The first half tells of his life growing up. Gardner's unpaid internship does not please Linda, who eventually leaves for New York, because she might get a job at her sister's boyfriend's new restaurant. Despite having never gone to college, and after a period of being homeless, he became a wildly successful stockbroker and wrote his memoir, Pursuit of Happyness.It’s not surprising that Hollywood turned his story into a blockbuster film starring Will Smith. Perhaps the name “Chris Gardner” doesn’t sound very familiar to you, but you’ve surely seen or heard about the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith. Evicted from their apartment, he and his young son (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) find themselves alone with no place to go. The true story of Christopher Gardner, who invests heavily in a device known as a 'Bone Density Scanner', only to find himself struggle to sell the product as it's just marginally better than the current technology, and much more expensive. Author, inspirational speaker and extraordinary businessman. In 1981, San Francisco salesman Chris Gardner invests his entire life savings in portable bone density scanners, which he demonstrates to doctors and pitches as a handy quantum leap over standard X-rays. Gardner is also a passionate philanthropist whose work has been recognized by many esteemed organ. Also in the film are brief portions of "Higher Ground" and "Jesus Children of America", both sung by Stevie Wonder, and "Lord, Don't Move the Mountain" by Mahalia Jackson and Doris Akers, sung by the Glide Ensemble. Chris Gardner, as played by Will Smith in Sony Pictures "The Pursuit of Happyness" is the Ultimate Extreme Career Changer. Disadvantaged by his limited work hours, and knowing that maximizing his client contacts and profits is the only way to earn the broker position, Gardner develops a number of ways to make phone sales calls more efficiently, including reaching out to potential high value customers, defying protocol. I applaud Chris Gardner for overcoming much, especially for being determined to be a father, despite growing up knowing he was abandoned by his biological father and abused and not wanted by his step father. [9], The film was received generally positively by critics, with Will Smith receiving widespread acclaim for his performance. And then he became a truly inspiring self help guru. It is also a trifle difficult for an Indian to relate to the earlier part of the book as family ties are not. Smith's son Jaden Smith co-stars, making his film debut as Gardner's son, Christopher Jr. The book still sweeps you off the ground. It is also a trifle difficult for an Indian to relate to the earlier part of the book as family ties are not as tenuous as they appear in the west. However the film does not even compare to the content contained within Chris Gardener's autobiography. Posted by 8 months ago. Christ Gardner went from being homeless to working for stock broker companies. Neither Conrad's script nor Muccino's redundant direction shows [what] lifted the real-life Chris above better educated and more experienced candidates, but it comes through in the earnest performances of the two Smiths. The Pursuit of Happyness is a story about the long journey of a single father, Chris Gardner, trying to provide for his son. During the early 1980s, Gardner struggled with homelessness while raising a toddler son. If I could recommend any of it, it would only be the last 50 pages, but then it would be better to just watch the movie. In the same year, The Pursuit Of Happyness movie was also released telling Chris Gardner’s inspirational story based on the book, with Will Smith portraying Chris Gardner. The book was published in 2006 by Chris Gardner. The movie is based on the true story of Chris Gardner, a man who was facing poverty and struggling to support his family. Home / Movie / Biography / Speaking / Books / Back2HighSchool / Contact / Author of critically acclaimed "Pursuit of Happyness", Entrepreneur, Single Parent, Speaker and Philanthropist. Gardner is also a passionate philanthropist whose work has been recognized by many esteemed organizations. Chris Gardner is a knockout!” —Maya Angelou Chris Gardner’s astonishing memoir—the phenomenal New York Times bestseller, The Pursuit of Happyness, which inspired the film of the same name starring Will Smith—served as a shining beacon of hope for countless people. Little Jaden is a chip off the old block, uncommonly at ease before the cameras. The site's critical consensus reads, "Will Smith's heartfelt performance elevates The Pursuit of Happyness above mere melodrama. Truly inspiring. The Pursuit of Happyness is a 2006 American biographical drama film directed by Gabriele Muccino and starring Will Smith as Chris Gardner, a homeless salesman. “The Pursuit Of Happyness” is one of the most recommended movies, because of the real plot of the story. The first half tells of his life growing up. Surprisingly, I preferred the movie. While Chris is trying to sell one of the scanners, Gardner meets Jay Twistle, a manager for Dean Witter Reynolds, and impresses him by solving a Rubik's Cube during a taxi ride. Chris Gardner: The True Story Of The Pursuit Of Happyness. An inspiring autobiography of a common man with usual frailties but unusual ambition. In the 1981 film set up, Chris Gardner appears determined to make it in life regardless of the circumstances surrounding him. The unusual spelling originated from a sign Gardner saw when he was living as a homeless person. This is an American film directed by Gabrielle Muccino and starring Will Smith as Chris Gardner, his son Jaden Smith as Christopher, his wife Linda as Thandie Newton. Their real-life bond is an inestimable asset to the on-screen characters' relationship, although Conrad never really tests it with any conflict. I’m an Entrepreneur, Single Parent and the Author of the ‘Pursuit of Happyness.’ I’ve recently taken my newest position and the last job I will ever have in my LIFE! "When I talk about alcoholism in the household, domestic violence, child abuse, illiteracy, and all of those issues—those are universal issues; those are not just confined to ZIP codes," he said. PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS. Surprisingly, I preferred the movie. By Derek Ewing - September 1, 2019. The scanners play a vital role in Chris' life. Gardner boards a train but loses one of his scanners in the process. I hoped part two would be less so, but it was even worse. One sympathetic prospect who is a top-level pension fund manager even takes him and his son to a San Francisco 49ers game. Towards the end Chris Gardner has a brief uncredited cameo appearance before the credits. Fighting back tears, Gardner shakes hands with them, then rushes to his son's daycare to embrace Christopher. [4] He published his autobiography on May 23, 2006, and later became an associate producer for the film. The day before the interview, Gardner grudgingly agrees to paint his apartment so as to postpone being evicted due to his difficulty in paying the rent. They walk down the street, joking with each other (and are passed by the real Chris Gardner, in a business suit). He became a stock broker and eventually founded his own brokerage firm Gardner Rich & Co in 1987. Christopher Gardner is the owner and CEO of Gardner Rich LLC with offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.