‘Gifted,’ starring Chris Evans, Mckenna Grace, Octavius Spencer and Jenny Slate, tells the story about a young girl who is exceptionally talented at mathematics far beyond her age. Before I get into the bulk of this post, you should know that this isn’t a film for kids. However, it would be a nice break for some of you who watch a ton of animated or action movies.
All in all, the film is pretty well rounded. It has great acting performances especially by Octavius Spencer and Linsay Duncan, who plays a sharp-tongued British mother in law. There were a few scenes that were not only shot beautifully but had great value to the plot as well. I don’t have any complaints about the movie at all, but I’m hesitant to call it Oscar worthy, it’s worth seeing nonetheless. Also, it’s quite the tear-jerker.
So now that I’ve covered that, let’s run through the 3 Lessons You’ll Learn From Gifted:
1. There Is Always Sacrifice: During the film, Mary the math prodigy learns what her truest potential could be if she went to a special school for people like her opposed to a practical school life. Whichever road Mary would want to pursue has its own pros and cons. Obviously, if Mary chose the big university route, she’d never get to experience social interaction with people her age, but if Mary wanted to stay in regular school, she’d never know how far her gift could bring her. No matter what direction she goes there is going to be some form of sacrifice. This lesson applies to a lot of our own lives from what we want to eat for breakfast to what job we pursue, every decision comes with a sacrifice.
2. Don’t Put Too Much Pressure On Someone: During the film, Evelyn, the straight forward mother in law was very strict with her daughter, and this resulted in something unfavorable that I won’t spoil. Evelyn hounded her daughter and made mathematics her only focus while simultaneously isolating her from the rest of the world. With that being said, I think it’s important for us all to know when it’s time to back off.
3. Family Comes First: Chris Evans character, Frank, leaves a very well paying job and semi-lavish life to step in as the guardian of his niece, Mary. This lesson is crucial. Even though this lesson and the first one listed go hand in hand, this lesson is more about making the right decisions about what’s best for your spouse, kids, brother, mother, etc. sometimes you have to put others before yourself, and that’s what this movie does an excellent job of embodying.
‘Gifted’ is a great viewing option for those of you who like to see both sides to a story and pick a side. Again, there’s nothing negative I have to say about ‘Gifted’ because it’s such a well-rounded flick. So be sure to check it out.
Until Next Time
JJ King
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