Edward James Olmos,
Lou Diamond Phillips,
Rosanna de Soto,
Andy Garcia,
Will Gotay
... see more 
Edward James Olmos portrays the real-life Jaime Escalante, a no-nonsense mathematic teacher in a tough East LA high school. Handed a classroom full of "losers" and "unteachables," Escalante is determi... read more
Directed by: Ramón Menéndez
Release Date: January 1, 1988
DVD Release Date: November 10, 1998
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Stats: 855 reviews
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Flixster Reviews (855)
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December 23, 2011fb619846742A well-done if very melodramatic film concerning a passionate math teacher (Edward James Olmos) who somehow succeeds in inspiring his students to learn calculus. The films feels very familiar and predictable, but it is still crowd-pleasing at its conclusion. Olmos, Lou Diamond Ph... read more
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March 6, 2011This isn't just another teacher movie like Blackboard Jungle or Class of 1984, the story of this film is true, and very empowering to teachers and students everywhere. This is one of the best real school dramas of the decade, so I highly recommend it.
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January 14, 2010In 1982, a new troublemaker hit Garfield High. He was tough. He was wild. He was willing to fight. He was the new math teacher. He reminded me of my Math Teather. lol
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October 8, 2009Inspirational true story about Mr. Escalante, a Los Angeles high school math teacher whose Hispanic barrio students achieved high scores on California's advance placement calculus tests.
A terrific story for two reasons, first because it's true and second because Edward James ... read more -
March 6, 2008The model where the tough teacher in a dangerous environment who reforms his students comes from this film.
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March 2, 2011Despite a recommendation from one of my friends (who has recommended mostly crappy movies in the past), I was willing to give this movie a chance if only to see the venerable Edward James Olmos as a professor. However, I quickly learned to ignore such reasoning because this film ... read more
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September 10, 2008Excellent movie about a teacher who empowers lower-class hispanic students and gives them a chance to be somebody. No one thought they could do it. No one challenged them beyond what anyone thought they were capable of. But Mr. Escalante teaches an introduction to math class... a... read more
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January 20, 2008This is one of my favorites, absolutely love it! Here's a movie that I can never get tired of watching. Edward James Olmos and Lou Diamond Phillips both give extraordinary performances.
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January 2, 2012Edward James Olmos is pretty great and laid back as the teacher of math to underprivileged Hispanic students who have been deemed unteachable. He manages to get them interested in their subject and forces them to work hard and the majority of the class manages to pass a big stat... read more
Critic Reviews
April 27, 2011
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
January 1, 2011
Ellen MacKay, Common Sense Media
Intensely watchable movie based on a true story. Full Review
September 27, 2005
Richard von Busack, MetroActive
"The greatest John G. Avildsen movie John G. Avidlsen never made. Olmos is far more understated than the average tough-teacher is in this kind of film."
January 26, 2005
Ross Anthony, Hollywood Report Card
Powerfully inspirational, laden with tough love, and on occasion a tad hokey. It's the "Coach Carter" of H.S. Math class. Full Review
January 17, 2003
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
Obvious, but very moving.
December 30, 2002
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
The rare "based on" movie that does justice to its source.
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Stand and Deliver
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