: I didn't expect inspirational films to be so gentle.
The preferred subject of inspirational films is all kinds of strange things that break through the limits of human physiology, and then there are human competitions with competition. Therefore, films with inspirational feelings over the years are basically based on the struggles of fighters with life, or the valiant heroics on the field. Although this film is also based on competition items, the content of the competition is strangely gentle and quiet. The story of an 11-year-old girl who competes in a spelling bee.
Like most heroes on screen, Akeelah is a kid from the slums. She almost pinned her thoughts on her deceased father in simple spelling and writing, and at the same time, she also achieved her unique skills. For the competition, the film never put on a "everything for happiness and joy" face. At the beginning, coach Joshua Larabee (Laurence Fishburne) affirmed the cruelty of the National Spelling Bee and the seriousness of the situation. Not the slogan of "fight for interest", but to face up to the seriousness of the game and the fear of the players, with the Marianne Williamson quote that dominates the tone of the entire film: Face us and our fears with confidence, and we can do anything. In this sense, the story of the inspirational elements of the film is basically driven by Akeelah's fear of the stage.
Fear of being laughed at as "a freak and a brainiac", so I reject the spelling bee; I hesitate to participate because of the pressure of everyone's expectations; I am afraid that Dylan will be embarrassed in front of his father by winning the championship... Through self-knowledge and transcendence, Akeelah builds his own relationships. Become the pride of the community, the pride of the school, and even the focus of national competitions. Although the plot is biased towards the traditional "national film" happy ending at the end, it is still a masterpiece. The warmth of the family, the friendship of friends, and the affection of teachers and students are all well integrated into the game. From the struggle of one person, to seeking the help of people around you, to becoming the expectation of the whole community, the process is smooth and natural. Several small supporting roles highlight this change - a more classic and traditional Hollywood way of expressing: the changes in the supporting roles are used to set off the changes in the environment.
The director and production crew's mastery of the film's rhythm is astounding. A spelling bee of Wen Zou Zou is rendered like a battlefield where swords and guns are used at the same time. The climax of the 30-in-5 and 5-in-2, as well as the final tiebreaker, uses fluent editing methods and logical connections to eliminate the entire arena. There is a degree of relaxation with the promotion performance, and the tightness is appropriate. It allows people to have a more comprehensive understanding of this competition with spelling as its entire content, and at the same time to understand the meaning of competition. The director turned an extremely long and uninteresting game into an arena no less than football and basketball, in the words of a live commentator: "It's like watching two tennis stars play, hitting the ball back and forth on both sides of the net. . These children chew super difficult words as easily as chewing cereal." Personally, I think the handling of this game scene is a classic.
Don't be afraid to be the best, make being the best the first step. The film tells a tender fairy tale with extreme modesty and firm belief.
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