Review of Peaceful Warrior (2006) by John M — 24 Dec 2009

Dan Millman is a gymnast hoping to qualify for the Olympic games. He has friends, women, money, a good school career, and a fine physique. But one night when he finds that he can't sleep, he comes across a service station and meets a strange old man, who teaches him how to do that one thing that keeps him up at night: to be happy.

I just want to start off this (199th) review by saying I have not read the book upon which this is based. The acting in this film is overall quite terrific. Scott Mechlowicz gives an excellent performance as Dan Millman; a typical teen trying to find his purpose in life, then loses hi purpose, and finding it again. And then there's Nick Nolte. It's not an Oscar-winner, but he did help to create an excellent and very interesting character in Socrates. The other actors were quite light on screentime, but they handed in solid background character performances. Now, I'm no sports fan, so I was a bit reluctant to see this movie. But it's about much more than sports; it's about your life and how you live it. Although some of the movie fails to make sense in hindsight only, it really takes nothing away from this simply inspirational tale of discovering one's self. As with most book adaptations, there are certain scenes or situations that feel just a bit out of place, as if there should be something more to them, but again it doesn't really take away from the film. Yes, the plot and characters are very formulaic, but it's not the formula that makes the movie great; it's what is done with that formula. And this film is directed beautifully, with each scene put together excellently while staying on the edge of typicality. Okay, now I have to admit certain parts of the movie were a bit hokey, what with the 'new age' thinking process and mind-over-matter conversations that take up the lion's share of the dialog, but soon enough you're able to see it, and understand it. It ultimately adds to the element of the film, and gives it the creative edge (combined with the excellent directing and acting) that keeps it away from all those ridiculously campy and over-simplified sports dramas. But in the end the film runs a bit long, and despite the slight repetitiveness the message begs for the "some assembly required" sticker. Overall it's no Oscar-winner, but it's a fine character-drama with a jigsaw puzzle of good philosophical messages with a great atmosphere and two great performances. So I give "Peaceful Warrior" 8.5 rings out of 10.

There are way too many quotable lines from Nolte.