Featured Audience Ratings

• Wildaly M

  
  I think the book is better.

• Raymond W

  
  Yes it's corny, yes it's predictable, and yes these characters are as generic as ever, but that doesn't stop Freedom Writers from being extremely powerful, moving and inspirational. Hilary Swank does a great job in the lead here, but the unknown actors and actresses… More
  Yes it's corny, yes it's predictable, and yes these characters are as generic as ever, but that doesn't stop Freedom Writers from being extremely powerful, moving and inspirational. Hilary Swank does a great job in the lead here, but the unknown actors and actresses who play the Freedom Writers are the soul of the film; they are incredible. Apart from being predictable and square, this film had me crying and laughing at the same time, had me snickering and get angry at character that I disliked, and more than once made me want to jump and yell with joy. It's a must see film.

• Alexander D

  
  Moving and compelling drama finds Hilary Swank as a high school English teacher named Erin Gruwell. Ms. Gruwell is teaching teens (who are thought to be "unteachable") in the inner-city, and realizing they have all been affected by crime, gangs, and/or violence in one way… More
  Moving and compelling drama finds Hilary Swank as a high school English teacher named Erin Gruwell. Ms. Gruwell is teaching teens (who are thought to be "unteachable") in the inner-city, and realizing they have all been affected by crime, gangs, and/or violence in one way or another, she starts a project allowing them to express their thoughts on paper daily. This, based on both a true story and the compiled diary of Ms. Gruwell and her students from six years before, was a good idea to translate onto the screen. Having not read the book yet, I cannot say whether this was factual by means of its source, or even as tear-jerking as the book was, but I can say that this was beyond simply decent. The rap music played as the soundtrack of the film could have been better replaced by more dramatic music, and more often, if that, à la Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross's original soundtrack for THE SOCIAL NETWORK. Also, the hip-hip tone slightly undermines a few of the themes in the film, like those of anti-racism and anti-hate. Aside from that, this was a viewing of Hilary Swank's best performance yet, and it's one I would not mind giving another watch.

• Bethany M

  
  Inspirational... A must see!

• Kyle F

  
  It's brutally honest, insightful, and boasts great cinamatography, but beneath the surface of 'Freedom Writers' there's a battle between a really great film and a goofy childrens' public survice announcement. In the end, goofy reigns superior.

• Spencer S

  
  Worth seeing Swank. She kills in every other role, and this is no exception.

• Dead A

  
  This movie was about real life I guess. Racism is a disease. If any racist is watching this movie, don't just watch it, try to realize what this movie is trying to tell you. Can't believe that woman didn't gave up even her husband didn't support her. That guy was a… More
  This movie was about real life I guess. Racism is a disease. If any racist is watching this movie, don't just watch it, try to realize what this movie is trying to tell you. Can't believe that woman didn't gave up even her husband didn't support her. That guy was a jerk. I recommend everyone to watch it.

• Alexander W

  
  Erm to be honest once you have watched Dangerous Minds you really don't see anything new done here. Hilary Swank is pure **** material and in the words of Ali G "I definately would". The movie will capture some movie goers hearts and attention but perhaps just maybe… More
  Erm to be honest once you have watched Dangerous Minds you really don't see anything new done here. Hilary Swank is pure **** material and in the words of Ali G "I definately would". The movie will capture some movie goers hearts and attention but perhaps just maybe they could have focused the film on any other culture apart from black, white, hispanic. Perhaps using subcultures to steer and guide our judgements might have kept my interest.

• Film C

  
  i love this movie, one of my favourite movies really compelling and interested and a really heartwarming movie that doesnt disappoint! i love the storyline as it hows the american ids in a hard american life live and its just beautifully written and fantastic acting by hilary swank… More
  i love this movie, one of my favourite movies really compelling and interested and a really heartwarming movie that doesnt disappoint! i love the storyline as it hows the american ids in a hard american life live and its just beautifully written and fantastic acting by hilary swank and the rest o the cast! hilary swank plas a teacher who gets a classs of undergraduates who are just left by th other teachers as they feel they wont succeed and will just be societies rejects but hilary takes them on and tries her hardest to i them over which she eventuly succeed in doing, but se has a hard time teaching thm and isnt as easya she may of thought throug going through s split up and death and a bunch of teachers who don support what shes doing its testing time! this movie is powerfull compelling and sad just brilliant throughout i love it completely worth a watch!

• Lanning :

  
  Wow . . . <p> So, she has FOUR sections of English . . . Ah, so what happened to the other three? . . . <p>But I really do digress. Hollywood, you know how it goes. <p>It's always a conundrum for me, keeping in mind that a particular movie is "based on… More
  Wow . . . <p> So, she has FOUR sections of English . . . Ah, so what happened to the other three? . . . <p>But I really do digress. Hollywood, you know how it goes. <p>It's always a conundrum for me, keeping in mind that a particular movie is "based on true events." While I'm watching one of these, I always have to double-check my reaction sequence while moving through the Hollywood-ed write-up of the "true." <p>This one . . . I don't even know quite where to start -- so, I'll start here:<p>The-inspiring-teacher movie is a genre that has a long and deep history, and this I do know:<p> Unless you've actually faced a classroom of students, it might be hard to calibrate your BS detector for stories like this. Fortunately however, for better or for worse, most of us have actually been students in a class taught by some kind of teacher, so there is a pretty good residual BS detection inbred in all of us former and/or current students, in all of us who've ever been taught by the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful. <p> No movie I've seen in the-inspiring-teacher category has ever put me through such an emotional roller-coaster. I couldn't help but wonder about Hollywood storytelling vs. lived experience throughout this very well-played, highly emotional movie. <p> In the end, despite any qualms I might have as a former teacher thinking about the real world of lived experience in the classroom, I still do have an enormous reservoir of optimism about what can be accomplished in the classroom to help everyone, regardless of their circumstances, come to a better place. <p>No matter how you might feel about the scripting at times, everybody please keep in mind that this is actually a sketch of a true, real-life story. I have to admit that I shed many tears all the way through. <p>If this isn't the best inspiring-teacher movie ever made, it's definitely right up there. A must-see if you still do believe that the world can always be a better place. <p>As an aside: Poor Imelda Staunton. At this rate she will surely become a victim of type-casting.

• Craig S

  
  <u><b>Directed by:</u></b> Richard LaGravenese. <u><b>Starring:</u></b> Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton, April Lee Hernandez. <i><< "I sat there until the police came. But when they come, all… More
  <u><b>Directed by:</u></b> Richard LaGravenese. <u><b>Starring:</u></b> Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton, April Lee Hernandez. <i><< "I sat there until the police came. But when they come, all they see is a dead body, a gun, and a nigger. They took me to juvenile hall. First night was the scariest. Inmates banging on the walls, throwing up gang signs, yelling out who they were and where they from. I cried my first night. I never let anybody know that. I spent the next few years in and out of cells. Every day I worry, when will I be free?" >></i> I'll admit it, I never really had an urge to see this, the marketing, the plot, it all sounded all too familiar and clichéd and seemed like a 'Dangerous Minds' for the new millennium...and I'll be honest...yes, its familiar, no doubt about that, but what can you expect, from such a known idea, to say that has already been set in stone as 'familiar'? Freedom Writers take cliché and raises questions you would never expect to see raised, it never disrespects, it never discriminates, it raises worldwide questions about all races, religions and lives and answers them with true heart and sincerity and took me by surprise. The story follows a young newcomer at teaching who takes that role in an inner-city school, divided by race. She has no previous experience in teaching and soon sees the terrible violence and division in the classroom. Out of sheer heart, she applies herself to these kids and finds a way to communicate to these kids and teaches them about tolerance, about respect outside of 'their own' and about applying themselves in everything they do. Wow...I never thought I'd give a high rating to this, but there's reason. I won't go into a deep and never-ending debate about 'white women teaching colored people about respect?' (if the teacher was colored, would that change the view of the film?), instead, I'll review the film. What hit me hard was the aim and how director/writer Richard LaGravenese tackled the films questions. Of course, the props go to the real 'Freedom Writers' and Erin Gruwell for their truth, but with Richard LaGravenese's taut direction and solid structure, questions are raised without force and each character is given humanity and a story to tell and no one is left behind...and with real heart and sincerity at the core of the film, it creates emotion naturally and never resorts to another sort of 'cliché' by acting sentimental to get the audience to go teary eyed, they poured down my face naturally. The acting adds another level of intensity to the film, each actor tackles there character with power and many unknowns surprise, it's not just Hilary Swank with her great energy and dedication to the role, or Imelda Staunton showing herself as a hard hitter in every role including this one, it's the rest. You have April Lee Hernandez, in her first feature role, who shows charisma and guts to give it her all, Mario, an R'n'B singer, who you would never think could act any better then his music (personal opinion), he shows a lot of potential by adding more than a face to the role, there are so many in that one classroom who have so much potential as actors, that with another 10 years of right choices, they could be the next generation of top actors. I know many of you will not see this and I can see why. As formulaic and clichéd as it may be, it is overpowered by heart and respect. It is also surprising at how brilliantly made it is and how the common questions raised in the film have added meaning and range. I am pleased to say that it is a masterpiece in its own right. The film will continue to be overlooked, thanks the marketing and the plot, but I am telling you now that if you see it in DVD stores, don't pass it, do yourself a favor and pick it up, you shouldn't be disappointed. <p><b>86/100</b> <i><< "My brother taught me what the life is for a young black man. Pimp, deal, whatever. Learn what colors to wear. Gang banners. You can sell to one corner, but you can't sell another. Learn to be quiet. The wrong word can get you popped." >></i>

• Nicki M

  
  Very inspiring true story about the difference one person can make to many lives. Hillary Swank is great in this, as is the young cast.

• Aliyanto L

  
  This inspired by a true story movie is really special among movies about inspiring teachers. It's about the efficacy of education and empathy to overcome intolerance, and the ability of one person to make a difference.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>Erin Gruwell: "You know what this is? This is a Fuck You to me and everyone in this class. I don't want excuses. I know what you're up against. We're all of us up against something. So you better make up your mind, because until you have the balls to look… More
  <i>Erin Gruwell: "You know what this is? This is a Fuck You to me and everyone in this class. I don't want excuses. I know what you're up against. We're all of us up against something. So you better make up your mind, because until you have the balls to look me straight in the eye and tell me this is all you deserve, I am not letting you fail. Even if that means coming to your house every night until you finish the work. I see who you are. Do you understand me? I can see you. And you are not failing."</i> Assigned the thankless task of teaching freshman English at a gang-infested Long Beach, CA high school, a 23-year-old teacher resorts to unconventional means of breaking through to her hardened students in director Richard LaGravenese's adaptation of Erin Gruwell's best-seller The Freedom Writer's Diaries: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them. Her students had been written off, and her chances of succeeding scoffed at, but Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) wasn't about to go down without a fight. Long Beach is a place where a new war is waged with each passing day, and when the hardened students who walk those dangerous hallways sense an outsider attempting to understand their plight, their cynical resentment threatens to keep a deadly cycle in motion. Despite the initially hostile reaction she receives in the classroom, Gruwell uses the writings of Anne Frank and Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Sarajevo to teach her students not only the basis of the English language, but compassion and tolerance as well. Later, when the time comes to tell their own tales in a project specially designed to explore the daily violence that the majority of students have grown numb to, the barriers that had once stood so strong gradually begin to crumble. When the only chance for survival is to befriend the person who was once your mortal enemy, the world is opened to a whole new realm of possibilities. I am not usually one to be impressed by movies about race because the topic seems to be talked and talked and talked to death these days. However I found Freedom Writers to be extremely moving and a great movie all around. One of those movies while where you are watching it you wouldn't mind if it lasted 6 hrs instead of just 2. I would tell anyone and everyone its a good movie, worth your money for sure. It had good acting and a great plot line to boot. Not only was there some serious moments that really sucked you in, but there was also a bit of humor here or there to keep the movie from becoming too somber. I would highly suggest to anyone and everyone that this is a movie that is completely worth your time and money. <b>4/5</b>

• Bobby H

  
  This might be one of the most inspiring movies I have ever seen. It shows how ordinary people can make a difference in the world - and that if people pull together and have someone to believe in them then the possibilities of what one can do are endless. Beyond the amazing story… More
  This might be one of the most inspiring movies I have ever seen. It shows how ordinary people can make a difference in the world - and that if people pull together and have someone to believe in them then the possibilities of what one can do are endless. Beyond the amazing story the soundtrack, the way the movie was laid out, and the actors done one of the best jobs ive seen when bringing together something of reality onto the big-screen. Movie well done.

• Lady D

  
  Had this not been based on a true story I might have found it hard to believe the transformation that this teacher performed with her class. Obviously a remarkable woman with faith and passion for her students, something worth investing her hard work into. A very inspiring film… More
  Had this not been based on a true story I might have found it hard to believe the transformation that this teacher performed with her class. Obviously a remarkable woman with faith and passion for her students, something worth investing her hard work into. A very inspiring film and an interesting story.

• Nate Z

  
  [CENTER][img]http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/8343/photo05ba6.jpg[/img][/CENTER] [COLOR=DarkRed][FONT=Arial]Norbit - It's terrible, yes, and a grotesque cartoon that milks one joke (the fat shrew is fat!), but it's not as terrible as I expected and that in and of itself… More
  [CENTER][img]http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/8343/photo05ba6.jpg[/img][/CENTER] [COLOR=DarkRed][FONT=Arial]Norbit - It's terrible, yes, and a grotesque cartoon that milks one joke (the fat shrew is fat!), but it's not as terrible as I expected and that in and of itself must be something of a small victory. The candy-coated direction and ghastly realistic makeup effects elevate the wretched material, and I'm ashamed to admit that I did indeed laugh a few times, albeit only a few. Rick Baker's makeup will likely win yet another Oscar, which means we will be stuck with the tragic sentence "Academy Award-winning [I]Norbit[/I]" for the rest of our lives. The fabulous makeup can bring these wretched characters to vivid life, including an odd racist depiction of Murphy as an old Asian man, but what's the point of expert mimicry if it can be recreated on a physical level? Murphy's comedic gifts seem like they will be replaced by technology instead of complimenting what he has to offer. Then again, there's no technology that can make Norbit funnier. I hope you're happy with the money you have reaped from this mean-spirited, unfunny crass comedy, because the advertising for this almost certainly cost you, Eddie Murphy, a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for [I]Dreamgirls[/I]. Then again, that movie wasn't too great either. Nate's Grade: D+ Blood and Chocolate - A werewolf tale set in Europe where the remaining handful of werewolves hunt men for sport by night and swish around being Eurotrash by day. The film plays closely to the teens-as-super creatures formula that seems to be chiseled by the likes of [I]The Craft[/I], [I]Underworld[/I], and [I]The Covenant[/I]. What's kind of hilariously goofy is that these werewolves actually just turn into normal, White Fang-looking wolves; no hulking man-beasts. They tend to run, and in a feat of cheesy special effects, blur into a wolf thanks to a magical glow. But there are instances when they would be much better off staying as people than transforming into wolves, like for ridiculous wolf-on-wolf fight scenes. The whole concept seems rather uninspiring; would you feel a sense of power simply because you could transform into a medium sized canine at will? I can't see many practical instances where this would benefit someone. What's the appeal? Regardless, the peculiarly titled film is rather dim with plot and character and whimpers to a hasty yet predictable conclusion. Agnes Bruckner, that's a talented and beautiful young actress. Someone out there find here something worthy. Nate's Grade: D+ Shooter - A passable albeit mediocre action thriller, this humorless tale about an elite sniper framed for a presidential assassination is more interested in the nitty gritty of sharp-shooters than building a credible plot. Mark Wahlberg grumbles through uninspired action sequences but who really draws attention is a villainous Danny Glover. The man has a lisp and carries it until the end of the film, and it is never explained. It's so weird and distracting and it feels superfluous, like Glover was hard-pressed to make his rote villain interesting, so he thought, "Why not a lisp?" [I]Shooter[/I] is more proof to my ongoing assertion that Antoine Fuqua ([I]King Arthur[/I], [I]Tears of the Sun[/I]) is a shoddy director and has no valid interest in storytelling; he's studied at the Tony Scott school of Visual Indulgence. The characters are either stock roles or superhuman, and how in the world does a man get pinned for almost taking out the President and then buy mass quantities of weapons with the clever disguise of sunglasses? Nate's Grade: C Freedom Writers - Add this to the feel-good genre of true-life teacher-makes-a-difference movies. It is suitably well acted and uplifting and doesn't necessarily pander even if it does hit all the expected stops of the genre. These kids have grown up in an area heavy with gang affiliations, and the film earns extra credit for dealing with the heavy reality of gangs better than most any other teacher-in-urban-setting flick. Hillary Swank relies on her mega-watt smile to communicate her character's perseverance and idealism and does a fine job along with a strong supporting cast including Imelda Staunton as the doubtful, pessimistic, dismissive principal. [I]Freedom Writers[/I] clings to the us-vs.-them model and builds a believable underdog tale that actually could inspire a few future educators out there. This film is cozy and familiar but it also made will skill and care. Nate's Grade: B The Lives of Others - A mesmerizing and piercing human drama that burns into your memory long after it's over. This Oscar-winner for Best Foreign Film actually deserved to beat out [I]Pan's Labyrinth[/I]. This vastly intriguing, dense, and extremely moving film explores life inside East Germany before the Wall fell, a life not often seen in the movies. The crux of the movie follows a career officer (Ulrich Mühe) in the secret police who has been assigned to eavesdrop on a playwright and his actress girlfriend. It is this assignment that shakes the man's blind faith in his government, and [I]The Lives of Others[/I] becomes nerve-wracking when our silent listener decides to become active in trying to protect his subjects from his boss. This is masterful, artistically illuminating filmmaking with a tight, deeply felt story and superb acting and direction. Germany has been crafting some of the world's finest cinema as of late, including Oscar-winner [I]Nowhere in Africa[/I] and Oscar-nominees [I]Downfall[/I] and [I]Sophie Scholl[/I]. See this film before Hollywood remakes it and ruins it. Tragically, Mühe died of stomach cancer in July 2007 just as American audiences began to see [I]The Lives of Others[/I] and witness the depths of his talent. He will be missed by the world of cinema but his work in [I]The Lives of Others[/I] is a lasting testament. Nate's Grade: A [/FONT][/COLOR]

• EightThirty .

  
  What an Exellent Drama, Very good indeed ^_^

• Matthew C

  
  Probably one of the better movies of 2007. Shows how everyone has a voice, and oftentimes we dismiss each other so easily without relating.

• Dean M

  
  Excellent, so emotional and interesting true story of an amazing young English teacher who helped her own students changing their life from their hard-core attitude as well as the gangsters into peaceful. Hilary Swank does a fantastic performance as Erin Gunwell and that movie is what… More
  Excellent, so emotional and interesting true story of an amazing young English teacher who helped her own students changing their life from their hard-core attitude as well as the gangsters into peaceful. Hilary Swank does a fantastic performance as Erin Gunwell and that movie is what I think it's unbelievable true based on the book by Erin and her students known as Freedom Writers who supported Erin very strongly.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings