Abbigail Bush
what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.
Roy Hart
If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.
Payno
I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
Marie
I'm a late arrival. Even though this movie was released in 2008 I only saw this a couple of days ago but was so impressed with the quality of the acting that I had to write this review. It tells the true story of a young boy diagnosed with Tourette's, which is such a debilitating disorder that it can leave those who have it, and those who are in their company at their wits end with frustration. The story is told in part flashback with James Wolk leading the narrative beginning during his school days, which were quite frankly years of torture and ignorance. Brad Cohen(whom this story is based on) is determined to become a teacher but has everything stacked against him. His difficulty with reading because of his ticks. His minimal support from his teachers and a father that simply doesn't understand his disability. All this would break anyone but this young boy found a way to rise above this with the help of his mother and a wise head teacher. The 2 leads in this movie were nothing short of brilliant. Young "Brad" was played with such maturity and attention to detail he deserves to go far in his acting career, and James Wolk, the adult "Brad" showed great range in his acting, from happy, angry, to sad and upset, all with ticks intact. All the supporting cast were excellent, and Treat Williams - the dad no one wants - really came through in the end. I usually find Hallmark films a bit disposable, forgettable and samey, but this one is stand out gold. Anyone feeling sorry for themselves or having a bad day. Watch this. Guaranteed to make you put things into perspective
Ratri Bilqis Auwibi
First time i watched this movie was in a class with all of my friends about 4 years ago. the lecturer let us watch it. usually, when lecturer ask us to watch movie, it would be something boring and old. but not with this movie. the best way for me to enjoy movie is watching them alone using an earphone. in fact, i enjoyed this movie so much when i watched this with about eighties people in room. Tonight i'm watching it again and thinking about to write a little words about it. its touching. and the value, it gives us lesson that something which usually looked as weakness or a bad thing in contrary become something that strengthen you so much. because sometimes, a normal people could still being shame of their self and pessimistic. but this tourette syndrome taught you not to give up. I'm just so in love with this movie, its so deep. and james wolk played his role as Brad never failed me a bit. 10 thumbs!
TxMike
This is a really good story and made nicely into this TV movie. It is based on a real person. We saw it on DVD from our public library.Jimmy Wolk is grown up Brad Cohen, new college graduate, attempting to get a job as a teacher in Atlanta. He knows it will be difficult because most school administrators don't believe he can be effective in the classroom with his verbal ticks. But he doesn't give up easily and vows to apply at every school in the greater Atlanta area.Also very effective is young Dominic Scott Kay as the Young Brad Cohen, perhaps 10 or 11. We see the difficulties he has at school and also within his family. For years the doctors missed the diagnosis, they just thought he was hyperactive and made noises for attention. Only Patricia Heaton as his mother, Ellen Cohen, believed her son. On her own she went to the library and read medical books until she came up with Tourette.Brad's family was fractured, he grew up in St Louis while his father, Treat Williams as Norman Cohen, re-married and moved to Atlanta where he was in the construction business. Acceptance by his father was always an issue with Brad.Dating was always a problem with Brad but when he met Sarah Drew as Nancy Lazarus things turned around. She accepted him for who he is, a very smart and generous person, and they were able to build a life together.A very good movie, even though I was sleepy when I started to watch it I never became sleepy as the movie played.SPOILERS: Brad eventually received a return interview and at a progressive school was hired as a 2nd grade teacher. He discussed Tourette openly when his students asked and allowed them to ask any question. Not only was he accepted and loved by the students, he also was able to reach a young troublemaker and turn him around. At the end of the school year he was chosen as the best rookie teacher in the state of Georgia.
jlclark44
We had the great honor and pleasure of meeting Brad at a weekend long retreat for families dealing with Tourette's that he hosted over Halloween weekend, our 6 yr old was diagnosed last spring. He is truly an inspiration, and the movie only scratches the surface of how wonderful a person he really is.As for the question of if he makes the noises that often, from the 2 1/2 days we were around him, yes it is that often if not even more often.In the auditorium scene if you look you will see a quick shot of a teacher in a white shirt and tie standing in the back, that is Brad. He was only able to stay for a minute so his ticks didn't interfere with the movie.
