Freedom Writers
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Classroom drama about the efforts of an idealistic, novice high school English teacher (Hilary Swank) to transform a racially divided class of troubled teens into model students by inspiring them to believe in themselves and break the cycle of gang violence in which they feel trapped. As a way of empowering them, she has them record their personal stories, experiences and feelings in journals, which they eventually get published. Director Richard LaGravenese overcomes a predictable and, at times, message-heavy script with emotionally powerful performances by the young ensemble and redemptive themes of self-worth, the efficacy of education and empathy to overcome intolerance, and the ability of one person to make a difference. Some graphic violence, including shootings, beatings and brief but disturbing images of domestic abuse, a divorce subplot, one instance of the f-word, recurring crude language and a few racial slurs, limiting its appropriateness to older adolescents and up. A-II -- adults and adolescents. (PG-13) 2006
January is traditionally used by Hollywood studios to quietly dump their clunkers while moviegoers are still too bleary-eyed from holiday reveling to notice. So it comes as a pleasant surprise that the first week of the new year brings "Freedom Writers" (Paramount), an unexpectedly good classroom drama in the tradition of "Dangerous Minds" and "Stand and Deliver."
Based on true events, the gritty but ultimately uplifting story centers on the efforts of an idealistic, novice high school English teacher, Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank), to transform a racially divided class of troubled teens into model students by inspiring them to believe in themselves and break the cycle of gang violence in which they feel trapped.
As a way of empowering them, she has the students record their personal stories, experiences and feelings in journals, which they will eventually get published under the collective title "Freedom Writers," inspired by the civil rights-era Freedom Riders. She also has them read "The Diary of Anne Frank," sensing they will identify with the Jewish teen's tragic tale.
Her unconventional teaching methods and unswerving faith in her students draw resentment from the other faculty members, including department head Margaret Campbell (Imelda Staunton), while her all-consuming dedication takes its toll on her marriage to husband Scott (Patrick Dempsey).
Director Richard LaGravenese overcomes a predictable and, at times, message-heavy script with emotionally powerful performances by the young ensemble and redemptive themes of self-worth, the efficacy of education and empathy to overcome intolerance, and the ability of one person to make a difference.
The film contains some graphic street violence, including shootings, beatings and brief but disturbing images of domestic abuse, a divorce subplot, one instance of the f-word, recurring crude language and a few racial slurs, limiting its appropriateness to older adolescents and up. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
Movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishop's Office for Film and Broadcasting according to artistic
merit and moral suitability. The reviews include the USCCB rating,
the Motion Picture Association of America rating, and a brief
synopsis of the movie.
The classifications are as follows:
- A-I -- general patronage;
- A-II -- adults and adolescents;
- A-III -- adults;
- A-IV**
- L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. L replaces the previous classification, A-IV.
- O -- morally offensive.
** Discontinued classification. All archived movies that were originally in the A-IV category are now classified as L.