David Beito at the Liberty & Power Blog recommends the film The Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith which is currently in the theatres. He writes:
I hereby give Pursuit of Happyness a glowing endorsement. It is a compelling, energetic, and unabashed celebration of free markets, individual responsibility, and old-fashioned pluck. Based on a true story, Will Smith plays Chris Gardner, a man who never lets up in his dream of becoming a stockbroker despite the responsibilities of a young son and the lack of a college education.
While the critics have generally praised the film, it has rubbed some of them the wrong way. More than a few have found it hard to stomach the novelty of a sympathetic black character in a major Hollywood film who aspires to be a stockbroker and quotes Thomas Jefferson without irony or apology.
The film got good marks for quality from the great Filmspotting podcast. I haven’t seen it myself yet, but it sounds like a film for the Film Page.
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I’ve seen it and recommend it. It’s pro-achievement, and Will Smith’s character heroically blames no one for his hard times, unlike the left, who would blame everyone else, insist that he needs a higher minimum wage, etc.
My only problem with the film is the title. Why did they have to spell “happiness” wrong?
Watch it. You’ll find out.
Tracy
This is a great movie. There is also many instances of government strong arming in here. At one point Carter has his bank account robbed by the IRS and he is also jailed for parking tickets. It also treats the wealthy realistically as normal people and not overtly racist or evil.
Yeah It didn’t demonize the land lord at all. He’s just another Joe making a living like everybody else.
Tracy
Our family saw it the other night. I prepared myself to sit through a feel-good, “chick flick”. Instead, I was delighted by a good dose of classical liberalism. The movie needs to be rated CL for its graphic illustrations of capitalism, self-responsibility, and the genius of the individual. Those who are bent towards collectivism, redistribution, and victimization will most likely be offended.
A movie that could have been definetly written, produced, and directed by Von Mise, Rand, and jefferson
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