Freedom Writers
Thursday, 01 Mar 2007 17:59
Hilary Swank and R&B starlet Mario star in Freedom Writers
Directed by Richard LaGravenese, out March 2nd at the cinema, starring Hilary Swank, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn, running time 123 minutes.
In a nutshell...
Gangs. Tension. Education. Engrossing. Inspiring.
What's it all about?
Based on true events, Erin Gruell (Swank) arrives as a new white English teacher at gang-infested and ethnic-minority rich Wilson High School, California. However, the kids are more likely to carry guns in their bags rather than books and stick strictly with those of their own race. This makes Gruell even more determined to make a difference despite a lack of support from the school, her father (Glenn), her husband (Dempsey) and a class of students who hate her more than they hate each other.
Who's in it?
Two-time Academy Awards winner Swank doesn't disappoint in the lead role, as the white teacher failing miserably to influence positive change to her multicultural class.
Meanwhile, Staunton is deliciously prickly as head of English department Margaret Campbell who is increasingly undermined by her new colleague.
Scott also does an equally good job playing the former activist father and more than makes up for Dempsey's rather limp portrayal as Gruell's husband.
As with most high-school films, the students are all important and led by R&B starlet Mario, the young cast do an excellent job portraying kids of all races who hate those who are of a different colour to them purely because those around them tell them to do so.
As an example…
Erin Gruwell: "To get respect you have to give it."
Andre: "Why should I give you my respect? Because you call yourself a teacher. How do I know that you're not a bad person standing up there?"
Eva: "White people wanting their respect like it's for free."
Likelihood of a trip to the Oscars
With Swank's gripping performance, she has a decent chance of making it a hat-trick of best actress academy wins, in a film bound to be enjoyed by critics and cinema-goers alike.
What the others say
"By default, Freedom Writers is another exceptional teacher scenario not so different from the norm." - CNN
"When Freedom Writers does work, it works very well." - Contact Music
So is it any good?
Much like fellow MTV Films production Coach Carter, Freedom Writers is a gripping account of a teacher going against all the odds to do their best for their impoverished students.
With subtle direction by Bridges of Madison County writer Richard LaGravenese, Swank does a wonderful job of attempting to get her class of 14-year-olds (who all suspiciously look at least 19) to go from in-school brawls to writing diaries about their daily struggles and studying the Holocaust.
Again echoing Carter and Boyz in da Hood, Freedom Writers gives an accurate and unglamorous, if not slightly too neat, portrayal of a California gripped by racial tension and gang warfare.
However, a number of clever comedic touches keep this from getting too bogged down in political correctness, allowing it to tick along at an accessible pace.
Although Freedom Writers may not stray too far from standard Hollywood cliches, only the most hardened of hearts will find themselves unable to empathise with the students' stories which are just as powerful as the real-life events they were inspired by.
A class worth attending.
8/10
Ashley King
"I love this movie. The teacher is really brave because there are a lot of teachers that don't like you just because of how you look or your color or how you dress." - Jessica Salcedo
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