Wide Awake (1998 film)


Wide Awake is a 1998 American comedy-drama film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan and produced by Cathy Konrad and Cary Woods. The film stars Denis Leary, Dana Delany, Joseph Cross and Rosie O'Donnell. Wide Awake also features Julia Stiles in one of her earliest roles as the main character's teenage sister, Neena.
Although it was made in 1995, the film was not released until 1998. The script was written in 1991. It was nominated for "Best Family Feature – Drama" and "Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actor" at the 1999 Young Artist Awards. Shyamalan has described Wide Awake as a comedy that he hoped would also make people cry.

Plot

During his year in the fifth grade, ten-year-old Joshua Beal begins a personal search to find answers about life and death — a journey triggered by the passing of his beloved grandfather.
Josh attends Waldron Mercy Academy, a private Catholic boys' school. The adults in his world have not been able to convince him that his grandfather is in good hands, so he sets out on a personal mission to find God. In their varying ways he is guided on his metaphorical journey by his best friend Dave and a Philadelphia Phillies-loving nun who teaches at his school.
Josh shows doubts about his religion as he questions if God truly exists, particularly when Dave is diagnosed with epilepsy and the moments as Josh experiences his first crush. As his academic year comes to an end, he finds his answer in an unexpected way.

Cast

Main

Wide Awake received mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 42% based on reviews from 31 critics and reports a positive rating of 4.81 out of 10.