From Deseret News archives:
Freedom Writers
Film review
Even earnestness and good intentions can't save "Freedom Writers" from feeling overly familiar. We've already seen this story many times in various forms.
This drama recalls 1995's "Dangerous Minds," and many other films going all the way back to 1955's "Blackboard Jungle," the granddaddy of white-teacher-instructing-troubled-inner-city-kids movies.
Still, this fact-based drama does have a good premise and a good cast. Hilary Swank stars as Erin Gruwell, an idealistic first-year English teacher at a racially mixed Southern California high school. Needless to say, her students practically eat her alive on her first day. But Erin's not about to give up.
In fact, she's got big plans for teaching them tolerance, and about getting them to tackle other, more scholarly endeavors. But she faces considerable opposition from uncaring school administrators and even family members, who question her motives.
Most of all, however, she must overcome the distrust the students have for their well-dressed teacher.
Screenwriter/director Richard LaGravenese could have excised most or all of these elements and tightened things up.
Among the better aspects is having the students study the Holocaust (they read "The Diary of Anne Frank"), which works very well and is surprisingly moving.
Swank is well-cast as Gruwell, and so are fresh-faced April L. Hernandez, Mario, Jason Finn and Deance Wyatt, who play some of her students.
"Freedom Writers" is rated PG-13 for some strong violence (including shootings and some disturbing imagery), strong profanity (including one usage of the so-called "R-rated" curse word), use of crude slang and racial epithets, brief gore, and some brief sexual contact. Running time: 123 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com
Comments
Cast: Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn, Imeldaa Staunton, April Lee Hernandez, Mario, Kristin Herrera, Jaclyn Ngan, Sergio Montalvo, Jason Finn
Find a Movie Theater
- CSU bans guns on campus 12:51 p.m.
- C.J. Miles will play, won't start 12:49 p.m.
- Cuba-U.S. migration talks delayed 12:39 p.m.
- Stocks trade mixed 12:35 p.m.
- Senators seek cost controls 12:07 p.m.
- 'Slight' Games impact on Vancouver 11:54 a.m.
- Nadal cruises, Spain leads Czechs 11:52 a.m.
- U.S. looks to expand drone attacks 11:52 a.m.
- Tiger, alleged mistress keep quiet 11:50 a.m.
- Study: Global warming not easing 11:43 a.m.
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- 5A high school football All-State
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- Utah Jazz going green with unis
- Phoenix signs off on LDS temple
- Jazz: Miles, Kirilenko to play Friday
- Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
- 4A high school football: All-State
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
407 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
362 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
288 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
228 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
188 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
175 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
174
"Daddy, how come we didn't beat BYU and they've won 3 of the last 4 against...
Guilty on too many levels. Lock him up in solitary. Check back next...
Compare Obama to Bush who did nothing but let the Mitt Romneys of America...
Family and friends of Mr. Jones will please accept the regrets of the...
Hatuletoh, you made me laugh. you start with "Enough with the...
K so tons of people have commented on how BYU is a young team and will only...
You should sign-up for English Comp.101.Also, Fox News is way to high brow...
Have you been to USU? "BYU is far better...definitely in the area of personal...
USA has England, Slovenia and Algeria. The US should make it to the 2nd...
Anonymous 11:27 - Do you have any evidence that "similar great miracles"...





You can be the first to comment on this story.