Peaceful Warrior
Peaceful Warrior (2006)
PG-13 | 2h | Drama, Romance, Sport | 23 June 2006 (USA)
A chance encounter with a stranger changes the life of a college gymnast.
Director:
Victor Salva
Writers:
Kevin Bernhardt (screenplay), Dan Millman (novel)
Stars:
Scott Mechlowicz, Nick Nolte, Amy Smart
By Roger Ebert June 22, 2006
If "Peaceful Warrior" were not based on a true story, I might have an easier time believing it. It's the kind of parable that is perfectly acceptable as the saga of Mr. Miyagi, but when the movie opens with the words "inspired by true events," I get edgy. I keep wondering what "inspired" means. Did Dan Millman, the author of the book that inspired the movie, really meet a man who could levitate?
What I do believe is that Nick Nolte can play a man who can levitate. Nolte sounds a note of weary clarity in the film; when he utters self-help cliches ("stop gathering information from outside yourself and start gathering information from inside"), he underplays it so well and looks so serious that we think maybe he knows this first-hand.
Nolte plays the only attendant at an all-night Texaco station that looks so old-fashioned, it could be the Fatal Gas Station in a horror movie: You know, where the sinister old scarecrow in overalls tells the kids to turn left and go down the old dirt road into the swamp. This station, however, seems well-lighted and orderly, and Nolte's character is always busy under the hood of a car. "This is a service station," he says at one point. "We offer service. There's no higher purpose."
He has such conversations with Dan Millman (Scott Mechlowicz), a character based on the author of the 1980 self-help best-seller that has inspired the movie. Dan is a gymnast on the Berkeley team, a hot-shot who's always trying out risky stuff in the gym. Once, after a nasty fall, his coach tells him: "Nobody on this planet can do what you're trying to do."
Dan is out jogging the first night he meets the Nolte character, who he eventually thinks of as Socrates. As he's leaving, he turns back and finds that Socrates is now standing on the roof of the station, 15 feet or more above the ground. How did he do that? Later, Dan also wants to know how Socrates appears in his bedroom during sex, and on top of a beam in the gymnasium. Quizzed on such puzzles, Socrates has helpful answers such as pointing to his forehead while saying, "Take out the trash, Dan."
Dan's motorcycle hits a car and he breaks his femur in 17 places. This is inspired by the real Dan's accident in which he broke his leg in 21 places. Told he will never compete in gymnastics again, he contemplates suicide, but eventually finds himself back at the service station, where Socrates shares such wisdom as, "The journey is what brings us happiness, not the destination." I was happy to hear this, because it explains what Godard meant when he said, "The cinema is not the station, the cinema is the train."
The story arc of "Peaceful Warrior" is so familiar that in addition to being inspired by fact, it is inspired by at least two-thirds of all the sports movies ever made. To quote myself (this situation has come up before): I can't give away the ending, because it gives itself away. Oddly enough, it's not the plausible stuff like the gymnastics that fascinates me in the story, but the mystery of Socrates. Does Socrates even exist? Is his gas station really there? If Dan bought himself a Baby Ruth from the candy machine, could he eat it? Of course these questions betray me as hopelessly focused on realism.
Sometimes in an imperfect movie there is consolation simply in regarding the actors. You possibly have the impression that Nick Nolte has been in a lot of commercial hits and is, or was until recently, an action star. But run his name through IMDb.com, and you'll discover that he is, and essentially always has been, an art-film actor. Yes, he had some big hits, but "48 HRS" was a breakthrough at the time, and when he does a superhero epic, it's the inventive "Hulk" by Ang Lee.
Nolte has been through some hard times, and posed for at least one mug shot that went around the world. He has picked himself up and patched himself back together, and is convincing as a wise survivor. A movie based on his life might have the same parabola as Millman's, if you substituted drinking for gymnastics. There is a sense in which the role of Socrates speaks to him more loudly than to Dan, and that sense makes the performance sort of fascinating.
All the rest is formula: The coach, the team, the training, the accident, the comeback. The fact that doubles and visual effects are used for some of the gymnastics stunts is obvious, but not objectionable, because of course they are. But it's funny, isn't it, how the most amazing stunt in the movie is performed off-screen. How did he get up there?
If "Peaceful Warrior" were not based on a true story, I might have an easier time believing it. It's the kind of parable that is perfectly acceptable as the saga of Mr. Miyagi, but when the movie opens with the words "inspired by true events," I get edgy. I keep wondering what "inspired" means. Did Dan Millman, the author of the book that inspired the movie, really meet a man who could levitate?
What I do believe is that Nick Nolte can play a man who can levitate. Nolte sounds a note of weary clarity in the film; when he utters self-help cliches ("stop gathering information from outside yourself and start gathering information from inside"), he underplays it so well and looks so serious that we think maybe he knows this first-hand.
Nolte plays the only attendant at an all-night Texaco station that looks so old-fashioned, it could be the Fatal Gas Station in a horror movie: You know, where the sinister old scarecrow in overalls tells the kids to turn left and go down the old dirt road into the swamp. This station, however, seems well-lighted and orderly, and Nolte's character is always busy under the hood of a car. "This is a service station," he says at one point. "We offer service. There's no higher purpose."
He has such conversations with Dan Millman (Scott Mechlowicz), a character based on the author of the 1980 self-help best-seller that has inspired the movie. Dan is a gymnast on the Berkeley team, a hot-shot who's always trying out risky stuff in the gym. Once, after a nasty fall, his coach tells him: "Nobody on this planet can do what you're trying to do."
Dan is out jogging the first night he meets the Nolte character, who he eventually thinks of as Socrates. As he's leaving, he turns back and finds that Socrates is now standing on the roof of the station, 15 feet or more above the ground. How did he do that? Later, Dan also wants to know how Socrates appears in his bedroom during sex, and on top of a beam in the gymnasium. Quizzed on such puzzles, Socrates has helpful answers such as pointing to his forehead while saying, "Take out the trash, Dan."
Dan's motorcycle hits a car and he breaks his femur in 17 places. This is inspired by the real Dan's accident in which he broke his leg in 21 places. Told he will never compete in gymnastics again, he contemplates suicide, but eventually finds himself back at the service station, where Socrates shares such wisdom as, "The journey is what brings us happiness, not the destination." I was happy to hear this, because it explains what Godard meant when he said, "The cinema is not the station, the cinema is the train."
The story arc of "Peaceful Warrior" is so familiar that in addition to being inspired by fact, it is inspired by at least two-thirds of all the sports movies ever made. To quote myself (this situation has come up before): I can't give away the ending, because it gives itself away. Oddly enough, it's not the plausible stuff like the gymnastics that fascinates me in the story, but the mystery of Socrates. Does Socrates even exist? Is his gas station really there? If Dan bought himself a Baby Ruth from the candy machine, could he eat it? Of course these questions betray me as hopelessly focused on realism.
Sometimes in an imperfect movie there is consolation simply in regarding the actors. You possibly have the impression that Nick Nolte has been in a lot of commercial hits and is, or was until recently, an action star. But run his name through IMDb.com, and you'll discover that he is, and essentially always has been, an art-film actor. Yes, he had some big hits, but "48 HRS" was a breakthrough at the time, and when he does a superhero epic, it's the inventive "Hulk" by Ang Lee.
Nolte has been through some hard times, and posed for at least one mug shot that went around the world. He has picked himself up and patched himself back together, and is convincing as a wise survivor. A movie based on his life might have the same parabola as Millman's, if you substituted drinking for gymnastics. There is a sense in which the role of Socrates speaks to him more loudly than to Dan, and that sense makes the performance sort of fascinating.
All the rest is formula: The coach, the team, the training, the accident, the comeback. The fact that doubles and visual effects are used for some of the gymnastics stunts is obvious, but not objectionable, because of course they are. But it's funny, isn't it, how the most amazing stunt in the movie is performed off-screen. How did he get up there?
rtolz from New York, New York
5 May 2006
I was invited to a screening of The Peaceful Warrior in NYC Thursday April 13th, having just learned of this film's existence a few days earlier.
I was looking forward to the film, but with some trepidation, considering that prior attempts at communicating spiritually oriented books or ideas had fallen short of my expectations and had fundamentally failed to convey to the audience a transforming inner experience; witness What the Bleep, Siddhartha, Little Buddha, and others.
Let me say this, simply and directly. They got it right this time, and they did it in a way which could be embraced by crowds at the multiplexes. By impressing the discovery of bona fide spiritual truths on a recognizable sports template, the movie makers will be carrying under-appreciated ideas and experiences to the masses. At least I hope so! I actually woke up early the morning after seeing this, with my mind full of things I might say in an exhaustive review. Never in my life have I felt that way about a movie before.
The reason this movie succeeds is that it follows one of the most basic rules for good story-telling: it shows rather than tells. Although some fundamental spiritual ideas are described with words, it is the plot and character development that proves the truth of those words. You see the transcendence and the realizations in the faces of the characters, and you are not left to wonder why. You understand.
The story, based on a book by Dan Millman, follows a college gymnast who has great potential but whose desire for success is one of the main obstacles standing in the way of that potential. In his mindless pursuit of a goal, he becomes sucked into the deep dark hole of life-is-what-happens-while-you're-making-other-plans. In its simplest message, our hero's real challenge is to find happiness by being present and finding interest and love for what's right in front of him.
The film doesn't try to oversimplify the content of a spiritual path into a single dogma; there are many other seeds of thought strewn along the path by Socrates, each of which could have been the basis for a different struggle to transcend relative unconsciousness.
For many years I have been convinced that non-religious spiritual thought and experience could be something to drive the world in a new direction. This movie provides an example of what life can be like if we ponder these thoughts and implement them in our lives in a concrete and practical way. It's not necessary to be a champion gymnast to derive the fundamental teachings from this film. It is a teaching that anyone can understand. This is why I see that The Peaceful Warrior can inspire those who embrace the possibilities which it offers to become peaceful guerrilla warriors, working tirelessly underneath the radar, changing the world.
This is not only a good movie, it's an important one.
5 May 2006
I was invited to a screening of The Peaceful Warrior in NYC Thursday April 13th, having just learned of this film's existence a few days earlier.
I was looking forward to the film, but with some trepidation, considering that prior attempts at communicating spiritually oriented books or ideas had fallen short of my expectations and had fundamentally failed to convey to the audience a transforming inner experience; witness What the Bleep, Siddhartha, Little Buddha, and others.
Let me say this, simply and directly. They got it right this time, and they did it in a way which could be embraced by crowds at the multiplexes. By impressing the discovery of bona fide spiritual truths on a recognizable sports template, the movie makers will be carrying under-appreciated ideas and experiences to the masses. At least I hope so! I actually woke up early the morning after seeing this, with my mind full of things I might say in an exhaustive review. Never in my life have I felt that way about a movie before.
The reason this movie succeeds is that it follows one of the most basic rules for good story-telling: it shows rather than tells. Although some fundamental spiritual ideas are described with words, it is the plot and character development that proves the truth of those words. You see the transcendence and the realizations in the faces of the characters, and you are not left to wonder why. You understand.
The story, based on a book by Dan Millman, follows a college gymnast who has great potential but whose desire for success is one of the main obstacles standing in the way of that potential. In his mindless pursuit of a goal, he becomes sucked into the deep dark hole of life-is-what-happens-while-you're-making-other-plans. In its simplest message, our hero's real challenge is to find happiness by being present and finding interest and love for what's right in front of him.
The film doesn't try to oversimplify the content of a spiritual path into a single dogma; there are many other seeds of thought strewn along the path by Socrates, each of which could have been the basis for a different struggle to transcend relative unconsciousness.
For many years I have been convinced that non-religious spiritual thought and experience could be something to drive the world in a new direction. This movie provides an example of what life can be like if we ponder these thoughts and implement them in our lives in a concrete and practical way. It's not necessary to be a champion gymnast to derive the fundamental teachings from this film. It is a teaching that anyone can understand. This is why I see that The Peaceful Warrior can inspire those who embrace the possibilities which it offers to become peaceful guerrilla warriors, working tirelessly underneath the radar, changing the world.
This is not only a good movie, it's an important one.
Film/DVD review by Scott Mowry | 11-27-09
"Peaceful Warrior" is a perfect example of a film that most of Hollywood community and the American movie going public routinely ignore. While most movie critics dismissed it as nothing particularly special, the box office return for this 2006 release was even worse, and could only be described as embarrassing at best.
Yet, upon further review, this is a film that has plenty to offer for those looking for an inspiring and uplifting viewing experience. And couldn't we all use a little bit of that now?
Based upon the best selling book, "Way of the Peaceful Warrior," written by Dan Millman, this is the type of inspirational movie that we simply do not get nearly enough of, sad to say.
Meanwhile, the Hollywood dream factory continues to churn out the big budget, brain dead dreck that appears to be designed more to frighten than enlighten us.
Yet "Peaceful Warrior" is a quiet, introspective film, bereft of loud explosions and sappy romance, but high on insight and spiritual richness.
Director Victor Salva, has done a admirable job of adapting "Peaceful Warrior" from the popular book. Not an easy task, mind you.
Nick Nolte plays the role of spiritual advisor, Socrates, to gymnast Dan Millman, (also the author of the book), played by a young unknown actor, Scott Mechlowicz.
At the tender ago of 21, Dan finds himself in a mid-life crisis, of sorts. How many 21-year olds do you know that go through such a crisis?
Despite becoming a highly competitive and successful gymnast, having the support of a well-to-do family and never lacking for friends or female companionship, Dan wrestles with a gnawing anxiety of the true meaning of his life.
He has a recurring nightmare of a horrific accident while performing his gymnastic routine on the high bar, as he witnesses his own leg shatter into tiny little pieces.
One restless late night, after awakening from his terrifying dreams, he meets a mysterious man working at service station near the Berkeley campus where he attends college.
This man he calls, Socrates, challenges Dan's mind and ego in ways he could have never imagined, while also freely dispensing a variety of wise and sage words of wisdom.
Naturally, not long after connecting with Socrates, the arrogant Dan reaches a nadir in his life, as he painfully learns to surrender his ego and his chaotic mind. Eventually, of course, it is Socrates who teaches him to find his way out of his personal darkness.
Socrates' entire philosophy of life boils down to one simple, yet profound concept –– life is meant to be lived entirely in the present moment.
"Peaceful Warrior" has plenty of noteworthy lines and profound dialogue that will inspire you and leave you with a warm spot in your heart.
For instance, Socrates tells Dan on one of their initial late nights at the service station, "the people who are hardest to love, are usually the ones who need it the most."
He repeatedly tells Dan, "to throw out the garbage in your mind."
And later he says to Dan, "your training will move to a new level, where you will find your answers within."
Finally, when Dan emerges from his dark night of the soul he tells Socrates, "there is never nothing going on and there are no ordinary moments."
If you have ever read the book "Zero Limits," or familiarized yourself with the ancient Hawaiian healing art of Ho'oponopono, you will find this movie quite interesting and probably, at times, amusing.
It liberally synchronizes with the Ho'oponopono philosophy while never actually alluding to it directly. This is not to suggest that Dan Millman, the author, borrowed his ideas from Ho'oponopono, but rather just to make note of the amazing similarities between it and this film.
There is a perpetual theme of turning off the conscious mind and tapping into the unlimited power of the subconscious, where all answers can be found. A basic principle that both Ho'oponopono and "Peaceful Warrior" share in common.
This is not a perfect movie by any means. To be frank, it has its share of flaws. It is a bit difficult initially to see Nick Nolte as a deep and wise mentor, given his past tough guy parts and high profile personal indiscretions. But he does an admirable job with the role nonetheless.
However, Scott Mechlowicz is sometimes a bit stiff as the central character, but not to the point where he detracts in a major way from the film. And just to make a point of clarification, this is not a sports movie, but rather, it is a spiritual movie that revolves around the sport of men's gymnastics to tell its story.
And admittedly, I would have to say that the book, "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" is a lot better than the film adaption, thus my recommendation would be to venture into both.
But, instead of renting the latest murder mystery, or suspense thriller, or action adventure, give "Peaceful Warrior" a try.
You will be pleasantly surprised and you may find that warm spot glowing within your heart too.
"Peaceful Warrior" is a perfect example of a film that most of Hollywood community and the American movie going public routinely ignore. While most movie critics dismissed it as nothing particularly special, the box office return for this 2006 release was even worse, and could only be described as embarrassing at best.
Yet, upon further review, this is a film that has plenty to offer for those looking for an inspiring and uplifting viewing experience. And couldn't we all use a little bit of that now?
Based upon the best selling book, "Way of the Peaceful Warrior," written by Dan Millman, this is the type of inspirational movie that we simply do not get nearly enough of, sad to say.
Meanwhile, the Hollywood dream factory continues to churn out the big budget, brain dead dreck that appears to be designed more to frighten than enlighten us.
Yet "Peaceful Warrior" is a quiet, introspective film, bereft of loud explosions and sappy romance, but high on insight and spiritual richness.
Director Victor Salva, has done a admirable job of adapting "Peaceful Warrior" from the popular book. Not an easy task, mind you.
Nick Nolte plays the role of spiritual advisor, Socrates, to gymnast Dan Millman, (also the author of the book), played by a young unknown actor, Scott Mechlowicz.
At the tender ago of 21, Dan finds himself in a mid-life crisis, of sorts. How many 21-year olds do you know that go through such a crisis?
Despite becoming a highly competitive and successful gymnast, having the support of a well-to-do family and never lacking for friends or female companionship, Dan wrestles with a gnawing anxiety of the true meaning of his life.
He has a recurring nightmare of a horrific accident while performing his gymnastic routine on the high bar, as he witnesses his own leg shatter into tiny little pieces.
One restless late night, after awakening from his terrifying dreams, he meets a mysterious man working at service station near the Berkeley campus where he attends college.
This man he calls, Socrates, challenges Dan's mind and ego in ways he could have never imagined, while also freely dispensing a variety of wise and sage words of wisdom.
Naturally, not long after connecting with Socrates, the arrogant Dan reaches a nadir in his life, as he painfully learns to surrender his ego and his chaotic mind. Eventually, of course, it is Socrates who teaches him to find his way out of his personal darkness.
Socrates' entire philosophy of life boils down to one simple, yet profound concept –– life is meant to be lived entirely in the present moment.
"Peaceful Warrior" has plenty of noteworthy lines and profound dialogue that will inspire you and leave you with a warm spot in your heart.
For instance, Socrates tells Dan on one of their initial late nights at the service station, "the people who are hardest to love, are usually the ones who need it the most."
He repeatedly tells Dan, "to throw out the garbage in your mind."
And later he says to Dan, "your training will move to a new level, where you will find your answers within."
Finally, when Dan emerges from his dark night of the soul he tells Socrates, "there is never nothing going on and there are no ordinary moments."
If you have ever read the book "Zero Limits," or familiarized yourself with the ancient Hawaiian healing art of Ho'oponopono, you will find this movie quite interesting and probably, at times, amusing.
It liberally synchronizes with the Ho'oponopono philosophy while never actually alluding to it directly. This is not to suggest that Dan Millman, the author, borrowed his ideas from Ho'oponopono, but rather just to make note of the amazing similarities between it and this film.
There is a perpetual theme of turning off the conscious mind and tapping into the unlimited power of the subconscious, where all answers can be found. A basic principle that both Ho'oponopono and "Peaceful Warrior" share in common.
This is not a perfect movie by any means. To be frank, it has its share of flaws. It is a bit difficult initially to see Nick Nolte as a deep and wise mentor, given his past tough guy parts and high profile personal indiscretions. But he does an admirable job with the role nonetheless.
However, Scott Mechlowicz is sometimes a bit stiff as the central character, but not to the point where he detracts in a major way from the film. And just to make a point of clarification, this is not a sports movie, but rather, it is a spiritual movie that revolves around the sport of men's gymnastics to tell its story.
And admittedly, I would have to say that the book, "Way of the Peaceful Warrior" is a lot better than the film adaption, thus my recommendation would be to venture into both.
But, instead of renting the latest murder mystery, or suspense thriller, or action adventure, give "Peaceful Warrior" a try.
You will be pleasantly surprised and you may find that warm spot glowing within your heart too.
