#85: The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Director: Gabriele Muccino
Starring: Will Smith, Thandie Newton and Jaden Smith
Academy Awards: Nominated one time. Will Smith for Best Actor.
Plot: “A struggling salesman takes custody of his son as he’s poised to begin a life-changing professional endeavor.”
Stock: Holding
Previous Ranking: #70

“You got a dream … You gotta protect it. People can’t do somethin’ themselves, they wanna tell you you can’t do it. If you want somethin’, go get it. Period.”

Isn’t this what we are all on the pursuit of … happiness?? It’s why the founders of our country added it after “life” and “liberty” in the Declaration of Independence. Pursuit of Happyness is a great title and if you’ve seen it, you know it’s a great movie.

Will Smith typically stars in action-packed, gun-toting, alien-killing blockbusters. However, he shows off tremendous range and depth playing Christopher Gardner, a down-on-his-luck father. This is a film about family, about the American dream, and about never giving up. If Jimmy V were still with us he would applaud this movie.

What really resonates with me, and why it’s so high on this list is because it’s based on a true story. Knowing that this actually happened helps hammer it home. It’s an inspirational flick and one everyone should see.

UPDATE

Despite dropping fifteen spots in four years, this movie has nothing to worry about. It’s not going anywhere. It’s too strong, too powerful, and too meaningful to drop completely out of the top-100. It’s one of Will Smith’s finest acting jobs, one that led to a well-deserving Academy Award nomination.

Fun Fact: Speedcubing champions Tyson Mao, Toby Mao and Lars Petrus were hired to coach Will Smith to solve a Rubik’s Cube in under two minutes.

Hint for #84: Before he was making draft picks for the Cleveland Browns, he worked on a farm.

Peace Be The Journey.