El constructor de sueños

Poitier managed to get involved in two predictable piles of TV-movie mush within two years (1999's The Simple Life... and this). I remember watching this over a year ago on TV. The movie continues Poitier's career doldrums. He contributes a good performance, but writing and the overall horrible movie overshadow whatever attempts he makes.

Poitier plays Henry Cobb, a man who makes bricks the old fashioned way to make a living. He has a recently lost his wife and is depressed about how his career is becoming obsolete. Then he meets a young boy who works for him over the summer to meet a deadline for bricks. And the usual "bonding... wise old guy teaches kid stuff" plot continues on and on.

The rest of the cast isn't memorable, and don't contribute anything to rise the movie above below average / marginal. The writing was hurried and the dialogue is unrealistic for the most part. Poitier is a great actor, but, his talents are wasted.

I watched it once a while back, and will never watch it again. I wish Hollywood would give Poitier a roll in a movie that gets released to theatres where he can actually shine and show his full ability.

Unless you like sappy family oriented TV-movie of the week's like this ... or, you are a fan of Sidney; avoid this like the plague.

Rating: 3/10

I don't know why my original comment on this film never showed up. So here is my much abbreviated version that I can remember. Even though Sidney Poitier plays the "title" role as the Last Bricklayer, he is really incidental to the story. It is about a young boy who is caught up between his busy mother and demanding father who are separated. In trouble again at school, he is digging a ditch when Poitier comments on the clay, how it wants to be a brick. Intrigued, the boy visits Poitier who has the contract for the bricks to build the new library addition in honor of his deceased wife.

Boy actually moves in with the brickmaker, helps him. A storm washes out the first batch of drying bricks, so they get behind. Son asks mom to help, she says she doesn't have time. Son is disappointed, not so much because Poitier may not meet his contract, but because mom refused a favor her son asks. Eventually she helps, dad helps, gets fired for it, bricks are delivered on time, son, mom, and dad begin a new understanding of what is important, and perhaps a family reconciliation. Good story, well-done, and Poitier is his usual superb self.

...a thoughtfully written, performed, and photographed Movie of the Week, which took full advantage of rustic rural and suburban locations in and near Charlotte, NC.

Compared to the usual "grind 'em out" television long-form projects, there is a lot of texture and attention to detail: cast performances, production design, cinematography, and even if the casting and direction of the background players.

• a film very enjoyable to view!

Everything about this was movie was top-notch. The storyline; The acting; The scenery. I loved everything about it!!

Nice, little story. Loved to see them make bricks. Ok, the story ain't the most rivetting, but it's nicely told without outrageous effects. Or is it that I long back to a time when the world seemed a more pleasant place?