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Hilary Swank, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey, Mario ... see more see more... , April Lee Hernandez , Robert Wisdom , John Benjamin Hickey , Pat Carroll , Hunter Parrish , Kristin Herrera , Jaclyn Ngan , Sergio Montalvo , Jason Finn , Deance Wyatt , Vanetta Smith , Gabriel Chavarria , Antonio García , Giovonnie Samuels , Will Morales , Armand Jones , Ricardo Molina , Angela Alvarado , Anh Nguyen , Liisa Cohen , Brian Bennett , Mr. Horace Hall , Tim Halligan , Lisa Banes , Giselle Bonilla , Earl Williams , Blake Hightower , Angela Sargeant , Robin Skye , Chil Kong , Juan García , Larry Cahn , Sharaud Moore , Abel Soto , Dan Warner , Randy Hall , Carl Paoli , Dominic Daniel , Cody Chappel , DJ Motive8 , Renee Firestone , Eddie Ilam , Elisabeth Mann , Gloria Ungar , Rock Anthony , Dre Bowie , Jennifer Camacho

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 studen... read more read more...ts 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. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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88% liked it

269,053 ratings

Critics

69% liked it

124 critics

PG-13, 2 hr. 2 min.

Directed by: Richard LaGravenese, Richard La Gravenese

Release Date: January 12, 2007

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DVD Release Date: April 17, 2007

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Flixster Reviews (21,677)

  • fb701560354
    March 8, 2012
    fb701560354
    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... read more 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.
  • spielberg00
    November 5, 2011
    spielberg00
    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 ano... read morether, 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.
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    Inspirational... A must see!
  • superjoker1
    April 3, 2011
    superjoker1
    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.
  • FrizzDrop
    August 2, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    Worth seeing Swank. She kills in every other role, and this is no exception.
  • 3niR
    July 7, 2010
    3niR
    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 recomm... read moreend everyone to watch it.
  • rezpatriot
    December 28, 2009
    rezpatriot
    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 ha... read moreve 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.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    October 11, 2009
    FiLmCrAzY
    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 sw... read moreank 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!
  • binky013
    August 17, 2009
    binky013
    Wow . . .

    So, she has FOUR sections of English . . . Ah, so what happened to the other three? . . .

    But I really do digress. Hollywood, you know how it goes.

    It's always a conundrum for me, keeping in mind that a particular movie is "based on true events." While I'm w

    ... read moreatching one of these, I always have to double-check my reaction sequence while moving through the Hollywood-ed write-up of the "true."

    This one . . . I don't even know quite where to start -- so, I'll start here:

    The-inspiring-teacher movie is a genre that has a long and deep history, and this I do know:

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    As an aside: Poor Imelda Staunton. At this rate she will surely become a victim of type-casting.
  • SilentWarProductions2009
    January 20, 2009
    SilentWarProductions2009
    Directed by: Richard LaGravenese.
    Starring: Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton, April Lee Hernandez.

    << "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 ... read moreto 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'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.

    86/100

    << "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." >>

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Critic Reviews

Peter Rainer
January 11, 2007
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

Engaging but clichéd inspirational drama set during the time of the 1992 race riots in Los Angeles. On some level, just about any movie featuring never-say-die teachers is effective. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
January 10, 2007
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Square, sincere, and proud of it. Full Review

Rob Nelson
January 9, 2007
Rob Nelson, Village Voice

Our eager-beaver heroine suffers the kids' sarcasm, fails to earn their respect by bringing in a Tupac tape, then wins them over in a crucial scene that, fact-based or not, rings as false as anything ... Full Review

Peter Travers
January 9, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Corny? You bet. And worse when the plot veers into the glitz of a Dangerous Minds and the sappiness of a TV After School Special. But the movie, which Swank helped produce by using her clout as a two-...

Tom Charity
January 6, 2007
Tom Charity, CNN.com

Freedom Writers is another exceptional teacher scenario not so different from the norm. Full Review

Chris Vognar
January 5, 2007
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

It's not a great movie, but at-risk teens could do a lot worse. Full Review

Geoff Pevere
January 5, 2007
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star

Freedom Writers confounds its own claims to veracity by coming across as a veritable textbook in itself -- a textbook of earnest, liberal, white-woman-in-the-blackboard jungle clichés. Full Review

Ruthe Stein
January 5, 2007
Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

At a time when New Year's resolutions to change already are falling by the wayside, you can't help but be moved by a group of young people who followed through on their resolve. Full Review

Roger Moore
January 5, 2007
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

An old-fashioned great-teacher-turns-bad-students-into-scholars story that ranks up there with Stand and Deliver. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
January 5, 2007
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

An unashamed heart-tugger, Freedom Writers is based on the true story of Erin Gruwell, a teacher so full of gee-whiz decency she can only be played by Hilary Swank. Full Review

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