Freedom Writers

Starring: Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn, Imeldaa Staunton, April Lee Hernandez

Directed by: Richard LaGravenese

RS: 2.5of 4 Stars Average User Rating: 3of 4 Stars

2007 Paramount Pictures Drama

Leave it to Hilary Swank. Even when her film's pace lags behind its cliches, she sparks this true story, about a California teacher who sparks her students, with the passion the subject demands. Erin Gruwell (Swank), wearing pearls, yet, seems helplessly ill-equipped on her first day at Wilson High School in Long Beach. The time is just after the Rodney King riots. Racial tension is high. But Erin, inexperienced and hopelessly naive, thinks she really can teach English to a class of blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians, most of whom are involved with gangs. The school authorities, repped by a ramrod Imelda Staunton, merely expect Erin to warehouse these alleged no-hopers, played with feeling by a cast of newcomers, who move their desks to segregate themselves into racial groups. Erin must learn their ghetto reality before she can reach them, which she does by assigning The Diary of Anne Frank and getting them to write letters to Miep Gies (Pat Carroll), the woman who helped the Frank family hide from the Nazis. Miep's visit to Erin's classroom is the film's emotional highlight. But Erin's most notable accomplishment was to persuade her students to write their own stories of persecution. These journals were published in 1999 as The Freedom Writers Diary, which writer-director Richard LaGravenese (Living Out Loud) used as his source material. Erin's dedication helped end her marriage -- Patrick Dempsey, a.k.a. Grey's Anatomy's Dr. McDreamy, plays the whiny husband -- but started young lives on a whole new course. Corny? You bet. And worse when the plot veers into the glitz of a Dangerous Minds and the sappiness of a TV After School Special. But the movie, which Swank helped produce by using her clout as a two-time Oscar winner, gets to you.

PETER TRAVERS

(Posted: Jan 8, 2007)

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Freedom Writers

Review 1 of 3

2of 4 Stars

Another character study movie which falls short. Superstar H. Swank simply cannot save this mediocre script. The movie becomes predictable. It is another bleeding heart movie about America´s minorities. Movies like this have long been filmed in the past "Blackboard Jungle" for an example. Wait for the DVD to come out.This movie has just made it to Europe

Apr 9, 2007 11:11:20

Review 2 of 3

3of 4 Stars

Another Hilary Swank movie, honestly thank god she made this movie after a very upsetting role on The Black Dahlia. At first I was very curious on how her role would be since her last two roles were totally different. Luckily we weren't introduced to the same character as, lets just say bad written character from The Black Dahlia and more of the extremely well written Maggie from Million Dollar Baby. Hilary Swank plays a memorable role as a up and rising high school teacher,who is first faced with a class full of misunderstood "thugs" who would give up anything for their hood and their gang. Swank struggles with her students at first but then she figures out on how to show the students about literature by reading about the holocaust and makes them write in their own journals.After reading some of their journal entries she soon finds out what the students are faced with everyday of the cruel streets of Long Beach. She then faces her students and is then the teacher who is most loved by students and envied by other teachers. But once her job starts getting good her personal life falls apart and then the only thing keeping her head straight is her students who become smarter and now have a better self esteem of themselves.

This is a truly uplifting film that leaves you wanting more. It is a truly great film but not exactly a Oscar-worthy film. The cast is good but it was Hilary Swank who gave another outstanding role as Ms.Gruwell. And most of the students roles were picked out great,since their urban sides are shown. If you have a chance you should very well see it but otherwise you could probably wait for rental.
-Miguel Pacheco

Feb 1, 2007 16:28:20

Review 3 of 3

4of 4 Stars

I was kind of hesitant to go see the movie at first. It looked like a great movie to see, but the outcome was even greater than what I expected. That movie was so awesome. I hope and think Hilary Swank definately deserves to get nominated for this film. I think everyone should see it, it will definately change your perspective on others and life itself. I was truly touched with this film, it was amazing! I am going to get The Freedom Writers Diary book and can't wait for the movie to come out on DVD.

Jan 21, 2007 16:43:35

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