can watch now, Pop. [Wink]
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Diana Bailey
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I loved October Sky too, particularly after working with clients who are miners in WV.

I share Rivka's concerns about the way "Million Dollar Baby" dealt with assisted suicide...Clint Eastwood movies tend to be disturbing, although I thought the acting in "Mystic River was superb.

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Chanie
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There are a lot of things wrong with Million Dollar Baby. And I'm not going to argue whether boxing is a gift (I don't think I really have an opinion). But it was at least designed to be a movie about a woman who develops her gift by perservering.
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rivka
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Fair enough. [Smile]
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Chanie
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I should add that I haven't actually seen the movie, although I did follow the press hype. I had a cousin my age with a painful, terminal disease, so I have had several discussions about assisted suicide on a personal level.
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Synesthesia
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quote:
Originally posted by rivka:
Oh, I don't think it's just academic/intellectual. But I also don't consider being good at bashing someone's face in any kind of gift.

And I have huge issues with how that movie dealt with the notion of assisted suicide and related issues.

I have those same issues.
Plus the dippiness factors as well.
I can't even think of a movie that isn't a superhero movie...

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Kasie H
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Superman.

[Wink]

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mackillian
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They're making Ender's Game into a movie!? WHEN!??!
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Papa Moose
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As soon as Jake Lloyd signs the contract.
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Uprooted
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Wait, I thought they were getting Haley Joel Osment?
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rivka
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They can't. He's 18 now. Alas!
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Uprooted
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I was kidding . . .
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rivka
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Were you?

Oh.

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Strider
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Silly Rivka.

Can we still get the youngest Culkin kid?

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rivka
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quote:
Originally posted by Strider:
Silly Rivka.

Where?
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Strider
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There!
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T_Smith
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Wouldn't Serenity qualify?

Also:

Musically gifted

The Shine, with Geoffrey Rush
Ray, with Jamie Foxx
On a certain level, one might even argue Phantom of the Opera

Militarily/Politically Gifted-

MacAurther
Rome, the Series (definately highlights Ceaser as one of the most brilliant leaders ever)
Alexander

Intellect-

Proof, with Gwyneth Paltro (boring but stirring)
The Royal Tenenbaums

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Lalo
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Gattacca's sort of the opposite and the same -- he lacks the "gifts" of others, but rises above them all anyway. Perhaps Quills might count, with the Marquis de Sade outwitting every censorship the warden throws at him, but... not really.

Huh. The responses in this thread, including my own, kinda disappoint me. Lisa's right on with Good Will Hunting, but aren't there any other films out there featuring a brilliant, Loki-esque trickster outwitting his way to the top? One tires of Tom Cruise Everyman in every stinking film...

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ketchupqueen
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quote:
aren't there any other films out there featuring a brilliant, Loki-esque trickster outwitting his way to the top?
Hmmm. As my mom always said, "It's not how smart you are, it's what you do with it, and how you treat others, that matters."

I prefer movies about people, brilliant or not, who care for others and do good things.

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vonk
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quote:
The Royal Tenenbaums
That's a really good one. It deals w/ three people and their struggle to handle their special talents/gifts and their parents perception/use of those gifts. Good call T, and good movie.
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Shmuel
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TV movie, but does anybody else remember The Kid with the 200 IQ, starring Gary Coleman?
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Kenif
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There are too many movies to list to be honest.

Whilst there are loads of great movies with geniuses (like Good Will Hunting as mentioned), there are also loads of cheap pap films where they make their main characters "geniuses".

How many trailers begin with "She was the top <insert miscelleneous job> in her field but..
For example Gothika, complete and utter pap but we're told that Halle Berry is the top pychologist around..

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SenojRetep
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How about Real Genius.

And, in the same vein, Space Camp.

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Shigosei
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I loved October Sky!
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Lisa
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quote:
Originally posted by Kenif:
There are too many movies to list to be honest.

Whilst there are loads of great movies with geniuses (like Good Will Hunting as mentioned), there are also loads of cheap pap films where they make their main characters "geniuses".

I do remember The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes from back when I was a kid. Omigod. I just looked it up on IMdb. Not only was the kid played by Kurt Russell (how old do I feel?), but they did a made for TV remake in 1995. Eww.
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T_Smith
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Heres one that I remembered.

The Wizard. The one about the Super Mario 3 kid. Good movie.

I've been wanting to avoid going into the genre, but a really good example would be things like Star Wars I-III following Anakin's gifts in matters of the force.

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Eduardo St. Elmo
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Make fun of my choice if you want, but I would like to nominate 'Tuck Everlasting' for the list.
Though the movie itself questions whether eternal life/immortality is really a gift (or more of a curse).

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T_Smith
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Tuck Everlasting doesn't count by my definition of "gifted". When I hear "gifted" I'm thinking talented. In Tuck's case, it's more of a state of being, rather than a talent. Drinking water out of a spring for immortality, does not make one gifted, since in all technicality, anyone who could travel can accomplish it.
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Irami Osei-Frimpong
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Donnie Darko, The Boy Who Could Fly, Stand by Me.

Isn't there a story about a kid who ran a marathon? I remember seeing a preview a few years ago, but I don't remember much about the movie.

As to "The Mighty," there is something about Kieran Culkin that's likable. It may be as minor as his pronounciation, but I like watching him on screen talking.

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Xavier
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Niki watched Whale Rider last night for the first time, and she thought of this thread.

I'm not sure if I would consider Pai "gifted" in the way Lisa may mean it, but she is certainly a remarkable girl with many gifts.

At the very least, she was played by a gifted young actress [Smile] .

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Shawshank
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What about Pay it Forward?
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Lisa
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The ending of that movie was so deeply offensive and gratuitous that it cancelled out any goodness the rest of it may have had.

And btw, Spider Robinson wrote about paying it forward long before this movie ever existed.

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Lisa
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quote:
Originally posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong:
Donnie Darko,

I love Donnie Darko, but I'm not sure how it fits. Or even comes close.
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