The B-List: Freedom Writers is Food for the Soul
July 30th 2008 02:57
Link: www.freedomwriters.com/
I love my food. No surprises there, most of us do. And despite a sweet-tooth of sabre-like proportions, I have to grudgingly accept that a hearty pot-roast wins over my wife’s Lemon Meringue Pie, every time.
I guess, despite our brain’s desire for the quick surge of energy and pleasure contained in every sweet mouthful, the body knows that the roast is a source of real nourishment and satisfaction. Smart things, our bodies, but are we smart enough to listen?
In the cinematic feast that is modern Hollywood it seems that the chefs have mixed up the healthy eating pyramid. Instead of the majority of their meals being wholegrain nourishment, we tend to get served lots of sugar, cream, fat, and junk. Which is fine if you are a kid, and the essential food-groups are hamburgers, peanut butter, and candy, but what about mom and dad? What about some real nutrition?
One recent menu item that box-office numbers suggest most might have missed is the true story of novice teacher Erin Gruwell in Freedom Writers.
In what turns out be a powerful feast of thought provoking and heart-rending drama, Hillary Swank, as the intense, committed, even naïve rookie, faces a class of mean hombres (and mujeres, for that matter!). This is no Blackboard Jungle or West Side Story, make no mistake, but it is a touch of urban reality where the filmmakers were able to restrain the obvious grit of the actual racial and gang-fuelled tensions of these kids existence, and still deliver the reality that gave it so much heart.
I’m not a fan of Swank, but hers was a fine performance. Un-perturbed by the disrespect and disinterest of her Freshman English class, the apathetic attitude of colleagues and authorities, and her wealthy father’s open discouragement, Ms. Gruwell presses on, buoyed by the seemingly loving support of her new husband (Patrick Dempsey), and fierce determination to make a difference. Her genuine commitment is tested as husband Dempsey goes from McDreamy to McFreeme, and walks out on his wife when it all gets too real.
In continuing the single-minded pursuit of her goal, she builds a sanctuary of safety, a haven of learning for her charges, all of whom are hungry for knowledge. Assigned to write their own stories, and free of the peer pressure that seemed to pervade the classroom, the students all begin to pour out their hearts, and let Ms. Gruwell inside their troubled lives. In turn, they discover the wellsprings of confidence and tenacity needed to take control of their futures were always within grasp.
This film is no cliché on inner city issues, nor does it take an oversimplified ‘solve-all’ approach to the racial hate, gang violence, and drug scourge pervading our society, especially inner urban regions. But it does help those of us who are observing this social decline from the bleachers; that there is hope, if we will do our part. I believe this movie has the potential to inspire us all to know what that part is, and hopefully, prompt action. As it is only action that can make the difference.
While the movie did not fall into the raw category, as it could so easily have done, there are some content issues that should be noted: A couple of drive by shootings, free of splatter, but one of which leaves a young man dead in a pool of blood; some angry, disrespectful language; and a number of schoolyard fights.
There are less than a handful of S-words, some GDs, and OMGs. There is also one solitary F-word towards the end of the movie, which, without defending its use, is used as a tool by the erstwhile Ms. Gruwell, to impress on one particularly promising student how unacceptable it is to just give up, when he had come so far. It is not used with intent, but more in a clinical nature, a type of street mimicry, and while probably not essential to the plot, should not detract from what is a moving, emotional experience.
This is one of the best movies I have seen for some time. It is not for a young family, and I would probably only let children over 16 watch it, not that my elementary school-aged kids don’t hear the language used, and more, everyday at school. But for an adult audience, it will leave you affected, for the better.
A sumptuous feast, by any measure.
Freedom Writers is available on DVD and Blu-Ray through most retailers, and for hire through the usual outlets.
I guess, despite our brain’s desire for the quick surge of energy and pleasure contained in every sweet mouthful, the body knows that the roast is a source of real nourishment and satisfaction. Smart things, our bodies, but are we smart enough to listen?
In the cinematic feast that is modern Hollywood it seems that the chefs have mixed up the healthy eating pyramid. Instead of the majority of their meals being wholegrain nourishment, we tend to get served lots of sugar, cream, fat, and junk. Which is fine if you are a kid, and the essential food-groups are hamburgers, peanut butter, and candy, but what about mom and dad? What about some real nutrition?
One recent menu item that box-office numbers suggest most might have missed is the true story of novice teacher Erin Gruwell in Freedom Writers.
In what turns out be a powerful feast of thought provoking and heart-rending drama, Hillary Swank, as the intense, committed, even naïve rookie, faces a class of mean hombres (and mujeres, for that matter!). This is no Blackboard Jungle or West Side Story, make no mistake, but it is a touch of urban reality where the filmmakers were able to restrain the obvious grit of the actual racial and gang-fuelled tensions of these kids existence, and still deliver the reality that gave it so much heart.
I’m not a fan of Swank, but hers was a fine performance. Un-perturbed by the disrespect and disinterest of her Freshman English class, the apathetic attitude of colleagues and authorities, and her wealthy father’s open discouragement, Ms. Gruwell presses on, buoyed by the seemingly loving support of her new husband (Patrick Dempsey), and fierce determination to make a difference. Her genuine commitment is tested as husband Dempsey goes from McDreamy to McFreeme, and walks out on his wife when it all gets too real.
In continuing the single-minded pursuit of her goal, she builds a sanctuary of safety, a haven of learning for her charges, all of whom are hungry for knowledge. Assigned to write their own stories, and free of the peer pressure that seemed to pervade the classroom, the students all begin to pour out their hearts, and let Ms. Gruwell inside their troubled lives. In turn, they discover the wellsprings of confidence and tenacity needed to take control of their futures were always within grasp.
This film is no cliché on inner city issues, nor does it take an oversimplified ‘solve-all’ approach to the racial hate, gang violence, and drug scourge pervading our society, especially inner urban regions. But it does help those of us who are observing this social decline from the bleachers; that there is hope, if we will do our part. I believe this movie has the potential to inspire us all to know what that part is, and hopefully, prompt action. As it is only action that can make the difference.
While the movie did not fall into the raw category, as it could so easily have done, there are some content issues that should be noted: A couple of drive by shootings, free of splatter, but one of which leaves a young man dead in a pool of blood; some angry, disrespectful language; and a number of schoolyard fights.
There are less than a handful of S-words, some GDs, and OMGs. There is also one solitary F-word towards the end of the movie, which, without defending its use, is used as a tool by the erstwhile Ms. Gruwell, to impress on one particularly promising student how unacceptable it is to just give up, when he had come so far. It is not used with intent, but more in a clinical nature, a type of street mimicry, and while probably not essential to the plot, should not detract from what is a moving, emotional experience.
This is one of the best movies I have seen for some time. It is not for a young family, and I would probably only let children over 16 watch it, not that my elementary school-aged kids don’t hear the language used, and more, everyday at school. But for an adult audience, it will leave you affected, for the better.
A sumptuous feast, by any measure.
Freedom Writers is available on DVD and Blu-Ray through most retailers, and for hire through the usual outlets.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Found this one a little over simplistic and schmaltzy, but still much better than crud like Dangerous Minds.
Have you seen Half-Nelson yet? It's probably the best modern version of this often rehashed premise.