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Name: whatdat

Comment: <<I couldn’t help but to compare this movie with the Nicolas Cage movie, “The Weather Man”. Both men had to overcome a failed marriage and figure out what to do with the child(ren) of such a failed union. Of course, both women in these movies were frustrated, selfish, and mean-spirited. Except the White women in The Weather Man is converted before the end of the movie by getting remarried. You see, the writer gave important attention to NOT leave a negative impression of White women. This White woman is shown being the perfect happy mother and wife in her new marriage within the last two minutes of the movie. Therefore leaving the White woman’s image justified and redeemed. The much needed missing component in the Pursuit of Happyness is the Black woman is just left out there being a selfish, mean-spirited, abandoning %*$!( who never redeems herself […] why the hell didn’t the writer have a Black man and a Black women walk off into the sunset together as one? […] Now, some of you might be thinking, chill Pearl Jr., this is a true story. Sorry no, it clearly states this is “based on a true story”, which means that some of it is true and some of it is made up.>> http://blackstarnews.com/?c=135&a=2786

Name: whatdat

Comment: I have disagreed with Pearl Jr. a number of times in the past. However, this time i agree with her. I haven’t seen the film because i feel it is a 21st century blaxploitation film. That is because the principals behind the camera are mostly white. I am hearing things about the film that helps me see i made the right choice. Another sista wrote that the film does not include his successful life as a millionaire. Also, the same person said it completely bypassed the issue of race. In my opinion, it is left out so as not to inspire Black people. Envy also might be at the root of that, since the director and writer are both white. Mentioning white, here is something that drives home one of the points Pearl made. As i mentioned the writer of "The Pursuit of Happyness" is white. What is more he is the same one that wrote "The Weather Man"--Steven Conrad! You see where i am going with this? He wrote a happy ending for the white woman in the later, but nothing for the Black woman in the former. Pearl is absolutely right. Coming from the same man’s pen, that is no accident. As you so succinctly wrote "The Pursuit of Happyness" is based on a true story. That means he could have written any role he wanted to for the sister. Yeah, it aint nothin but blaxploitation. I aint gon see it. I will borrow the book from the library and read it. (I don't buy books written by whites unless i don't know the author is white or i have to.)

Name: btrpcon

Comment: I saw the film and i thought it was a wonderful movie. I dont think it shows the mother as being selfish. In the movie when she decided to leave, she told her husband she was packing her and the baby's clothes and THEY we leaving him. She at first was going to take her son with him. Thats when he told her she wasnt taking his son anywhere (which is typically what a black man will do when the woman leaves) but he held out and kept the son with him to raise. Being in the situation they were in at the time, i honestly cannot say who the child would have been better off with..the mother or the father. But i do think it shows that as a black man he was determined to raise his son. He did what he had to do at point A to move to point B. Even in a slump he moved forward. I think Chris/Will presented himself as a strong black man and not just a bum..but he was hit with unfortunate circumstances and OVERCAME. Which we all to take note in. Also you all know white america doesnt have a problem casting a white person in a black person's life on film.Just look at Angelia Jolie being cast as Daniel Pearl's wife. She is a woman of color, but she preferenced a WHITE WOMAN to protray her on file. not that is a movie i wouldnt go see. from the jump it's already FAKE!!!!!

Name: Deb70

Comment: Absolutely one of the best movies I've ever seen. I will buy this when it comes out on DVD. I have a great level of respect for Will Smith. He is phenomenal in this.

Name: MzTee

Comment: I saw the film and thought it was a cute movie. I was more impressed with Chris Gardner's love for his son as ably protrayed by Will and his son Jaden than with Mr. Gardner's eventual triumph within the work place. One thing I didn't understand is why the wife backed down from taking the son with her as SHE INTENDED TO DO. As btrpcon mentioned, at that particular time, it was a toss up as to whom the child would have been better off with; but I'd tip the scale toward the mother who had a job lined up in NYC, family support and a place to stay. One glowing criticism I do have is the film's failure to mention race. It was blatantly absent and made the film somewhat unrealistic. In some of the press junkets for the movie, Will Smith intentionally evades the question of race and gives these pithy philosophical aphorisms as answers, which leads me to believe he himself doesn't acknowledge racism or naively believes that hardwork, dedication, and ambition alone can transcend it.

Name: mythots

Comment: Great movie! They don't have to mention race...it is all in a person's attitude and determination. The story was about a man and his son and how they overcame a lot. I don't agree with 'whatdat' at all. I believe Chris Gardner played a large part in the movie and if they didn't show the black woman happy in her new marraige in the end...maybe that hadn't happened.

Name: Delani

Comment: I am an avid reader of Eurweb postings and this is my very first post. As a HUGE (and that’s an understatement) Will Smith fan, I enjoyed the movie, although I am biased because I love this man to death!!! I believe a lot of the audience was looking for more, but what we can do to fill the void is to read the actual book!!!! I cannot wait to get my copy. I have decided to give my opinions on this particular article do to the number of opinions that I have read that are based on lack of information. Chris Gardner, the author of the book, was a speaker at my Church here in Chicago a few months back and the man and his story is awesome. His talk would be hard to sum up. I was truly inspired by how this movie, as stated by Mr. Gardner at my church, is nothing more than a love story between him and his son. This movie was a portrayal of only a year out of his life and some parts of that story was altered for the movie. Since we rarely see our beautiful black people portrayed in such a positive movie, it should be supported. I agree with mythots, that race did not have to be mentioned in the movie. Chris Gardner also stated that he never used that as an excuse for. We already know that race is a factor that we are faced with everyday, but it is not a crutch that we have to use daily for our lack of success at times. He was determined to make a better life for him and his son in any way.

Name: Delani

Comment: *Chris Gardner also stated that he never used that as an excuse for the hardships that he endured. *

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