If "Good Will Hunting" and "Scent of a Woman" were to meet some moonlit night, consummate and make a child, "Finding Forester" would be their adolescent son.

Though less developed, matured, and fervent than its parents, "Forrester" draws from the same heart to make the same points.

It's a warm mellow film. Warm in its development of the unlikely friendship between Sean Connery, (a cynical Pulitzer Prize winning recluse) and Brown, a 16-year-old basketballer from the Bronx. Mellow in its progression. Unfortunately, Director Gus Van Sant kicks back a little too long -- never really breaking into the intense back and forth of "Good Will Hunting" which he also directed.

Additionally, the piece feels harshly edited at times. For example, a trip to a basketball game ends in a baseball diamond -- not even a quick reference shot of a basketball game is given.

Anyway, it's a nice enough film, quaint even. And one of the few films where the lead actor can actually aptly play the sport he's called to play.

I particularly enjoyed the following quote from the production notes. F. M. Abraham who plays Crawford the skeptical prep school teacher says of his character, "Crawford's ... a victim of his own pride and blindness. His tragedy is that he's failed the one great student he ever taught, squandered his chance at helping someone achieve true fame."