panhellfsu

23 May 2012

Shame on Hollywood

Shame on Hollywood for creating these types of films. I feel like theyare trying to send a message that black students are just not smart andto succeed they need a white teacher to help motivate them.There have be quite a few TV shows and movies from Dangerous Minds toFreedom Writers. Hollywood you are furthering the educational divide bycapturing this on film that for black students your future is setunless you have a white teacher other wise you will become a statistic.Most of the society already thinks this of them, then why do you keepfurthering that. There is almost like a subliminal message with all ofthese films and TV shows: They don't care about their education. Theyare a lost cause. They could care less about their future. They arejust not smart so why bother. Whether Hollywood means to push these types of messages it is anunderlining message associated with them.

Sam Hawkes

23 May 2012

Brilliant

I loved this film. It may be like many other story lines that have beenused in the past.. similar to that of Coach Carter, but without thebasketball.I still think its brilliant. I just watched it without knowing muchabout it (after buying it make up the third DVD of my 3 for £20 deal)and couldn't move away from the TV. I enjoyed it so much.I am a male in my late teens and it almost reduced me to tears. Thereare some such moving parts, which really highlight the realisation ofAmerican life. Explaining how its not all middle class white people,living comfortably. As much as America advertises itself as a brilliantcountry to live in (the land of opportunity) this film really doesbring things down to earth.A must see for anyone who enjoys a good film. I also enjoyed that notevery other word had to f**k or s**t which widens the possible audienceand makes it more suitable for younger children (rated 12 in the UK).Please ignore bad remarks about this film and watch it for yourselfbefore making your judgement based on other peoples views.

23 May 2012

Absolutely Awesome Film

Saw this film about a week or two ago: absolutely awesome! The violence wasn't too heavy as I thought it would be. It is a touching film, and it is sad that a city in California was this way. I don't know much about Long Beach, California, but I hope that it has gotten better over the past thirteen years. I love this film because the teacher (Hilary Swank) teaches the class to blend with each other, because they all seperate each other into different races. She takes the to the museum of tolerance where they each pick a card of a child who was killed in the Holocaust some 60+ years ago. They have a dinner with Holocaust survivors, who, by the way, are the real survivors, not actors and actresses. They meet Miep Gies, who is very very very elder now, who helped Anne Frank and her Family hide from the Nazis for 2 years. Miep Gies is played by and actress, though, in the movie. This is a great movie and I love how it tuns out in the ending. 2 thumbs up!

westrangehumans

23 May 2012

Emotionally Stimulating

Nothing unique about this movie's theme, a sort of drama version of theSister Act series. Young teacher meets a class of underachievers, areopenly hostile at first; she wins her over in time, until theyeventually cling on to her at the moment of parting.Predictable? Perhaps...But the twist to the somewhat stereotyped plot was the subplot of theLA gang scene, along with the surprising subplot of the plight of theJews in World War II... the Holocaust.Go figure that one out, but the result was an emotion-filled,inspirational movie. Throw in the lead role's domestic troubles whichcame at a time when one would have expected a spouse's all-out supportand you get the picture.All one needs to do is look at Hilary Swank's eternally smiling faceand one quickly forgets she is playing a character and rallies behindher when her character's husband, played by Patrick Dempsey, opts for adivorce.What an ass, one is driven into thinking! This, to sum up is what themovie is all about. It is so well-acted that one gets immersed in it somuch one forgets one is watching a movie.

victorc

22 May 2012

Que Pasa Man- Another Great White Hope Flick?

Honestly: from what peach tree did this BS grow out of. Lord knows, me being hispanic. I know dam well i never encountered a teacher who gave a dam about us chicos, let alone the brothers in my high school. Stop it with the lies and let's show America the neglection school's in urban cities actually recieve. There are good teachers in our schools but most of them look like us, sound like us and live by us. Victor Bodega 2007

21 May 2012

The movie has a great impact on the audience

I watched this movie last year and I thought it was a very uplifting and inspirational film (there are not many films today quite as good as the Freedom Writers). The movie is about a teacher (Erin Gruwell) who works on trying to save her class from dropping out or dying on the streets and help them have some kind of future. At first all of the teens go into their own protective segregated "territories" and despise each other. Ms. Gruwell risks her career and even her life to helps the teens see beyond mere differences and how much they all actually have in common. The especially touching part of the movie was when she takes her student on a field trip to the Holocaust Museum (most of the students didn't even know what the word meant), and their reaction when they learned what really happened to the Jews 60 years ago.This movie is based on a true story which you can see in the DVD extra features and the real Ms. Gruwell talks about her experiences with the teens at the high school back in 1994. It was so good to hear that all of them made something out of their lives since then and have meaningful careers. The movie just goes to show you the power of hope and how much it can make a difference. There is hope for all of the seemingly hopeless inner city kids and low income students. There needs to be more people like Ms. Gruwell (Hillary Swank) to make that happen.

Danny Blankenship

20 May 2012

Good but nothing special.

"Freedom Writers" a film that sends a good message and gets to it'spoint of helping others is good, but it seems as if this good teachertheme is getting old in Hollywood. When I saw this it reminded me of1995's "Dangerous Minds" you have the same plot a tough concernedteacher wanting to change the ways of young black students who grew upin slums. This film is based in mid 1990's L.A. just after the RodneyKing riots when tensions were high. Hillary Swank is likable and goodas always here as the young inspirational teacher Erin Gruwell whogains love and respect from students by getting them to keep journalsdaily. Overall this movie is touching and inspirational, but sometimesI think that Hollywood can go overkill with the good teacher turns badstudent into a winner theme. This theme is mostly a dream as the schoolsystem needs changing, we can only dream for good teachers like ErinGruwell.

Glenn Whipp

20 May 2012

A flawed but engaging mentor-making-a-difference story based on the experiences of a Long Beach high-school teacher.

Peter T. Chattaway

19 May 2012

At first glance, it looks like it might be just another one of those films in which a white idealist liberates her non-white pupils, but thankfully, it's better than that.

leader-16

19 May 2012

Oscar worthy but why no big awards?

I enjoyed this movie very much, very touching to me and to many manyothers. The story was incredible, how she transformed those kids, justamazing. The score was good, acting was phenomal, Hilliary Swank wasoutstanding. i thought that Patrick dempsy would have a bigger role,but oh well. Funny how Mrs. Umbridge was in that movie, (from HarryPotter). All those kids who acted were outstanding, i was moved byApril's performance of Ava. This movie was incredible, i first watchedthis in English class of sophomore year, how perfect for such aocasion. Great movie, SEE IT if you already haven't.I garentuee you that you will be moved in some way or a other.

wynblade

16 May 2012

8.5 out of 10 - very nice

I just arrived home after having seen a screening of this film. It'svery strong and moves well. It is very emotional, but is balanced wellwith humor. Even better it's true to life humor, things that wouldactually happen. you are drawn into the "family" that is the class andyou are led to see the changes taking place in people, instead ofhaving it shoved in your face like your too basic to understand.I would also like to note the music. It was wonderful and did whatmusic is meant to for movies, setting the moods the score was presentin the background but not overwhelming (as in so many other movieslately) the music didn't overshadow the story that was unfolding in anyway. Overall a very good movie that I will be happy to see again, and evenhappy to pay full ticket price (which is saying something!). Great joband thank you to all who worked on this movie, in my eyes it's awinner. ^_^ "My badness" *chuckle*

andydreamseeker

16 May 2012

Movie Review Freedom Writers

Freedom Writers appears to have a typical script. An aspiring youngteacher goes out of her way to help and inspire her lowly students. Aplot like this can make an inspiring movie. Now add this, FreedomWriters is based on a true story. This gives proximity. It could be anice movie. Now put Hilary Swank as the lead in the film. This moviecould be good with the two-time Academy Award winner starring in it.But in reality you still may not want to watch this movie.I found myself walking into the cinema knowing only 3 things aboutFreedom Writers: 1. Freedom Writers is the title of the film. 2. Theplot is based on a true story. 3. Hilary Swank.Why then watch it?I was intrigued by the film title. I wanted to know what happened tothe students and how the teacher helped them. I knew that the studentswrote journals. I knew that by writing about our feelings and thoughtsit helps in the discovery and development of finding and affirmingone's self-worth. Writing is a good outlet for your inner voice to beheard and it needs to be expressed. Writing releases us from theemotional walls that block us in. We felt trapped, stressed andhelpless. This usually leads to outwardly negative behaviours. Thestudents in the film showed these effects.I was looking for inspiration. I got more than inspiration. I got hope.Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) provided it. When no one cared for thestudents, she dared. She refused to believe her students were"unteachable" as branded by other teachers and the academic system. Tobegin with, the students did not even want to be helped. But with highmoral integrity she showed the highest esteem a human being could get,and yet in her humble words she only wanted to do her job."To get respect you first have to give respect." It cannot be truer.Erin Gruwell respected every student in his or her own right. She madeit a point to understand and not judge, to look under the surface.The synopsis hardly gives this movie enough credit. Get this. This is atrue story. The influence should be greater. This is the real deal.Someone in our society made a difference.After watching it, I had this thought: "Why hadn't more been done topromote this film?" I mean this is a film I felt everyone should see. Iunderstand that this film may not have the commercial value of moviesthat can be more entertaining in the sense that it is not comedic, itis not thrilling, there are no hard hitting action, there are noadventure to be told, there are no mystery to be solved, and it may noteven be the most touching movie ever made, but it is a powerful filmwith a strong message that can be applied to every individual andcommunity.It is powerful because like the students in the film, we had or couldhave met the same situations in life. Put it simply, we were once orcould be teenagers and students, we have different family backgrounds,we go through the similar process of growing up, should you dig deeperinto your past and more of these relations should appear. There is abig lesson here to be learned for if we think our problems are big, weprobably are not aware of the larger world around us. If we hate or arecritical of others it's probably because we do not understand what isreally happening. It is all too easy to categorize and stereotypeothers. When we see one monkey we had seen them all we tell ourselves.But we are not monkeys, we are people, no doubt our diversity inlanguage, culture and skin tone, we are people nonetheless. We do notrecognize that we have much in common and we do not give respect enoughto each other.We fill the world with images of war, violence and hate. Why? Is thisthe right thing to do? If that is all the young ones get exposed tothen these will be what we will get. What values are we imparting tothe world? We couldn't care less could we?I like the way director Richard LaGravenese detailed the scene in thebeginning of the film where the two senior teachers paid attention toErin Gruwell's pearl necklace when first introduced to her. I'm quitesure the intention was to reflect how most of us view the world aroundus. I leave you to figure it out.Lastly, Freedom Writers say you can make a difference. I say you canstart by watching this film.

JP Paxton

15 May 2012

Unstable, but Has Its Moments

We've seen it before. A new teacher overly excited about her job andability to impact the lives of young people has her hopes shattered bya group of inner city kids. Various obstacles arise along the way whileshe refuses to give up on them. Her determination and effort in the endare rewarded as her hopes are revived and turned into reality. 'FreedomWriters' has that familiar plot which it transforms into a predictable,yet emotional ride.Inspired by the true story, 'Freedom Writers' stars Hilary Swank as theambitious Erin Gruwell. Walking through the hallways and peeking intoclassrooms of the school, she is filled with nothing but excitement onher first day. She's ready to teach and make a difference in the livesof her students. That changes though once a fight breaks out in hervery first class. This wake up call warns Erin that teaching may be alot tougher than she thought. The days pass and difficulty increases,but she just sucks it up and hopes it will all get better soon. Itdoesn't though, and Erin is now at her breaking point. Just whensucceeding with the kids appears to be unachievable an idea comes toher. The result of that idea is greater than anything she could havedreamed of.At the start, Swank overplays the optimistic Gruwell. She makes herjust a little too good to be true, and more comical than perky. Thatquickly fades as time passes. Swank eventually loses the laughs andgains respect as she fits the role like a glove by emulating strengthand kindness.The film itself follows the same pattern. Only the pattern isn'tentirely consistent. It's similar to when you travel down aneighborhood road. As you drive you experience a smooth ride. Then allof a sudden it happens; you hit a speed bump. The heartfelt andtouching occurrences in the film are like the speed bumps. And justlike speed bumps, they last for but a short time and, are easilyforgettable.All of those instances are like that, except for one. No words candescribe the scene where April Lee Hernandez's character, Eva, explainsher hate for white people during class, bringing Gruwell to tears. Itunquestionably gets an A, as it takes the title of the best scene inthe film. The final scene is supposed to provoke almost the sameintensity, but doesn't because of it's predictability. Instead of beinga speed bump, it's an unwelcome dip in the road.All in all, 'Freedom Writers' is okay. It's nicely written, and Swankis really good. The instability of it's overall flow though does take atremendous amount of its momentum. So while it does have its moments,I'll choose 'Dangerous Minds' over it any day.

James Sanford

15 May 2012

involving and touching when it focuses on Gruwell's attempts to inspire the students and rather insipid when it dramatizes Gruwell's predictable battles with policy-conscious school administrators...

14 May 2012

Liked it better than I thought I would but I cant imagine Gruwells co-workers are thrilled

I liked Freedom Writers more than I thought I would, mostly because of Hilary Swank, who is likable and talented. While not in full-out Oscar mode here, she's passionate and moving in her portrayal of then-Long Beach high school teacher Erin Gruwell. It's a compelling tale. The ensemble playing her students is great, too. For many, this is their first time on screen. Of particular note, April Hernandez is outstanding in the role of Eva.On the other hand, this movie suffers from its one-dimensional, negative portrayal of any adult - husband, co-educator, administrator - not sharing Gruwell's vision. It simply can't be the case that each of these people, in their real-life incarnations, is as shallow and mean-spirited as depicted here. I can't imagine any adult from this phase of Gruwell's life - save her father - being pleased with their ham-handed on-screen characterization.

zavala_mayra

13 May 2012

Another exceptional movie added to my Favorites List

I did not have an IMDb account until one minute ago. After watching"Freedom Writers" last night, I felt so passionate about it that Ifigured the closest I'll get to standing on top of the world andscreaming to everyone to go watch this movie, was to comment online.This inspiring film delivers a positive and productive message. It hasremarkable and professional actors (Hilary Swank does an EXCEPTIONALjob) and all the dialogue is very natural and believable. I had majorbelly laughs throughout the entire movie (everybody in the theater hadtheir moments of loud "crack ups"). I cried two times-- I surprised myfriends and I surprised myself because for one, I NEVER cry duringmovies and two, I am the least sentimental individual I know. I gaspedseveral times and I screamed once--loud! I wanted to stay inside thetheater for the next showing!! The theater was filled with a few children, many teenagers and youngadults, married couples/parents and several elderly people; anyone canbenefit from this movie to the max. Students (and former students) ofALL ages and ALL ethnic backgrounds will definitely enjoy it, it canopen the eyes of youngsters and parents, and not only teachers, butmany other professionals, can greatly be influenced. I guarantee thisfilm will have at least one scene that will impact YOU.

12 May 2012

Well done, very moving

I wasnt sure if I wanted to see Freedom Writers at first, but once the movie sgtarted I couldnt turn away. The acting was done well, there were a few rooms for improvment...but there always are with everything. the movie was casted well. ive never read the book, but im thinking about getting it. its a very inspiring movie.

ryancm

11 May 2012

What about the others?

Good movie, but a few questions I need answered. First of all, only oneof Erins' classes are shown. What about the students in her five or sixother period classes? What about them? Are they different? Does shehave trouble with them as well? And what about the students themselvesas they go to their other classes. History, science, math, phys ed etc.Do they cause the same disturbance as in their English class? Seeingthe movie it looks like there is only one class these kids attend andone class Erin teaches. Not realistic. Acting was above average and youcan certainly see why Hilary Swank has won two Oscars, but some of thematerial here defeats her. Also, these "kids" all looked like they wereapproaching 20 plus. Why not cast teenagers as teenagers?

10 May 2012

Inspiring

This review is from: Freedom Writers (Full Screen Edition) (DVD) I originally saw this movie at the theater, where AMC was letting educators in for free. I had to own it, though, because it is so inspiring. I teach young children in an urban school district, and there are days when my profession seems so restrictive-and prescriptive-that all the creativity has gone out of it. Freedon Writers lifts my spirits and encourages me to go on.Hilary Swank is establishing herself as one of those actors who can believably be anything on-screen.

ktveira

10 May 2012

Innovation Inspiration

When I first heard about this movie, i began to wonder what performanceactress Hilary Swank would bring. She delivered! "Freedom Writers" isthe best movie I have seen since "Higher Learning' starring Omar Eppsand Lawerence Fishborne.This was and will continue to be a compilingmovie. It brought tears to my eyes to know that this movie was based ona true story, and the fact that a teacher would put so much faith intoa group of teens after seeing through the eyes of those teens. I giveHilary Swank "Best Actress in a Leading Role". This movie is bothinnovating and inspiring and I believe anyone that sees this movie willlove it. Freedom Writers live on.