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From Amazon.co.uk
Though the "inspirational teacher" theme may feel done to death, Freedom Writers succeeds because it emphasizes the students as much as the teacher. Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don't Cry) comes to a southern California high school bubbling over with naive optimism, but quickly discovers that her unruly classroom isn't easily won over by her good intentions. After a few floundering attempts to connect with her students, Gruwell gives them the assignment of keeping journals about their own lives - an assignment that the class bites into with relish, which eventually bonds them together and pushes racial rivalries aside. This plotline has been made before, sometimes well, sometimes poorly. Freedom Writers, by drawing heavily from the published journals of the students (and thanks to a mostly unheroic script, direction that emphasizes individual characters over stereotypes, and rigorous performances from the whole cast)makes the story seem fresh and genuine. Swank does solid work, but the standouts are April L. Hernandez as a girl whose gang wants her to lie and send an innocent boy to jail and Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake) as a teacher who resents Gruwell's offbeat success. Also featuring Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), Scott Glenn (The Right Stuff), and a plethora of strong young actors. --Bret Fetzer
Product Description
Hollywood drama based on true life events about a teacher of 'inner city' kids who reaches out to them via creative writing. Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) is a teacher at Woodrow Wilson High - a troubled Long Beach school. Recently desegregated, allowing black Latino and Asian students to mix with the button-downs and chinos-clad Caucasian honours students. Sensing that rising racial tensions are undermining scholastic ambition, Gruwell decides that new methods are required if anyone is going to get into university. She unselfconsciously starts teaching poetry by hijacking Tupac lyrics and using the street vernacular to get through to the kids who spend a long time making fun of her but are eventually won over by her stick-to-it-iveness. Head teacher Campbell (Imelda Staunton), however, is less than enamoured of this new fangled nonsense and becomes one of many hurdles in Mrs G's way.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Set amidst a backdrop of gang violence in L.A, novice teacher Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) sets about educating a racial mixed class of underprivileged students.
what unfolds is the usual story of poorer children being denied a decent education by those within the system who uphold the prejudices of the wider society. Of course up steps the naive, initiatly inept and well meaning Gruwell in attempt to help.
This storyline has been done before, in Dangerous Minds, Coach Carter, Glory Road to mention but a few.
From a cynical, logical and detached point of view, all the age old maudlin, emotion evoking mechanisms employed by Hollywood are resorted to once more.
On a slightly more emotional note, I found some parts quite poignant when seeing the prejudice, lack of opportunity, neglect and abuse suffered by the characters. The issues I felt were approached from a realistic stance not from a melodramatic or sensationalist one. Unfortunately, the personal struggles contained herein are an accurate portrayal of those faced by the poorest children in America.
Race is an issue in this film and again it was dealt with a fairly realistic, non-sensationalist way. Again the racial aspect of poverty, crime, violence, lack of education was dealt with pretty well.
Gruwell's character is played well by Swank who conveys an air of naivety (at first) yet also sincerity, integrity, and a strong social conscience that drives her to challenge an educational system founded on extreme racial and class prejudices.
Even though this is a familiar storyline, Freedom Writers I found to be genuinely touching at times. Yes it is a typical 'feel good factor' Hollywood film done in a straight forward way, but there is still a strong social/political message attached.
what unfolds is the usual story of poorer children being denied a decent education by those within the system who uphold the prejudices of the wider society. Of course up steps the naive, initiatly inept and well meaning Gruwell in attempt to help.
This storyline has been done before, in Dangerous Minds, Coach Carter, Glory Road to mention but a few.
From a cynical, logical and detached point of view, all the age old maudlin, emotion evoking mechanisms employed by Hollywood are resorted to once more.
On a slightly more emotional note, I found some parts quite poignant when seeing the prejudice, lack of opportunity, neglect and abuse suffered by the characters. The issues I felt were approached from a realistic stance not from a melodramatic or sensationalist one. Unfortunately, the personal struggles contained herein are an accurate portrayal of those faced by the poorest children in America.
Race is an issue in this film and again it was dealt with a fairly realistic, non-sensationalist way. Again the racial aspect of poverty, crime, violence, lack of education was dealt with pretty well.
Gruwell's character is played well by Swank who conveys an air of naivety (at first) yet also sincerity, integrity, and a strong social conscience that drives her to challenge an educational system founded on extreme racial and class prejudices.
Even though this is a familiar storyline, Freedom Writers I found to be genuinely touching at times. Yes it is a typical 'feel good factor' Hollywood film done in a straight forward way, but there is still a strong social/political message attached.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Only Me
Format:DVD
For those emotionally secure people, such as myself, I found it hard to keep my emotionally secured feelings emotionally secured whilst watching this film. It was edited fantastically, shot brilliantly, acted amazingly and worked together to form a perfect whole.
There is, of course, the fact that it is an all too common issue, one which we see all too much of, to little effect. There is also the fact that the same old shootings and naive do-gooders make their respective appearances, however, the primary synopsis of the teacher trying to make herself understood, to a class trying to make themselves understood goes hand-in-hand for a movie that crescendoes and breaks the emotional barriers of the most secure people.
My friend cries at nothing. My friend sobbed in the cinema.
Watch it. Alone. Absorb. Then buy the book!
There is, of course, the fact that it is an all too common issue, one which we see all too much of, to little effect. There is also the fact that the same old shootings and naive do-gooders make their respective appearances, however, the primary synopsis of the teacher trying to make herself understood, to a class trying to make themselves understood goes hand-in-hand for a movie that crescendoes and breaks the emotional barriers of the most secure people.
My friend cries at nothing. My friend sobbed in the cinema.
Watch it. Alone. Absorb. Then buy the book!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Yes, you may have seen similar films like this but for me i think this film was great viewing as it wasn't about the pupils fitting in and having their lives turned around, it was also a teachers struggle to earn the respect of her pupils.
I've never seen a hilary swank film but gotta say she was really good in her role and most of all convincing.
With all what's going on i think this well worth watching and would recommend this to anyone.
I've never seen a hilary swank film but gotta say she was really good in her role and most of all convincing.
With all what's going on i think this well worth watching and would recommend this to anyone.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Really easy to watch and Very Touching.
It's a true story using actors who actual grew up in the neighbourhoods portrayed, This movie deals with some hard social issues in a Very Very good way and it portrays the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by si
5.0 out of 5 stars
Moving!
Freedom Writers is a moving film with a diverse set of characters. The story is moving and emotinal as the students are from gangs that are involved in racial tensions. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Katherine Peters
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film
Film depicts gritty lives of kids living in the projects. Unbelievable how some kids live, a real eye opener. Read more
Published 3 months ago by joycey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great film
This is one of my favourite films, and it was a good price. The disc and case were in great condition as well. Great buy.
Published 3 months ago by Nicola
5.0 out of 5 stars
brilliant movie
Have you watched this movie? It's sooooo good!!
It speaks for itself. I have bought the dvd a few times and given it to friends as gifts. Read more
It speaks for itself. I have bought the dvd a few times and given it to friends as gifts. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
As a teacher of English this film is something that I like to show my advanced students of English as a second language. The film is emotional and can be motivating.
Published 6 months ago by Joseph R
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Fabrastic, well priced item. Tho delivery a little slow. Would recommend buying this film to anyone with young people who need educating on different walks of life. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Csmilinsam
5.0 out of 5 stars
Freedom Writers
When I first saw the film on television,I loved it.So I rented the film first off Lovefilm and since I want the film forever I decided to buy it here coz there wasn't any at... Read more
Published 15 months ago by KC Maffia
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Diary of Anne Frank and the class of room 203.
Freedom Writers is written and directed by Richard LaGravenese, who adapts from the Freedom Writers Diary written by Erin Gruwell and her class of students at Woodrow Wilson High... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Spike Owen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Touching
I watched this movie in class and it was very touching. The film shows how lucky we are here in the U.K. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Barry Segal
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