Watch Harvard Man

Harvard Man is a 2001 film that follows college basketball player Alan Jensen (Adrian Grenier), who is also a philosophy student at Harvard University. Alan is having a tough time balancing the pressures of being a student-athlete and the rigorous academic demands of his philosophy courses. When his girlfriend Cindy Bandolini (Sarah Michelle Gellar), the daughter of the head of a mafia family, gets him mixed up in a scandal, he finds himself in over his head and his academic career and life are put in jeopardy.

The film begins with Alan playing basketball and the film really tries to establish the feeling of being in Harvard University by showing different shots of the campus and its surroundings. The movie is quite complex and it shifts tones constantly, from being a romantic comedy to a dark thriller. Alan’s philosophy professor, Dr. Reese (Eric Stoltz), seems to take a liking to him and offers him LSD to help him concentrate on his upcoming exams. This creates a psychedelic sequence that is vivid, colorful, and altogether trippy.

Alan is in love with Cindy, but their relationship is complicated due to her father (Gianni Russo), a powerful mafia boss. The mafia element is quite prominent throughout the movie, and it serves as a major conflict for Alan, who is trying to keep his life together while getting himself out of the situation that Cindy has gotten him in. Alan’s basketball coach, Leary (Joey Lauren Adams), provides some comic relief and her character is well-acted, even if it isn’t a major role in the movie.

The film also deals with the theme of identity, as we see Alan undergo different transformations, from a Harvard student, to a basketball player, to a philosophy student, to a jilted lover, and then to someone who is desperate to fix his mistakes. We see him struggle to reconcile his different identities and the different expectations that come with them.

The cinematography in Harvard Man is noteworthy, with several creative camera angles and interesting shots that help to create an engaging viewing experience. The film is also well-scored, with a soundtrack that complements its different themes quite well. The editing is quite sharp, with each part of the story carefully threaded together.

One of the main strengths of the movie is its cast. Adrian Grenier delivers a solid performance as Alan, playing both the comedic and dramatic moments of the film with ease. Sarah Michelle Gellar is remarkable as Cindy, creating a unique and intriguing character despite not having that much screen time. Joey Lauren Adams also gives a standout performance as the coach. The supporting cast is also strong and well-cast; Eric Stoltz is a standout who delivers a memorable performance.

Overall, Harvard Man is an engaging and intelligent movie that takes the viewers on a rollercoaster ride through the different worlds of academia, basketball, and the mafia. Its characters are fully realized and interesting, each with their own personal motivations and journeys. Although the movie may be a bit disjointed at times, it ultimately comes together to create a satisfying and enjoyable viewing experience.

Harvard Man is a 2001 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.8 and a MetaScore of 49.