rev_f_simonbirch

SIMON BIRCH
ian michael smith / joseph mozello / ashley judd

as reviewed by Jack Crompton at Amazon.com, November 20, 2006

Funny and full of heart...

I love this film for many reasons. To me, it has all the elements of a great story: comedy, tragedy, a good dose of authentic 'americana' (set in coastal Maine), interesting and 'real' characters, a timeless message, powerful archetypes, 'real' emotion and a great soundtrack. What more can you ask for?

The film centers around an endearing friendship between two young boys. One, without a father, and the other deformed and virtually disowned by his family, yet born with an uncanny awareness of his destiny and life purpose, which the film eventually plays out. The bond that is developed in this story between the two boys is very affecting. Joseph Mozello, as Simon’s best friend Joe Wentworth, does one of the best acting jobs I've seen by a young person. He steps into the character perfectly. Realistic, without getting at all 'sappy'.

Along with the young Joe Wentworth, all the characters in the film are excellent and fit exceedingly well. The Rev. Russell, Simon, Ben Goodrich and the lovely Ashley Judd as Joe's mother are all superbly portrayed, and each are characters one develops a good deal of empahy for during the course of the film. Ashley looks more naturally beautiful in this role than in any other film I’ve seen her in. And her budding love interest, Ben Goodrich, is impossible not to like. Even the reverend, a shadow of a man, tormented by the spineless choices of his past is portrayed in his humanity as one deserving of mercy and understanding, and one is left feeling compassion for him.

The movie is at times hysterically funny too. I mean, really very, very funny! The Christmas Pagaent scene is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen... maybe because I grew up in that traditional New England atmosphere and have lived through my own version of it.

Simon Birch is a wonderful film that acknowledges the spiritual essence of people, divine providence, life purpose, consequence of choices, the connections between souls, the sometimes absurdity of life and the mystery of why life unfolds as it does. Be warned: It easily elicits tears. It is both very heavy and light as a feather. It is deep as the ocean and yet it doesn't take itself too seriously.

If I was forced to choose one movie I would not want to live without, it may be this one. Highly recommended.

WORDS
REVIEWS

FILM