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• Freedom to Not Watch This Movie posted on 30 Aug 2009

  Freedom Writers(2007)Mrs. Gruwell(Swank) is a new teacher at Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. She is from a good neighborhood and is shocked when she sees the quality of the students at Long Beach. Mrs. Gruwell is dedicated to her job though, and will stop at nothing to turn the school around. This was based on a true story. Freedom Writers has poor character development. Mrs. Gruwell just barely avoids being the perfect girl. Her problems are just that she is a little dorky and her marriage runs into few tiny problems while at Long Beach. Steve Gruwell(Glenn) is even less developed that Mrs. Gruwell, as he is just a role filler. The main problem of the characters is the students. They act as just one group, and not as individuals. The film never takes any times to show us in depth any of their problems. There's the guy that has problems with his dad, the guy that saw his friend get shot, and the girl that has problems with her dad, but that's as far as they go. Also, the students change way too quickly and put their problems behind them pretty easily. It's interesting that Freedom Writers is based on a true story, but the execution on bringing the story to film was done poorly. Most of the time it's either predictable or melodramatic. The saddest part of it is that they try to make it dramatic when they read Anne Frank's Diary. It could almost be called copyright infringement. Going into the movie you know everything is going to turn out alright, but the film doesn't even try to put us in doubt. There are barely any obstacles put in the freedom writers dream of becoming fine, outstanding citizens. We have the vice principal that doesn't approve of what Ms.Gruwell is doing, but that's the biggest obstacle in their path. Also, the ending is watching the freedom writers type their story and a small argument on whether Mrs. Gruwell can teach the students in their Junior and Senior years. Fascinating. The directing of Freedom Writers is bad because the director never creates an effective atmosphere. We never really feel the pain that the students are going through. The lighting is very bland and never helps create a mood. He never uses the right shots to maximize the setting's potential. The cinematography is also bad, as it appears they could've filmed this on a cheap camera and film. When you have 35mm film looking like 16mm film, you know something's wrong. The music is overdone and melodramatic, but with the quality of the writing it would be hard to avoid. On the upside, we do have some pretty good songs that fit the film perfectly. I will also say though it is obvious they tried to make a good movie. The actual acting of Freedom Writers is OK, but the casting was terrible. The students of the film are supposed to be 14/15, but we have actors that are 20 to 27 years old playing them. I did a little research into this and the youngest of the actors was seventeen years old. This makes many lines come off as extremely camping. We one actor says,"Even though I have only lived a short fourteen years, I have seen many things." It makes you think the next line coming is " When I was twenty two years old, I changed my identity to a fourteen year old, because having been held back eight years was too embarrassing."BAKED FRESH BOTTOM LINE 3/10Pros: Songs Interesting that it's based off a true story They tried! :)Cons: Character Development Poor execution of story Directing Music CastingRating Information PG-13 1. Violent Content a. fights break out 2. Language a. Some cursingCastHillary Swank - Mrs. GruwellPatrick Dempsey - Scott CaseyScott Glenn - Steve GruwellApril Hernandez - Eva BenitezDirected by: Richard LaGraveneseReview Written by: Kenny Stice

• A movie even better than its message posted on 28 Aug 2009

  I am not the kind of person who watches bad movies and loves them for their messages, I did not enjoy Stop-Loss or Rendition. This move does have a message, but it does not lean on it in hopes that audiences will be so touched they will be afraid to criticize the film itself. It is backed up by a compelling story with some serious action to fit. This is by far the best MTV movie to date, which may not sound like much at first, but this film trumps many recent flicks, and that IS saying something because it's been a pretty decent year. I guess my overall point is that you can be a very picky moviegoer, a very sensitive person interested in the life of the less fortunate, or just your average movie fan, and love this film like I did.I will add, this movie may look like it at first glance, but it is NOT about angsty teens, and it does not put "gangtas" on the pedestal.

• Every high school student should see this movie. posted on 26 Aug 2009

  This is one of the best inspirational high school movies I've seen yet. The director wasn't afraid to show a glimpse of what life was like for these kids (and death.) Of course they may edit some things out to get a PG13 rating (I hope they don't.) Hilary Swank does some of her best acting , as usual, but most of the other cast are great as well. It's good that they are unknowns, because it makes you feel like they are real and not just acting. When I went to see this, I thought of Dangerous Minds, The Principal, Lean on Me, and Stand and Deliver. I think this is a little better than all of those, though those are good movies (Dangerous Minds was a little weak, though.) This movie takes place between 1994 and 1996 in Long Beach, CA, so you have to keep that in mind. The music does a good job of placing the time period, and all the songs are classics. This movie probably won't do well at the box office, but good movies never do so what can you do? Oh well. At least it will become required viewing for high school students in the future. ; )

• *Another exceptional movie added to my Favorites List* posted on 22 Aug 2009

  I did not have an IMDb account until one minute ago. After watching "Freedom Writers" last night, I felt so passionate about it that I figured the closest I'll get to standing on top of the world and screaming to everyone to go watch this movie, was to comment online.This inspiring film delivers a positive and productive message. It has remarkable and professional actors (Hilary Swank does an EXCEPTIONAL job) and all the dialogue is very natural and believable. I had major belly laughs throughout the entire movie (everybody in the theater had their moments of loud "crack ups"). I cried two times-- I surprised my friends and I surprised myself because for one, I NEVER cry during movies and two, I am the least sentimental individual I know. I gasped several times and I screamed once--loud! I wanted to stay inside the theater for the next showing!! The theater was filled with a few children, many teenagers and young adults, married couples/parents and several elderly people; anyone can benefit from this movie to the max. Students (and former students) of ALL ages and ALL ethnic backgrounds will definitely enjoy it, it can open the eyes of youngsters and parents, and not only teachers, but many other professionals, can greatly be influenced. I guarantee this film will have at least one scene that will impact YOU.

• Innovation & Inspiration posted on 22 Aug 2009

  When I first heard about this movie, i began to wonder what performance actress Hilary Swank would bring. She delivered! "Freedom Writers" is the best movie I have seen since "Higher Learning' starring Omar Epps and Lawerence Fishborne.This was and will continue to be a compiling movie. It brought tears to my eyes to know that this movie was based on a true story, and the fact that a teacher would put so much faith into a group of teens after seeing through the eyes of those teens. I give Hilary Swank "Best Actress in a Leading Role". This movie is both innovating and inspiring and I believe anyone that sees this movie will love it. Freedom Writers live on.

• It will change you, if only for a moment. posted on 20 Aug 2009

  In my opinion this was one heck of an inspirational movie. Hillary Swank's best performance sense Boy's don't cry. It accurately displayed what it is like to go to school in a threatening enviorment. You will feel for some of these characters, and in the end they will make you proud of there growth and all they have over come. Now, the problem some people have with this movie is that the story has already been told multiple times, but that's true about most movies. This movie brings a new aspect to the story of the teacher who goes above and beyond what's required. Thses kids stories will make you want to do something to help those around you. It will show you what true strength is, and for some how to use it. This movie was worth every penny and i'd see it again.

• True to the book and more than a ripoff-worth seeing posted on 18 Aug 2009

  First off, I was required to see this movie as part of my job. I was well prepared for it to be weak and corny and an exact rip-off of every other the "White teacher saves her blacklatinoasian students from their terrible lives in the ghetto." genre . I mean, once there has been a satire, why do another one? Because it is worth it. Freedom writers does not focus on Hilary Swanks's bleeding heart and how she swoops into save each of these kids from their lives. The focus is on the students and their individual stories, as told when Mrs. G requires them to start keeping a diary. Like a real teacher that is horrified by the violence in her classroom, she uses techniques and exercises(step to the line/the gender exercise/journaling) to understand for herself and to illustrate to the students the root of their issues and how the "wars" they fight everyday are a cycle that they can break away from. Mrs. G. sacrifices her time and personal life to expose her students to culture and give them learning materials that the school board doesn't believe her students are worthy of. There is no "Dangerous Minds" style jumping into the fight, arguing with parents or inappropriate attachment or singling out of a favorite student. She is just teaching her students, gives them time and space to learn and be safe and digs into her own resources, only after she sees that they are not available through the proper channels. The end result is touching, without being hoky or corny, and inspirational without being unbelievable.

• High on the list of films dealing with high schoolers, that's where this film should be! posted on 06 Aug 2009

  Erin (Hilary Swank) is a young teacher, fresh out of college. Her parents raised Erin to have a zeal for helping foster peace and social harmony. Therefore, she chooses to start her career in Long Beach, California, a troubled suburb of Los Angeles. The community is just getting on its feet after the Rodney King-inspired riots and the school is riddled with distinct ethnic groups and gangs. There is a black group, an Hispanic group, a Cambodian group and a white group, and all of them seem to hate and mistrust the others. Enter Erin. An idealist, she first experiences great difficulty in getting her students attention. Nevertheless, she commits herself to finding a way to inspire her students. She takes on extra jobs to help pay for books and field trips, much to the chagrin of her husband (Patrick Dempsey). One of the trips is to a Holocaust museum. There, her students finally come to develop an interest in learning. Will it last? This is a very fine film, based on real events, and greatly moving. Swank is quite good as the inspiring teacher. Even more impressive are the student actors and the roles they are playing. The real life students had guns, gangs, broken homes, and even more to contend with every day. That they cared at all about what a teacher had to tell them is amazing. The young folks taking on these roles, for the film, are extremely authentic and genuine in their portrayals, especially the young actress playing Eva. Dempsey has a most unflattering role as the so-called put-upon husband but he looks good, ladies. The costumes and sets are very nicely chosen, too. If you have seen Dangerous Minds or Take the Lead, you will like this film very much. But, even if you think a movie about teenagers is something you'd rather skip, don't! This film is an inspiration for everyone and a calling for individuals everywhere to be part of life's solutions and not part of the problems.

• An honest portrayal of how those we discount will exceed our expectations. posted on 04 Aug 2009

  This film follows a first year teacher who marches into the fray of an racially intermixed school with the best of intentions. She is given the poorest performing students that no other teacher wants with minimal administrative support. Though the road is harsh and rough she is undaunted in her quest to maintain high expectations for her students in life and in their academics. Throughout the film we hear from the students in a narrative about their daily dance with death, their alienation from their families, and desire to find someone to trust though their exterior says otherwise. It is based on a book that the teacher, Erin Gruwell, and her students actually published as a culmination to four years (freshman to senior year) together. A friend of mine loaned this book to me this last fall and I couldn't stop reading it. I was very anxious for this film to come out. I am special education teacher and work everyday with students very much like those in the story, except we're in Iowa. I appreciated that they didn't pull any punches with the content. It was very realistic and honest. My only problem was some things were added to the story line that were not in the book and I felt that it compromised the storytelling in that more of it could have been told if some of the extra story lines had been left out. All in all I truly believe it should be seen and appreciated for the often untold stories that is honors. It is an inspirational story that should be heard. Another film worth viewing if you liked this one, is "Paper Clips" regarding the Children's Holocaust Memorial in Whitwell, Tennessee.

• this move touches you deeply posted on 27 Jul 2009

  i saw the sneak peek last night and i would have to say this is the best movie i have saw in a long time if you think you got it rough then you should see this movie i have never even imagined that people had it so bad with racism i am in a bi racial relationship and my son is mixed that movie hurt my feelings because it went against what i was about and what i was trying so hard to teach my son its not about your color its about your personality but this movie was all about race this teacher ms.g really changes these kids lives and she needs a Nobel prize or something if it wasn't for her i bet these kids would have been in jail or dead its definitely a tear jerker and i wish all teacher was the way she is because she is goal orientated and helps these kids believe they can succeed in school and in life.

• "Freedom Writers" Movie LONG BEACH, CA posted on 25 Jul 2009

  I work in the three zip codes surrounding Wilson H.S. in Long Beach, CA and now wonder how many Freedom Writers (unbeknownst to me) have signed for Express Mail! I can start my route in Cambodia Town and 15 mins later find myself at the mailboxes of mini mansions of Naples and Belmont Shore.I've seen kids attacking each other along my beat on their way home from school. I've seen the helicopters hover and the cops close streets due to homicide at 10:30am. I've been in the midst of a clobbering myself when a "White Power" couple started in on my colorful group of friends at a club inside a bowling alley (RIP).Long Beach is the most diverse city in the nation and, where you have differences you HAVE FEAR. (I am willing to bet that cars that have tinted windows get shot at more than those without tint due to "fear of the unknown"). It's a place where you're gunned down because of the music you listen to, the bike you ride, the language you speak, the clothes you wear. (Of course the city has lovely safe areas near the beach and tourist spots ;) The FREEDOM WRITERS movie characters all have names, but in the book "Freedom Writers Diary", the writers are anonymous. They are labeled by their journal entry numbers which have been creatively woven together, seamlessly connecting their own personal sorrows, challenges, and chaotic homelives. (Eva reminds me of Roma, a LB Mom who lost her son Paul in a drive-by when he was looking to buy a car with his earnings!) The teacher, Ms. Gruwell is married to someone who first appears to somewhat support her effort but he is definitely not ON her team. (He reminds me of my own exhusband who told me I couldn't change the world). As Ms. G realizes her student's priorities are SURVIVAL not studying, she creatively personalizes music, books, movies, and experiences from kids around the world who share their plight. Her classroom becomes a safe haven, a second (and preferred) home to her students, some who were evicted and homeless. These "loser" kids who weren't expected to stay in class begin to have a yearning for learning envied by the school's "smarter" kids.The Diary of ANNE FRANK inspires meetings with Holocaust survivors as well as ZLATA FILIPOVIC from Sarajevo, a young girl the same age as Gruwell's students who writes the books Foreword (a masterpiece in itself I might add!) To quote Zlata, "The Freedom Writers chose to break this cycle " ... of anger, hatred, fear ... " and make their positive (learning) experiences a lesson for generations to come." Gruwell didn't just change the lives of 150 students she empowered, she affected Long Beach's future crime rate AND is currently empowering teachers everywhere! (See GruwellProject dot org)I'd love to see ERIN GRUWELL meet with Long Beach Chief of Police ANTHONY BATTS and THOMAS SWIERINGA (a Long Beach Local who has a Black Belt in Six Sigma) so they can apply "Freedom" to the general public. Gruwell's contagious attitude and quest for tolerance belongs not only in the classroom but outside of it! (Note: The school system doesn't seem to be promoting this movie, a friend who works for LB Unified School District thought it was a movie about a Los Angeles HS and a CSULB English Professor I met just today was CLUESS about it! Maybe she can get "Your Greatest Power" by J.Martin Kohe in every classroom (hospital, jail, etc.), implement retired teachers to "man" our libraries and retired police and military to secure our schools. There are many journal entries not depicted in the film (yet? Maybe there will be a sequel :). Pregnancy, A.D.D., obesity, homosexuality... I'm hoping FREEDOM WRITERS becomes a TV series, giving every kid in every household the strength to Lead Not Follow and to Do The Right Thing. Across the miles, across the cultural differences, across the yellow police tape.I gave an audio review of the movie today on TPSradio. Expect more feedback from me on the air as soon as I get a copy of the soundtrack!PS "Your Greatest Power" is your power to CHOOSE. Now choose to see this movie and take a kid with you! KaRi TPSraadio and "Celebrate Our Differences" Slogan winner, USPS 90809.com

• Awesome! posted on 21 Jul 2009

  This movie was amazing. How can anyone be negative about this movie, it was based on a true story. The cast was great, the story was amazing and inspirational. I think this movie reminds you of all that you can do to change someones life. Yo may not be able to save someone from their reality but you can bring hope to them. No one can deny the fact that you need someone in your life that believes in you and wants to push you to succeed. After watching this movie I want to read their book. I want to read more, have a hero, remind myself Im a hero, and hope for the best. I loved this movie and find it truly inspirational. I look forward to buying this movie. I hope more people go see it. It deserves good reviews.

• Solid and very moving posted on 19 Jul 2009

  I just saw this movie (rented it) and was very impressed. Hilary Swank gives a different sort of performance, but it's solid and complete. My brother is a teacher and I'm going to make him watch this movie. The scene where Hilary has all the kids step on a line if various things have happened to them, or if they have seen them happen was such a turning point in the film.When she takes the kids to a Holocaust museum, you can watch the kids change. I mean, you can really see them change. Then they read about Anne Frank and learn what REAL oppression and fear are about.And when they hatch a plan to bring the woman who knew the Franks and everyone that was hiding with them, you think "no way". Way! It happens and her visit and talk with them was profoundly moving.Don't bother with a TV broadcast. That would interrupt the flow of the film. If you haven't seen it, rent it! You won't regret it.

• Freedom Writers Made Me Feel Good! posted on 09 Jul 2009

  Went today during the first show and was really surprised to see about 20 people there...very unusual! I didn't really know much about the movie except Hilary Swank was starring and it was based on a true story about integration and gang problems at a Long Beach, Ca. High School. Before too long, I was completely drawn into the story and was pleased to find that a supporting cast of relative "unknowns" were doing such a good job of acting that they were able to keep my curiosity flowing throughout the entire film; Found myself crying at several parts during the film but walked away feeling satisfied that I'd chosen a decent film to watch; I wouldn't be surprised if Swank receives an Oscar for her portrayal of the inspirational teacher who wouldn't quit on her students and helped turn them into proud, young adults! I think I'll see it again.

• Understood and Redelivered posted on 09 Jul 2009

  Inspirational, but it seems like I've seen this all before. Between "To Sir, With Love" and "Stand and Deliver", we see the same formula once again- overlooked and socially disadvantaged students who are led from someone from the outside. The department chair in this one was almost identical to the one in "Stand and Deliver". Teacher takes class on a field trip- same in both the earlier films. It was a good film that just was not original, and quite frankly, myself being a teacher of lower level students who strives to inspire, I think it had good intentions but fell a bit short of the other two films. I am always mystified in these films how they never show the other four-fifths of the classes that the teacher has, as if they spend the entire day with this one class. Even when they have a speaker, only the one class attends.

• Nothing new here thematically, but it would be grossly unfair to call Freedom Writers worthless. posted on 05 Jul 2009

  Freedom Writers tries to be the literary version of Stand and Deliver, but don't dismiss it just because it doesn't match the emotion or capture the inner-city life as poignantly as the 1988 Oscar nominated film. Though it lacks the singular student presence that Lou Diamond Phillips brought to Jaime Escalante's calculus class, Writers still delivers, on the shoulders of two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank.Inspired by real events, Writers depicts a mid-90s Long Beach, CA (yes, Snoop's turf) tarnished by the violence of the Rodney King riots. Enter Erin Gruwell (Swank), a bright-eyed, Starbucks-sipping first time teacher from the 'burbs (at one point she tells a student to 'stop tribbin'), prepared to hand out copies of Homer's The Odyssey to her students, most of whom hover around a fifth grade reading level. Like the other teacher- inspires-students flicks, 'Miss G' comes to the realization that earning the respect of her students requires more than a passing on of comma usage rules, and through the adaptation of her methods to match her streetwise freshmen, room 203 slowly but surely becomes a safe haven from the outside maelstrom of gang violence, dilapidated neighborhoods, and disenchanted faculty members.Swank pulls off the teacher look by trading in her Million Dollar Baby boxing gloves for chalk and conservative skirts, and she's able to channel the raw energy she brought with a right hook into the more refined (but only slightly) classroom.Hindering Swank's performance is an average screenplay more insistent on verbally force-feeding the urban plight than visually developing it, rendering the incessant 'you don't know what it's like out there' rants clichéd.

• Teacher, determined to teach students and does... posted on 29 Jun 2009

  I LOVE THIS MOVIE... I don't think i've ever cried at a movie, but i have teared up at a few and this was one of them.Hillary Swank did an awesome job and was completely believable, Patrick Dempsey did a good job as well though i did not like his character half as much. This movie exceeds all expectations even those of the good reviews, and the scenes of the teaching, students lives were well done, good especially during the Anne frank's diary reading scenes, well written and acted. the only part i absolutely hated was that her husband couldn't take being second to the students and asked for a divorce.Awesome MOVIE!!!

• What about the others? posted on 25 Jun 2009

  Good movie, but a few questions I need answered. First of all, only one of Erins' classes are shown. What about the students in her five or six other period classes? What about them? Are they different? Does she have trouble with them as well? And what about the students themselves as they go to their other classes. History, science, math, phys ed etc. Do they cause the same disturbance as in their English class? Seeing the movie it looks like there is only one class these kids attend and one class Erin teaches. Not realistic. Acting was above average and you can certainly see why Hilary Swank has won two Oscars, but some of the material here defeats her. Also, these "kids" all looked like they were approaching 20 plus. Why not cast teenagers as teenagers?

• The best Drama I've ever seen posted on 21 Jun 2009

  I saw this movie about a year ago on DVD and it was incredible. After reading the book, I realized that they stayed pretty on well with the facts, just mixed them around a bit. The actors were really great including Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey and Scott Glenn.The teenage actors were fantastic with dealing with how intense the scenes are. They always provided the right reaction at the right time. At first, I didn't get why they didn't just get the original kids to act for them self, then I realized that they are probably 25 now, and are trying to forget how they used to live. I like the opening sequence of Eva I think it was Eva ) growing up, showing how hard it is for them were they lived. All in all, this movie is absolutely fantastic and I recommend renting or buying it

• Freedom Writers posted on 19 Jun 2009

  Freedom Writers The title of the movie is attractive, and they have got an Oscar material – Hilary Swank; both this things attracted me to go and see the movie.The story is based on real life incidents and a teacher – Eric Gruwell, called 'Miss G' in the movie played by Hilary Swank, who works on integration with highly volatile and violent students to teach them how to live a fruitful life. This role selection by Hilary could be with a temptation of giving one more Oscar winning performance, and with Hilary's caliber she plays the character with all perfect nuances and commitment. The method Hilary uses is to draw parallels between the miseries in life of wild, gun – welding youth gangs and the Holocaust; this is done through Anne Frank's dairy, and succeeds in transforming the bunch into responsible Freedom Writers.The movie fails at several fronts. First, it is a totally illogical premise to think that relating the Holocaust with the ghetto urban killing youths. It shows American education system in pathetic state and above all it does a clichéd presentation of non-white youths, which was the most ironic. Throughout the movie I could not come myself in terms with this reality. There are sure some touching moments in the movie that bring tears to your eyes. Yet, the movie's continuity gets distracted by scenes of Hilary's personal rift with her husband. The editing in some parts is fast –as if there is a pressure to communicate the point with quick images; it does but does not touch. I kept on getting this feeling as if the director Richard LaGravenese is a Jew, or making a movie for Jew producers with a soft Jew empathy.The direction of the movie could have been much better. I think Hillary with this director Richard could not have given a better performance than this. But one character of a student stands out with an eye catching performance is by April L.Hernandez playing Eva – she play the narrator of this movie and gives her first major noticeable act in Hollywood.Overall an okay movie made on an unacceptable plot line.(Stars 5.5 out of 10)