Because of scoring exceptionaly high on a state wide standardized exam and being an exceptionally good basketball player Jamal Wallace is sent to a prestigious prep school in Manhattan. He soon befriends the reclusive writer, William Forrester. The friendship leads to William to overcome his reclusivness and for Jamal to overcome the racial prejudices and pursue his true dream - writing.
Written by the chan man
Star Rob Brown got the role after initially auditioning as an extra. Brown had no aspirations of being an actor and was only hoping to make some money to pay his $300 cell phone bill. But Gus Van Sant invited him to audition for the role of Jamal and liked his natural ability.
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Goofs
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers):
At one point in the film Jamal mentions to Claire that, "It was Stamford... At the bar in London... He was the one who introduced Watson to Holmes", alluding to the Sherlock Holmes novels and stories. However, it wasn't at a bar in London where Stamford introduced Watson to Holmes but at a hospital's chemical laboratory near the bar.
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Quotes
Forrester:
I have an homeland that I have not seen for too long. Jamal:
Oh, you mean Ireland? Forrester:
Scotland, for God's sakes! Jamal:
I'm messing with you, man. See more »
Crazy Credits
During the Columbia logo presentation, Bill Frisell's guitar playing the
Columbia accompanying music is heard, rather than the usual orchestral
version.
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