particularly liked the one-eyed cat, Fred, and his rescue from the euthanasia shelter. He's just sitting there with two other cats waiting to be put down. No one dies on Frank's watch. Great acting, interesting plot, genuine emotion, questions about the meaning of life and the debt we owe to our talents, all wrapped up in a great-looking movie. Just watch. You'll love it.

or not. Mostly not.Grace's performance does raise a few eye brows as she very convincingly plays a precocious and genius little girl plagued with boredom being surrounded by the dead-weight of average students she has nothing in common with.In fact, Mary's personality is also far developed beyond her peers, exhibiting a sarcastic and jaded sense of humor more on par with a bunch of 40-year olds downing a shot or two after a particularly bad day at work.After Mary's abilities are discovered by her first grade teacher, the inevitable battle for command of her future quickly unfolds.One very powerful supporting role is supplied by Lindsay Duncan who portrays Evelyn the Grandmother. Evelyn is a poised and proper Englishwoman armed with a titanium intellect few would want to challenge. As the legal proceedings unfold, Evelyn verbally fire-bombs the entire court room from the stand without batting an eye in her fight for custody of Mary.Her arguments and assessments are hopelessly air-tight and seamless, leaving Uncle Frank and his lawyer scrambling.Frank just wants Mary to be a little girl. Grandma wants to plug her into The Matrix. Who will win? 'Gifted' is not without it's displays of some original laughs. My favorite was a scene in which little Mary discovers her Uncle Frank is sleeping with her 1st grade teacher, who one morning comes stumbling into the kitchen wearing only a towel.Their reaction to each other is priceless.As to why this production is flying under the radar with virtually no advertising or promotion is baffling.The hour-and-a-half flew by for me and left me with an odd feeling it ended too soon. Aside from that, there was almost nothing wrong with this film, at least not that I could find.Warm, unique and entertaining, 'Gifted' should stay with you for days afterwards.A great family night movie.

committed suicide. When it comes to light that little Mary is truly exceptional, Frank's mother enters the equation pardon the math pun . She wants Mary to go to a school where her gifts are challenged, where she can advance her level of mathematics. Frank, however, wants Mary to be a kid. To grow up playing, having friends, and tromping around with her one eyed cat Fred, and go to a regular school, with regular kids, so she's not alienated from kids her own age. Basically, he wants her to have a normal life, where she can be normal. A custody battle ensues between Grandmother and Uncle, and Mary is caught in the middle. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm keeping it vague. : Sorry. The movie has many "Moments". Things that you'll recognize from your own life, the troubles and the joys. I loved it for that. I would say it's suitable for kids to watch, although there are some adult themes. Nothing graphic though. It's a quiet movie, not something flashy, not hugely dramatic. But there is a good story that's well filmed and acted -- and honestly, there don't seem to be many of those anymore.All I can say is, watch it and make up your own mind. And yes, I would definitely watch it again.

Mary's grandmother, Evelyn, who wants to have her in top schools for gifted in the country and solve some of the all time great problems in mathematics. In the midst of all this, there is a secret kept safe around Mary's mother's death. While the plot isn't so powerful, the script was very well written which is why the movie was gripping and managed to keep audience's attention. I loved the character sketch of Mary and Evelyn in particular - very assertive, except that Mary had more subtlety instead of visible aggression. Acting 9/10 : Chris Evans is great in the role of Frank. His brilliant chemistry with Mckenna Grace is perhaps the reason the movie was so enjoyable. Mckenna Grace had definitely tough role playing a gifted child with all the jargons. However, the raw naughtiness she was able to project just normal to any child of her age brought a lot of life to her role. Lindsay Duncan was good too - reminded me of Leonard's mother from BBT. This was only the second movie of Octavia Spencer I've watched and she was good again even in a limited role. She made her presence felt strongly in the movie even with two other leading ladies more closely related to the protagonists. Overall, the movie had some very good performances to watch out for. Direction 9/10 : Marc Webb elevated an average story into an excellent cinema. His projection of the artistic side right brain of an otherwise math genius left brain was great and something to take away from the movie. The humor kept the movie light and fun to watch. I loved the way the relationship of Frank and Mary was projected. Some of the scenes, like the hospital one, were beautifully conceptualized and executed. Overall 9/10 : Overall, it's a very good watch, especially for the acting and the direction. Even though it's a drama but still not heavy.

mathematics. She can easily do equations higher than high school level. Despite her clear giftedness, Mary's uncle, Frank Chris Evans refuses to put Maryin a school for gifted children, trying to keep the girl's life normal. Evelyn Lindsay Duncan , Mary's grandmother insists on making her do mathematics around the clock and training her to be a math prodigy. What follows is a custody battle between the two for Mary.My favorite scene really stands out due to remarkable lighting and camera work. The scene really doesn't contribute to the plot, but the cinematography makes it one of the most excellent in the film. The scene shows Mary riding on Frank's shoulders. Behind them, a giant sunset completely fills the sky. The lighting from the setting sun comes out stunningly dazzling. Even though it doesn't add to the complexity of the story, the scene is very impressive and demonstrates the closeness of the uncle and his niece.One of Gifted's weak points waters down to the story. Even though the film is unique from other stories about genius kids, by focusing on the family values and relationships instead of Mary's exceptional mathematical skills, it still comes out very predictable and rather simple. The main conflict never really feels like a major issue but rather, just a side story. Despite those issues, Gifted still entertains through the acting. All the actors deliver outstanding performances. Mckenna Grace, despite being only 10-years-old, completely steals the show. Never does the acting feel forced and the actors seem to authentically connect with their characters and have a true bond on-screen.There are a few adult references in the film, but nothing too worry about. I recommend this for ages 8 to 18 and give it 4 out of 5 stars because, although the story needs work, the acting and cinematography make Gifted a very entertaining and memorable film.By Gerry O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic. For more reviews by youth, visit kidsfirst dot org.

fact that the two parties are in fact blood relatives with a heartbreaking history. As the heartbreak slowly unfolds, my heart breaks a little more, and I feel closer to the story even more.I really liked "Gifted". I will recommend it to all my friends.

Webb's "Gifted" is predictable, contrived, and could have been better. I loved that scene with Frank and Mary at the beach which defines the movie. "Gifted" is about compassion, love, and seeing people as whole beyond just their gifts. I liked "Gifted" a lot. Evans and Grace are touching and beautiful together. They compel and shine within the movie's frailties. Writer Tom Flynn has best intentions; however, some of the plot lines and characters falter. Frank's Mother Evelyn played by dominating Lindsay Duncan is too cold and singular without heart. I don't think she is supposed to be the villain, but she is in the movie. Frank and Mary's kind sage landlord Roberta, played by wonderful Octavia Spencer, is not so much a breathing character, rather a paternal narrative device. This wastes the talents of Spencer. Jenny Slate plays Mary's understanding First Grade Teacher Bonnie, who predictably falls in love with Frank. This creates conflict for Mary and Frank which does not have an entirely authentic feel. However, Evans and Slate's chemistry make this work; because we believe Mary's life is in both of their hearts. Bonnie discovers Mary's genius in math class. She informs Frank, of which he is already aware. Frank was the former Philosophy Professor at Boston University, before leaving to care for his late sister's daughter. Frank works odd jobs repairing boats. He home schooled Mary as much as possible. While the kids in Mary's class are doing simple arithmetic, she is schooling herself in partial differential equations. A bully trips Mary's friend on the bus, destroying his school project. Mary responds punching out the bully. Meeting with the school principal, Frank agrees that what she did was wrong. However, he is very proud that she took a stand for someone weaker. The principal reminds Frank that Mary is gifted and would be better suited at the private school for kids like her. Frank says no. He says that Mary's Mother would have wanted her grow up as a kid, and that she would have "wanted her to be happy". He promised Diane. He confesses, "I would rather you dumb her down, if that makes her a good person." "Gifted" is eloquently about choice. Frank's estranged Mother Evelyn Lindsay Duncan visits from her home in London. She wants charge of Mary to foster her amazing gifts at Harvard. Evelyn is also the former math prodigy, like her daughter Diane and now Mary. The family is gifted. She despises Frank for wasting Mary's gift. Mary's Mom Diane was the brilliant mathematician on the verge of solving the unsolvable Navier-Stokes Expressions. Apparently, Diane's gift was a curse that consumed her, and her driven Mother Evelyn didn't allow young Diane to live life—or fall in love. Frank knows this all too well. In the tragically disheartening scene, Frank and Evelyn have lunch at the beach. Evelyn tells Frank the reason why Mary committed suicide: "She was weak!" Sadly Evelyn only saw her daughter's gift and not the whole Diane. She intends to sue Frank for custody of Mary. This is the dramatic family conflict of "Gifted". "Gifted" intimately embodies love and compassion. At the narrative arc, Frank must forsake Mary. As Frank tearfully leaves Mary screams, "Don't go Frank!" Frank profoundly discovers what he has with Mary in the loss. Evans and Grace are moving and authentic in their partnership. In the wondrous sunset scene on their beach day, Mary literally climbs on Frank. She asks "Is there a God?" Frank answers, "I don't know…" Mary asks, "What about Jesus?" Frank answers, "Love that guy… One way or another we all end up together in the end." In "Gifted" we are all together in the end. In the closing scenes we watch Grace smiling and being a little girl with her Girl Scout friends in the park. The choices matter. Kids should be allowed to be kids—it's only right. In the end, "Gifted" brings us all together.