Wide Awake (1998)
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40% of critics liked it
(30 reviews) -
63% of users liked it
(4,534 ratings)
In this film by writer-director M. Night Shyamalan, a young boy learns lessons about life and God during a trying year of discovery in fifth grade at a Catholic boys' school. As the school year opens, Joshua Beal (Joseph Cross) is despondent over the recent death of his grandfather (Robert… More In this film by writer-director M. Night Shyamalan, a young boy learns lessons about life and God during a trying year of discovery in fifth grade at a Catholic boys' school. As the school year opens, Joshua Beal (Joseph Cross) is despondent over the recent death of his grandfather (Robert Loggia). On his first day at school, Joshua is harassed by the class bully. Because his grandfather played football, Joshua tries out for the school team, over the objections of his parents (Dana Delaney and Denis Leary), two physicians who don't like the risk of injury. But Joshua is inept athletically and does not make the team. Joshua continues to seek answers from God about his grandfather, so his teacher, Sister Terry (Rosie O'Donnell), advises him to approach a cardinal who is coming to visit the nearby girls school. Joshua meets a young girl at the school and falls for her. As the year goes by, Joshua continues his quest for spiritual answers and finds them in unexpected places, such as a winter snowstorm. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi
- Directed By
- M. Night Shyamalan
- Written By
- M. Night Shyamalan
- Genres
- Drama, Kids & Family, Comedy
PG,
- In Theaters
- Mar 20, 1998 Wide
- Studio
- Miramax
Critic Reviews
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Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A wonderful family film that deals sensitively, and even with humor, with a fairly unusual situation for the screen: a 9-year-old's struggles with his faith in God.
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Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle
Children, too, will be bored to tears navigating through some of the talky spiritual gunk.
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James Berardinelli, ReelViews
I was aware of the problems, but that didn't diminish the warm, fuzzy glow I was experiencing.
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Jeff Millar, Houston Chronicle
The fact is, just too many of the characters and plot points are right out of the stock room: the obligatory fat kid; the obligatory bully; the obligatory kid whose parents can't really afford Catholic school tuition ...
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Stephen Holden, New York Times
Beneath its suffocating, smug sentimentality, you have to look hard to uncover a single moment of truth and genuine feeling.
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Cast
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Joseph Cross
as Joshua Beal
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Dana Delany
as Mrs. Beal
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Denis Leary
as Mr. Beal
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Robert Loggia
as Grandpa Beal
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Rosie O'Donnell
as Sister Terry
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Camryn Manheim
as Sister Sophia
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Vicki Giunta
as Sister Beatrice
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Julia Stiles
as Neena Beal
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Heather Casler
as Hope
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Dan Lauria
as Father Peters
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Stefan Niemczyk
as Frank Benton
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Michael Pacienza
as Freddie Waltman
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Michael Shulman
as Robert Brickman
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Jaret Ross Barron
as Dan
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Jarrett Abello
as John
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Joseph Melito Jr.
as Billy
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Peter A. Urban Jr.
as Newman
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Jahmal Curtis
as Student
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Michael Craig Bigwood
as Little Boy
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Gil Robbins
as Cardinal Geary
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Marc H. Glick
as Father Sebastian
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Robert K. O'Neill
as Young Priest
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Deborah Stern
as Mrs. Waltman
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Joey Perillo
as Mr. Waltman
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Jerry Walsh
as Football Coach
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Liam Mitchell
as Gym Teacher
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Charles Techman
as Janitor
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Antoine McLean
as Wilson
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Arleen Goman
as Mrs. Pitman
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Mets Suber
as Race Starter
