eastbergholt2002

(2012-04-27 23:40:00)

Teacher at Tough School

If this film wasn't based on a true story it would seem like a retreadof To Sir With Love, Dangerous Minds and even Take The Lead. It'swell-made and watchable but far too predictable and formulaic. A 23 year old rookie teacher called Erin Gruwell (Hillary Swank)arrives to teach tough kids in an integrated school in Long Beach inthe 1990s. The kids are mostly gang members and they are angry andcynical for a reason. Their whole life is a struggle to survive. Notsurprisingly the kids have poor reading scores but when Gruwell arrivesshe decides to teach them Homer and Shakespeare. Gruwell's students areinitially rude and hostile. She takes them on trips outside theneighborhood, to show them how other people live and slowly wins theirtrust. They develop an interest in learning and become enthusiasticabout schoolwork, but there are setbacks. The kids have never heard ofthe holocaust, but they enjoy the Diary of Anne Frank and learn thatracism can have evil consequences.Erin has lots of opposition. Her husband (Patrick Dempsey) findshimself neglected, her father (Scott Glenn)worries about the thugsshe's mixing with and her boss (Imelda Staunton) and colleagues don'tunderstand why she is wasting her time on these violent losers.Gruwell's students all look closer to 30 than 18 and Swank is 10 yearstoo old to play Gruwel. The film would have worked better with ateacher who looked young and vulnerable. The film ends happily, Erin isa remarkable success and her kids all love her.

Joshua Tyler

(2012-04-27 10:36:33)

You won't remember most of the kids' names, but their stories will leave an impression on you.

Xplicitbabe26

(2012-04-26 21:03:14)

Blackboard.

Great movie. If you get the chance check out the blackboard in thescene where the kids first find out that they will not have her astheir teacher for their junior year. Got to love all those lovely moviepeople who pay such close attention to detail. Movie was great. HilarySwank never ceases to amaze me. McDreamy on the other hand upsets me asa boyfriend. Not supporting someone in something that means so much tothem is terrible. And that head of department snot deserves a ruler toher backside. Who does she think she is. Anyway, I think the movie wasgreat, and if you haven't seen it, it is definitely worth renting orowning.

(2012-04-26 18:10:04)

where's patrick demsey?

a good classroom movie all in all and inspirational, of course. But why have Patrick Dempsey (one of my fav actors)in the movie if he's not going to do anything? The movie carts him off after a separation scene at the breakfast table. We are given no explanation whatsoever why swank and dempsey need a separation from their marriage. Instead of involving Dempsey in her project somehow, he's erased from the plot....waste of a good actor in my opinion.

vram22

(2012-04-20 09:10:30)

The last 30 minutes are good ...

... but it's not quite worth the entire 120 minute investment. It's aever-familiar story: societally disadvantaged kids get an inspirationalteacher who helps them do better in school/life. The fact that it'sbased on a true story is great, but a half-hour documentary might havebeen more worthwhile.The main problem with the movie is the generally predictable plot andshallow characters. Regarding the latter, the characters were notinteresting because they were all one-dimensional: racist (schooladministrators), unilaterally moral (Swank's character) or untrustingbut then blossoming (the students).Sometimes a movie can get away with this, but only if there's someother redeeming aspect about the movie. In this case, the story doesn'tget semi-interesting until the last 30 or 40 minutes when it begins todifferentiate itself from other similar movies.Overall, I'd have to say it's not worth spending the time watching it.Instead, read about the real-life story online:freedomwritersfoundation.org

Kyle Smith

(2012-04-19 16:30:33)

One teacher can make a difference in a troubled student's life. I learned this from To Sir, with Love, Dangerous Minds and Van Halen's Hot for Teacher video.

bre-bre-05

(2012-04-16 23:00:46)

this move touches you deeply

i saw the sneak peek last night and i would have to say this is thebest movie i have saw in a long time if you think you got it rough thenyou should see this movie i have never even imagined that people had itso bad with racism i am in a bi racial relationship and my son is mixedthat movie hurt my feelings because it went against what i was aboutand what i was trying so hard to teach my son its not about your colorits about your personality but this movie was all about race thisteacher ms.g really changes these kids lives and she needs a Nobelprize or something if it wasn't for her i bet these kids would havebeen in jail or dead its definitely a tear jerker and i wish allteacher was the way she is because she is goal orientated and helpsthese kids believe they can succeed in school and in life.

nkpelchat

(2012-04-16 11:24:12)

Awesome!

This movie was amazing. How can anyone be negative about this movie, itwas based on a true story. The cast was great, the story was amazingand inspirational. I think this movie reminds you of all that you cando to change someones life. Yo may not be able to save someone fromtheir reality but you can bring hope to them. No one can deny the factthat you need someone in your life that believes in you and wants topush you to succeed. After watching this movie I want to read theirbook. I want to read more, have a hero, remind myself Im a hero, andhope for the best. I loved this movie and find it truly inspirational.I look forward to buying this movie. I hope more people go see it. Itdeserves good reviews.

hawks50

(2012-04-15 20:03:07)

Terrific inspirational film, ranks in the top tier of school dramas.

'Freedom Writers' is terrific stuff...It can't be easy telling thestory of yet another teacher who motivates her students and makes adifference, but 'Freedom Writers' succeeds. It's a feel-good moviewhich, while not entirely avoiding clichГѓВ©s, manages to be a solid'message movie' and great entertainment at the same time. It issometimes very emotional (the highlight being a school visit by someonefrom WWII era) but never melodramatic.Swank avoids all opportunities for going OTT and gives a carefullycontained lead performance. She's too much of a pro to hog thelimelight and allows her younger co-stars (students) space to perform.It's great because she allows us to identify with a character thatcould have easily become a clichГѓВ©. Scott Glenn and Imelda Staunton areboth excellent in small roles. Patrick Dempsey plays the estrangedhusband and acquits himself well.Bottomline: 10/10 Well worth watching

(2012-04-15 08:41:51)

Good subject matter plus Arena Football 1 in the film!

Hilary Swank is pretty good anyway, butwith an Arena Football 1 connection inhere, I had to give it @ least threestars. Any mention of the sport in thepopular culture is worth picking up on.Signed, An Arena Football Original,Rich Salzer, Chicago and Miami

M Cohen

(2012-04-10 22:50:26)

NOT WHAT YOU THINK

I swear half the people reviewing this film have not seen it. I watched it last night in Westwood, California and was BLOWN away. This is not Dangerous Minds, this is not Dead Poets Society, this movie is not about Hilary Swank it is about thirty some odd children of different races who come to realize they have FAR more in common then they do separating them. They come to form a unit, a family even, and in doing so overcome all the stereotypes cast upon inner city kids. This movie is about what happens to kids when they are told they have value, when they are told they are worth new materials, and when someone, yes even a young, very naive white woman, played brilliantly I might add by perhaps the best actress of this generation, believes in them. So kindly do not listen to the haters and go see for yourself.

jorgeshtefan

(2012-04-10 13:20:09)

Emotional, strong and full with young and good energy and hope

I accidentally caught it on TV today and i was stunned by depth ofstory and what one teacher can do in compare by other useless teachersand bad education system that killing USA. I mean not just USA, manycountries like mine (ex Yugoslavia) has bad educational system,corrupted and willingness bureaucracy that suffocate any idea, hope ortalented person. I have to say i find myself in those kids, onlydifference my story/education didn't had happy ending, just likebillions of stories around planet doesn't have. You have to do on yourown just like protagonist of movie did. Even if there is no light atthe end of the tunnel or silver lining...Movie is inspiring, hopeful and full of good vibes that bring hope insociety everywhere not just in USA. Watching leading role,was likewatching modern Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. or Karl Marks. Thismovie is based on real events which gives movie one more layer andmeaning. Characters are very well portrayed and story is unpredictablejust like real life is.Music is great and at the end i saw it's by Mark Isham he composed formovie "Crush" soundtrack.I recommend this movie to anyone.PSI cried several times during emotional scenes which movie has a lot.

thequaver

(2012-04-02 18:38:19)

A good film horribly paced.

In terms of developing the relationship between teacher and student andshowing the change in the kids attitudes this film is great but it isin fact horribly paced.The husband in the film could have been missed and instead the linescould have been substituted by the father as the relationship seemed abit pointless (accept to show the commitment to the class).The film ends far too quickly and considering the length of the filmand the amount of time developing the characters it is a total waste.Other than that a good film that will appeal to people and even thosewithout that much knowledge of the 'ghetto' culture should be able toappreciate the suituations of the characters.

(2012-04-01 22:55:25)

I Write, Therefore I am

The greatness of this movie is it tells the world that such a story indeed took place. It is along the same vein as "Stand and Deliver", but do we ever need so many more such stories to remind us it is possible to bring change to people for the better through education. It's sad that such stories depict the exception and not the norm.Magic seems to happen when humans transfer their thoughts from their minds into another medium. Erin Gruwell's magic is to encourage her students to keep a journal of these thoughts. And a transformation begins to take place. The film shows this magical transformation in subtle and direct ways that can't be ignored. Aside from keeping a journal for a life-changing transformation, Gruwell brought to the troubled kids' attention a Human attrocity committed in the past: the Holocaust. In other words she fought fire with fire. Once the fiery emotionally destructive turmoils in these kids minds were quenched by the learning of the turmoils of the past, innocence seemed to have come back into their souls. History, as George Santayana is credited as saying, is repeated if not learned from, thereby gloom of raw human emotions are not controlled out of reality.

Urban Cinefile Critics

(2012-03-24 15:42:46)

Hilary Swank is all heart in this uplifting film about kids from the wrong side of the track who become inspired to learn and do the right thing.

Bill Clark

(2012-03-24 11:38:53)

It may seem like a clichГ©d mix of Dead Poet's Society and Dangerous Minds on the surface, but writer/director LaGravenese supplies enough fresh content, well-developed characters, and heart to blindside even the crankiest of moviegoers.

(2012-03-17 11:17:02)

Teachers with Passions

The setting is 1992 in Calif. Where one teacher bound with determination gave of herself. In a multi-cultural society where children do not know where to turn. Where their gang affilation is their authority. The best part in the picture for myself was the center line, to show the children how very much alike they truly are. With no racial discrimination what a world it would be.

(2012-03-16 21:19:48)

A story told over and over again

This review is from: Freedom Writers (Full Screen Edition) (DVD) Even though this story has been covered many times in different ways, this was a very good movie and the acting was outstanding. It also reaffirms that there are good people around us.

Eric Lurio

(2012-03-16 15:11:30)

It's a case of youthful enthusiasm vs. all sorts of cynicism and guess who wins?

(2012-03-15 18:40:37)

Movie review

The path to change requires an unpopular perspective. The movie titled"The freedom writers" is about an English teacher named Erin Gruwell.It's 1994 when Erin started her first job as a freshman and sophomoreEnglish teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School, which, two yearsearlier, implemented a voluntary integration program. Despite choosingthe school on purpose because of its integration program, Erin isunprepared for the nature of her classroom, whose students live bygenerations of strict moral codes of protecting their own at all costs.Surprised by the school violence in her classroom at Woodrow WilsonHigh school, Erin chose an uncommon learning process by imposing adiary to each student in which they should write their story, fromtheir background to daily life. This approach had enhanced her teachingmethod at the point that her students had been transformed in a kind ofclassroom-family.While her concern has been getting better, the school board startedfighting her for the reason that the school had its own mission,especially not being preoccupied by students' life after class, orliving close to students like in a family. After organizing differentactivities, such as a trip on weekends with her classroom, Erin Gruwellhad been recognized as one of the best teachers ever seen just in herfirst two years of teaching, and was able to transform a violentclassroom into a family -classroom. For many of the existing teachers,the integration has ruined the school, and Erin's classroom was luckyto have students who had been almost the first in their families tograduate from high school and go to college.