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Will Smith received his second Oscar nod for The Pursuit of Happyness. He stars as down-on-his luck dad Chris Gardner opposite real-life son Jaden Smith in this "tear-jerking" adaptation of Gardner's fortune-hunting memoir. A fable of triumph over adversity is one of Hollywood's favourite formulas and, with box office darling Mr Smith leading the charge, the film was a guaranteed money-maker.
The Pursuit Of Perfection
It was Smith who pegged Italian director Gabriele Muccino to make this film and he reveals why in a Making Of featurette. He points in particular to a "level of emotion" that Muccino manages to draw from his actors in previous films like L'Ultimo Bacio. The director himself insists that in order to fully appreciate The American Dream you "have to be a foreigner." According to him, chasing that dream involves a lot of running - and not just plain old Men In Black running either. Smith explains how he tried to convey "desperation" through a certain style of "old man" jogging. His testimony is backed by plenty of behind-the-scenes footage that sees him hauling his butt up and down the hills of San Francisco. Phew!
Producers feared that Smith would be even more exhausted by the experience of having to act opposite his own son. Not so. In the featurette Father & Son: On Screen And Off, Smith explains that it was the easiest part of the job because he and Jaden have a "natural chemistry" together. Behind-the-scenes footage shows the two of them larking about between takes, but the mini Smith also listens carefully as dad gives him direction before a key scene.
It was Chris Gardner who really wallowed in angst after deciding to be on set for every day of the shoot. The Man Behind The Movie follows him as he guides Smith through all the moments of "pain" in what he calls "the darkest days of my life." Naturally there is a happy ending to this featurette, showcasing Gardner's efforts to "give back" to underprivileged communities in South Africa.
The Weight Of Happyness
Muccino admits he felt "a huge responsibility" in telling Gardner's story, but not just because the man himself was breathing down his neck. In his commentary for the film he describes Hollywood as "this big machine" compared to the small-scale movies he's used to making in Italy. Even the subtlest moments between actors gave him a big headache. A scene where Gardner crosses paths with a self-made stockbroker was shot twice because Muccino felt the staging was wrong and because it "wasn't poignant and sharp enough" on the first go.
Lightening the load is a five-minute featurette exploring the history and the cult of the Rubik's Cube, which plays a small but significant role in the film. For instance, did you know that the Rubik's Cube can be manipulated into 43 quintillion positions? (Wait a minute - what's a quintillion...?) This DVD may leave some people scratching their heads, but for those who enjoyed Happyness in cinemas, it'll certainly leave you with a warm glow.
EXTRA FEATURES
The Pursuit Of Happyness DVD is released on Monday 14th May 2007.
