Search - Wide Awake on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Adult Situations, Suitable for Children Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 03/28/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 27 mins Studio: Miramax Members Wishing: 8 Genres: Comedy Drama, Religious Drama, Childhood Drama, Coming-of-Age See Also: Wide Awake

In this film by writer-director M. Night Shyamalan, a young boy learns lessons about life and God during a trying year of discovery in fifth grade at a Catholic boys' school. As the school year opens, Joshua Beal (Joseph Cross) is despondent over the recent death of his grandfather (Robert Loggia). On his first day at school, Joshua is harassed by the class bully. Because his grandfather played football, Joshua tries out for the school team, over the objections of his parents (Dana Delaney and Denis Leary), two physicians who don't like the risk of injury. But Joshua is inept athletically and does not make the team. Joshua continues to seek answers from God about his grandfather, so his teacher, Sister Terry (Rosie O'Donnell), advises him to approach a cardinal who is coming to visit the nearby girls school. Joshua meets a young girl at the school and falls for her. As the year goes by, Joshua continues his quest for spiritual answers and finds them in unexpected places, such as a winter snowstorm. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide

Joseph Cross - Joshua Beal
Dana Delany - Mrs. Beal
Denis Leary - Mr. Beal
Robert Loggia - Grandpa Beal

One of M. Night Shyamalan's early films, Wide Awake, comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1. English and French soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital Surround. The English soundtrack is closed-captioned, and Spanish subtitles are accessible. Supplemental features are limited to a theatrical trailer. This by-the-numbers release delivers the film to the people who would want to own it, but there is nothing truly compelling about this DVD. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide