Taglines: A comedy that will raise your spirits and keep you laughing.
Wide Awake movie storyline. During his year in the fifth grade, ten-year-old Joshua Beal (Joseph Cross) begins a personal search to find answers about life and death — a journey triggered by the passing of his beloved grandfather (Robert Loggia).
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 (Timothy Reifsnyder) and a Philadelphia Phillies-loving nun (Rosie O’Donnell) 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.
Wide Awake is a 1998 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.
Wide Awake (1998)
Directed by: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Denis Leary, Dana Delany, Robert Loggia, Joseph Cross, Timothy Reifsnyder, Rosie O’Donnell, Camryn Manheimş Julia Stiles, Heather Casler, Jaret Ross Barron
Screenplay by: M. Night Shyamalan
Production Design by: P. Michael Johnston
Cinematography by: Adam Holender
Film Editing by: Andrew Mondshein
Costume Design by: Bridget Kelly
Set Decoration by: Andrea Mae Fenton
Music by: Edmund Choi, Shok
MPAA Rating: PG for language and thematic elements.
Distributed by: Miramax Films
Release Date: March 20, 1998
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