
Bedazzled, Billy Elliot, Pay it Forward, Remember the Titans, The Legend of Bagger Vance



by
George Shaw
Bedazzled
A nerdy low-level technical advisor makes a deal with the devil (who happens to be a gorgeous woman) to fulfill his wildest dreams of becoming rich, powerful and sexy. But when that doesn't win him the love of a female co-worker, he makes a surprising use of the last of seven wishes.
Starring Brendan Fraser, Elizabeth Hurley, Frances O'conner, Orlando Jones, Gabriel Casseus. Directed Harold Ramis.
Billy Elliot
The life of a miner's son in Northern England is forever changed one day when he stumbles upon a ballet class on his way to boxing lessons. Joining the class and keeping it a secret from his widowed father and overbearing brother, 11-year-old Billy finds himself in dance, demonstrating the kind of raw talent seldom seen by the class's exacting instructor, Mrs. Wilkinson. She encourages him to try out for the Royal Ballet. But when his father and brother find out and forbid him to continue, Billy is torn between his responsibility to his family and to the gift with which he has been blessed. His overwhelming desire to dance has become much more to him that simply a means of self-expression. It is his passion and it is his destiny.
Starring Julie Walters, Julie Walters, Jamie Bell, Jamie Bell, Jamie Draven. Directed Stephen Daldry, Stephen Daldry.
Pay it Forward
Eugene Simonet, an emotionally and physically scarred social studies teacher, challenges his young students to devise some type of philanthropic plan and put it into effect. A young boy, whose own life is far from rosy, takes the assignment to heart and invents the "pay-it-forward" philosophy, which encourages paying back favors in advance. The whole town embraces the boy's concept, and random acts of kindness become a community pastime. Though celebrated by acquaintances and the media, the boy struggles at home with his alcoholic mother, and the only one who recognizes his lonely fight is Eugene Simonet.
Starring Kevin Spacey, Haley Joel Osment, Helen Hunt, Liev Schreiber, Jon Bon Jovi. Directed Mimi Leder.
Remember the Titans
Based on actual events that took place in 1971, a white southern high school is integrated with black students from a nearby school. Both schools are recognized for their football programs which are now unified. The black coach is chosen to be the head coach of the integrated team, leaving the previous white head coach with feelings of animosity at having to be an assistant under a black man.
Starring Denzel Washington, Donald Faison, Kip Pardue, Craig Kirkwood, Will Patton. Directed Boaz Yakin.
The Legend of Bagger Vance
Set against the backdrop of a golf tournament in 1930's Georgia where a white war hero is competing for the championship with the help of his black caddie, Bagger Vance, who possesses the secret of the perfect swing.
Starring Matt Damon, Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Bruce McGill, Dermot Crowley. Directed Robert Redford.