"Wide Awake"(1998)

Film Info...Reviews & Comments...Links...Buy

In "Wide Awake" Joe plays Joshua Beal, an inquisitive fifth grader searching for God after his beloved grandfather dies. Joe won almost universal acclaim for his astonishing performance here. Although released after "Desperate Measures" and seen by far fewer people than that film, it nonetheless had a big impact on those who did see it. One thing that made it stand out was its positive take on religion and faith. And it was released by Miramax, no less! They obviously wanted to promote it as a light Rosie O'Donnell comedy. While it did have many hilariously funny moments, it was definitely a comedy-drama with many dramatic and poignant moments. Writer-director M. Night Shyamalan, who went on to phenomenal success with "The Sixth Sense", obviously showed a tremendous talent for working with child actors and balancing comedy with drama. For anyone who's ever been a kid, lost a loved one, had a best friend, hoped and prayed that those you loved would be OK whether they were here or not, this film is for you. I hope that you will "awake" to this magical film if you haven't seen it!

Film Info

Release Date: March 20, 1998
Total Box-Office Gross (US Dollars): $258,212
Running time: 87m
Released by: Miramax
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Cast:

• Joseph Cross...Joshua Beal
• Robert Loggia...Grandpa Beal
• Dana Delaney...Mrs. Beal
• Denis Leary...Mr. Beal
• Rosie O'Donnell...Sister Terry
• Timothy Riefsnyder...Dave O'Hara

Trivia/Notes:

• Director M. Night Shyamalan based some of this film on his boyhood in Philadelphia.
• Scenes were filmed at Bryn-Mayr College in Philadelphia & the actual chilhood Catholic school which Shyamalan attended.
• The premiere of the film was in New York and was attended by then US Vice-President Al Gore. It was held on Sunday March 15, 1998. (NY Times, 3/17/1998)

Reviews & Comments

"Warm, quirky, and sensitive comedy/drama/parable. Young lead Cross and co-star Loggia stand out in fine cast."
-- Leonard Maltin, Leonard Maltin's MMovie & Video Guide

"Cross is a marvel, a terrific young actor who expresses beautifully Joshua's conflicting emotions, his clear intelligence and staunch character."
-- Kevin Thomas, Newsday, 3/20/11998

"The Real find of the film is Cross, who has never had any formal dramatic training or experience. His face -- with dimples to rival Brad Pitt's - is so honest and open, his delivery so dead-on that when he cries it's impossible to stay indifferent. His future should be rosy indeed."
-- Jane Ganahl, San Francisco Examineer, 3/27/1998

"...neophyte actor Joseph Cross, [who] is believable as the precocious Josh..."
-- James Berardinelli, Reel Views, 3/20/1998