The pursuit of happyness is a drama film based off the life of Christian Gardener and his struggle with homelessness. Will Smith plays the role of Christian Gardener who is constantly between sales jobs. The pursuit of happyness is the American Dream in its most basic form, a man who is just trying to make a better life for himself and his family.
As the story begins to develop you go from seeing an opportunistic man investing his money in a "bone density scanner" which turns out to be a less effective X-ray machine that bankrupts him which results in his wife leaving him. Dedicated to making a better life for his son and himself he bounces from shelter to shelter while in a highly competitive training program to be a stockbroker. During this training period he goes through emotional and physical struggles that are meant to connect the viewer to the film. One of these scenes involves Will Smith sleeping in a train station’s bathroom. This is his lowest point in the film, literally sleeping in filth just to survive. Smith acts this role so well, he really creates a feeling of sympathy in these scenes, everything from his body language to his voice makes you sympathize with this down and out man.
As the story begins to develop you go from seeing an opportunistic man investing his money in a "bone density scanner" which turns out to be a less effective X-ray machine that bankrupts him which results in his wife leaving him. Dedicated to making a better life for his son and himself he bounces from shelter to shelter while in a highly competitive training program to be a stockbroker. During this training period he goes through emotional and physical struggles that are meant to connect the viewer to the film. One of these scenes involves Will Smith sleeping in a train station’s bathroom. This is his lowest point in the film, literally sleeping in filth just to survive. Smith acts this role so well, he really creates a feeling of sympathy in these scenes, everything from his body language to his voice makes you sympathize with this down and out man.
The camera work in this scene is also so remarkable, even the picture by itself without knowing the story behind it really is a powerful image that tells you a lot about the story. You see a man in a suit holding a young child as they both sleep, assuming they have a close relationship, you see them in a broken down environment much like the state of their own lives, Smith appears to be positioned to keep the door closed so we know they shouldn't be there, we see that they have personal belongings with them, the entire scene is just down bringing which is why I think they chose this pan out shot to show a man at his lowest.
As the plot continues Smith begins to become convinced that he will not get the job that he and his sons life depends upon, and he begins to lose the hope of the pursuit of happiness, the American dream. The American dream of course that you can be anything you want if you are willing to dedicate yourself to a goal then you can achieve it.
In "the basketball scene" as it's referred to as Smith clarifies what the American dream is, it's having a dream and protecting it and not letting someone tell you that you can't do something. I thought this was one of the more beautiful and uplifting parts of the movie, every part of it from the writing, to the acting, to the camera work. The writing of this scene I think really solidifies the idea that this is a movie about the American dream. While the acting so perfectly delivers the passion if his character and of course who better to make you feel sympathetic than Will Smith. The camera work just the playing of levels and really capturing the emotion of the face and surroundings.
The plot finally wraps up when Smith is called into the office of the office and he thinks for sure he is about to be told he didn't get the job, but the boss smiles and welcomes him to the team as Smith again portrays so much emotion without saying a single word as he comes to a very humble and thankful state. He leaves the office a walking manifesto of the American dream, as he begins to cry as he realizes anything is possible as long as you work hard for it.
As the plot continues Smith begins to become convinced that he will not get the job that he and his sons life depends upon, and he begins to lose the hope of the pursuit of happiness, the American dream. The American dream of course that you can be anything you want if you are willing to dedicate yourself to a goal then you can achieve it.
In "the basketball scene" as it's referred to as Smith clarifies what the American dream is, it's having a dream and protecting it and not letting someone tell you that you can't do something. I thought this was one of the more beautiful and uplifting parts of the movie, every part of it from the writing, to the acting, to the camera work. The writing of this scene I think really solidifies the idea that this is a movie about the American dream. While the acting so perfectly delivers the passion if his character and of course who better to make you feel sympathetic than Will Smith. The camera work just the playing of levels and really capturing the emotion of the face and surroundings.
The plot finally wraps up when Smith is called into the office of the office and he thinks for sure he is about to be told he didn't get the job, but the boss smiles and welcomes him to the team as Smith again portrays so much emotion without saying a single word as he comes to a very humble and thankful state. He leaves the office a walking manifesto of the American dream, as he begins to cry as he realizes anything is possible as long as you work hard for it.