X
- 2007
- PG-13
- Paramount Pictures
- 2 h 3 m
- 2007
- PG-13
- Paramount Pictures
- 2 h 3 m
Summary Based on a true story and the diaries of real Long Beach teenagers after the L.A. riots, Freedom Writers is an inspirational tale and testimony to courage hope and the human spirit's triumph over intolerance. (Paramount)
Directed By: Richard LaGravenese
Written By: Freedom Writers, Erin Gruwell, Richard LaGravenese
- 2007
- PG-13
- Paramount Pictures
- 2 h 3 m
- 2007
- PG-13
- Paramount Pictures
- 2 h 3 m
Freedom Writers
64
7.5
Where to Watch
Summary Based on a true story and the diaries of real Long Beach teenagers after the L.A. riots, Freedom Writers is an inspirational tale and testimony to courage hope and the human spirit's triumph over intolerance. (Paramount)
Directed By: Richard LaGravenese
Written By: Freedom Writers, Erin Gruwell, Richard LaGravenese
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 29 Critic Reviews
64
69% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
31% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 29 Critic Reviews
64
69% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
31% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
It all sounds like a recipe for the most noxious liberal jerk-off movie since "Crash," but in the hands of writer-director Richard LaGravenese, Freedom Writers turns out to be a superb piece of mainstream entertainment -- not an agonized debate over the principles of modern education à la "The History Boys," but a simple, straightforward and surprisingly affecting story of one woman who managed to make a difference.
Freedom Writers is the rare inspirational-teacher film that is filled with genuine, jaw-dropping coups of real-life poetry.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 60 User Ratings
7.5
73% Positive
44 Ratings
44 Ratings
27% Mixed
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 60 User Ratings
7.5
73% Positive
44 Ratings
44 Ratings
27% Mixed
16 Ratings
16 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Amo esse filme. Muito inspirador. Literalmente mudou a minha vida de várias formas e a principal delas foi me ensinando a dar mais valor aos professores. Assisti quando criança e era muito difícil algo prender a minha atenção na época; mas esse longa conseguiu, justamente por ter tudo o que, pra mim, um filme BOM precisa ter: boa ambientalização, boa foto grafia, bom roteiro e boas músicas. Filme simplesmente incrível, merecia muito mais reconhecimento. Amo demais! Nota 10.
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Though the film seldom strays from formula, there's something strangely moving about Swank's conviction that, in spite of everything, people are really good at heart.
Dramatically, the movie never veers from its predictable course, but Swank's performance renders the point moot. There likely was a better, more original movie to be made focusing more on the Freedom Writers themselves, but if this more conventional direction had to be taken, it's hard to imagine a more affecting version.
Formulaic though it is, the story hits the right emotional buttons and promises that hope and dogged work trump despair.
Freedom Writers is prone to throwing in unnecessary plot developments, so it never quite succeeds as anything more than "Dangerous Minds" Redux.
The movie itself offers few real answers to the problems teachers face.
Escritores da Liberdade é um dos melhores filmes que eu já assisti. Tem uma mensagem linda (e muito importante para a sociedade), além da direção e roteiro impecáveis. Os atores atuaram muito bem, nos mostrando um show de interpretação.
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It is very sad that this was a true story, but also a very brilliant piece of work, I am so happy that this movie wasn't so pompus. Usually movies about race always end up blaming white people who did nothing wrong, but this movie is just flat out touching and entertaining. One of my all time favorites.
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This film had things going for itself but, it had issues that it could've perfected on. For example, a major flaw with the casting of the students was that they looked twice the age of a regular high school Freshman. Despite the fact that this might irritate some moviegoers, it didn’t get under my skin that much since it seems like this is one of the more common flaws in most present day “coming of age” movies, and I was somewhat expecting that going into this film. Most of the scenes are shot in a pretty generic way, with tons of quick cuts that almost interrupted scenes. In a scene of one of Eva’s (April L. Hernandez) outbursts, she is seen kicking what appears to be tin on the ground and the scene in general was a bit silly. Also, the editor cut out part of the scene too quickly and it just didn’t flow. Although, I would consider the scene when the movie depicts the upbringing and backgrounds of the troubled students while Mrs. Gruwell is reading their journal entries, to be one of the more effective parts of Freedom Writers. This is because the inclusion of master shots during the scenes represented the more short and traumatic events all in one setting, and the long takes depicting the more lengthy events taken place while walking around on the streets. In my opinion, Freedom Writers should've utilized more of a variety of different shots to make the film visually more interesting. The directing and dialogue in the scenes between Mrs. Gruwell and the students are the strongest, especially when she mentions the analogy comparing gangs to the Holocaust.* I would regard this scene to also be the most realistic since I can picture even regular students getting heated with the teacher if they bring up a sensitive topic (gangs) and speak about it as if it was something they have personally experienced enough to know the emotion and impact attached to it. In addition, this scene also indicates to the audience how uneducated theses groups of students are, once its revealed that they didn’t even know what the Holocaust was. However my main issue with the film is that it exaggerates the antagonists too much, making them more one dimensional. Of course the first person that others would assume I’m referring is Margaret Campbell (aka Professor Umbridge). Even though she has been type casted in the same kind of role since Harry Potter, it is definitely for a purpose since she acts in that malevolent role very well. Both Mr. Gelford’s (John Benjamin Hickey) and Scott Casey’s (Patrick Dempsey) scenes in particular were super contrived in terms of trying to make them unlikeable characters. A scene I would say sums up how Mr. Gelford is portrayed is when Mrs. Gruwell meets up with the Board of Education and at one point, responds with something along the lines of, “You really think I care about the students?” No one in that scene even commented on the inappropriate statement he made and he was still perceived as being one of the more reputable and normal teachers in that district. Speaking from the perspective of someone who has a parent that works at the school, I would think that making absurd and unprofessional comments like that around the Board of Education would get someone into some trouble. Dempsey’s scenes are even more unconvincing since they shift from him expressing how dissatisfied with their distant relationship to him forgiving her and being all affectionate with her too quickly. These scenes would’ve been better if they just executed the first two scenes with him in a way that made it seem like they were a normal couple with no issues and then slowly add tension. Another issue I had with Freedom Writers was the portrayal of Ben Daniel’s (Hunter Parish). I felt in the beginning of the film, that he would be a prominent character but they just squeezed in his character’s backstory during the most random scene. Despite the drawbacks I just mentioned and the occasional cheese, Freedom Writers is an uplifting movie that I would rate higher than Stand and Deliver (the super dated original version) but lower than Dead Poet’s Society since that move is better in all aspects. So, a fair score for this movie would be a 3 out of 5.
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Swank is an undeniable talent. It may not be possessed of a beauty worthy of Hollywood standards but delights rightfully so. Casually because she played properly fair. Being a good actress is not having a perfect face. Particularly, I think this is the best movie I've seen of hers. And there's more of hers that I have the pleasure to see... With this film, you realize how imortant not to lose the grip of being in a classroom. Who works in such spot recognizes it. You inspire me to teach their ideas. As I am shy with the public, I need good ideas to teach. I saw this movie, great tips about it. Bright, with riveting performances and leaves you to ponder when the letters begin to rise ...
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Awards
Humanitas Prize
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Golden Camera, Germany
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Image Awards (NAACP)
• 1 Nomination
