I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

Blistering performances.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Couldn't find anything bad in the movie. Watched it several times and will watch it again for sure. it's perfect in my opinion! I have seen many movies with the same style; this is the best one. People are ignoring the fact that it's based on a true story, which means that nothing is made up in the movie. This plot, believe it or not, happened, and even made a big change to schools across the country after the events occurred in the movie. You'll adore the teacher for what she did for her students- she had to deal with many obstacles around her in order to give them a proper education they deserve. She actually sacrificed her life for them! Emotional, enjoyable and inspiring at the same time. This movie is a must! I would recommend it to everyone.

The move offers a dramatization of a modern true story which is an important one yet often underrated. It's an important issue because education should never be limited by anything, even by the targets saying that they don't want to receive them. I really like significant references to other strong true stories especially about the holocaust. The montage used in this movie is a bit too much for me. It should've used more duration instead and build more on the detailed stories of more individuals of the class. I like how Hillary Swank is able to keep her usual aura of sanguine and cheerful character onto her role here, even on the sadder scenes. Scott Glenn adds the nice ingredient in giving this movie some more familiar faces to appreciate.

Education in the movies tend to be serious on having the students become the saviors of their own world. In other words, they are the ones who can save themselves. Many movies about education and high-school students have been praised about their quality and realism to what these kids are going through. Unfortunately, in the case of Freedom Writers, that kind of premise has been seen and heard of in a familiar place. The story of Freedom Writers is based on true events that occurred in the mid-1990's, where Los Angeles high school students formed a writing group of their own. In the beginning of the movie, we are introduced by one of the students who is affected by the 1992 Los Angeles riots. After listening to her own story about surviving on the streets of L.A. during the riots, we are also introduced by Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank). She is new to the city, partly because she used to live in Newport Beach. Now living in L.A. with her husband, she is given a job to teach at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach. However, this kind of high school is nothing compared to any other high school in the United States. In fact, this kind of high school look like it was burrowed from other high school movies as well. But, anyway, Miss Gruwell is introduced in her new classroom where the majority of the kids are either black, Latino, Puerto Rican, or white. Of course, these kids are also burrowed from other movies as well. At first, Gruwell is disgusted by the lack of seriousness that her kids hold in their possessions. For example, in one scene, one of the kids pass around a drawing of a Jewish person with a big nose. Furthermore, Miss Gruwell also pushes it by creating more of a scene by saying and stating racial stereotypes such as, blacks have big lips. To me, that's kind of unsavory. Now, anyone can tell you that the story of this movie tries to be fair to what has happened at Woodrow Wilson High School, and also the book, which was written by Erin Gruwell herself and her class. Later on in the movie, she have the students write down their own personal lives in a journal. Some write about surviving on the streets, yet some write about their own personal stories of their lifestyles. One particular student in her classroom writes about having to deal with her family being in distress. The movie goes even further when Miss Gruwell teaches the kids about the Holocaust. She even brings in a Holocaust survivor, who tells her class about her experiences of living in a Nazi concentration camp. Now, that scene is good, but not enough for me to recommend this movie. I know that Freedom Writers is trying to be uplifting and powerful because of what it has in store for the audience. But to me, the movie makes it seem that this true story is created by other high school movies or other education based films. Even more disappointing is the story then turns into a teacher-goes-against-the-system film. We've seen that story be told in other great and wonderful films like Dead Poets Society or Stand and Deliver. Well, this movie isn't in the same league as Stand and Deliver or Dead Poets Society. In fact, the whole idea of having the kids write down their own stories is absolutely ripped right out of Dead Poets Society. The story of Freedom Writers is also predictable. You can even predict every move the movie makes. As for Hilary Swank, she does a good job in the film, but it isn't particularly an Oscar-winning performance. She is a great actress and does have the edge to shape up these kids, but she's the only person and actress alive in this story that is predictable and contrived. What I wanted from a movie like this is to create more of an authentic look of kids, specifically high school students, who are living in this dangerous environment. Of course, I don't mind a movie where young adolescents talk about their own experiences, but having to be recycled from previous projects isn't going to shape or change the way I look at the movie. Freedom Writers isn't a bad movie. It isn't horrible. It just lacks the need of authenticity that these characters possess. ★★ 2 stars.

Never in a million years did I think MTV Studios would make a good movie. Now , I'm sure not a lot of people have ever heard of Freedom Writers, but it is about a new teacher who gets her first job at a high school in Long Beach California. The film takes place in 1994 and during that time there was a lot of gang violence and since the schools were integrated, students and even teachers didn't really care about education. This one teacher dedicates all of her time to these kids and to help them and the bond they form is incredible. This made an interesting film and a little hard to believe, even though it was based on a true story.I loved the characters in this movie. Each student had a different story and their storied brought them together. Marcus, Eva, and Jamal are among my favorites. The story really focuses on Mrs. G. and her teaching. She was the best character in the movie with her dedication and love for her job but every time I saw her and her husband on screen I just wanted to turn it off. I understand his purpose and it but it was boring and slowed the pace. Eva and her struggles in her life but in the end it is kind of unsatisfying. She witnessed one of her own people, meaning Latin American, gun down and murder another man and she was to testify in court. Her family and friends told her to lie to protect her own people. They are in a war, and the war is something every student can relate to. In the movie she testifies but we never find out what happens afterMarcus was a character who surprised me. He got kicked out of his moms place when he started getting into drugs and gang violence and he gave up on school. He completely develops into a strong character with an even stronger heart and voice. Mrs. G. tried to teach them about the Holocaust and the Diary of Anne Frank. She thought the kids would relate, and they did and that was a big part in them coming together. Marcus is one character I would say gets justice. His story ends properly and it is satisfying. There were no questions to be asked.Jamal is a character that just drops off the face of the Earth. In the beginning he is very active and he makes an impact, but then he slips away and is kind of forgotten. It's a shame because he had so much potential and strengths as a character. Andre is the opposite. I the beginning he is hardly noticeable and in the end he is a focal point, but again, his story isn't wrapped up. It left me asking, "ok, then what happened?" It was frustrating. The movie ends in the right place but we don' know how the kids end with their present problems. We get a blurb before the credits roll but to me it wasn't enough.I like this movie a lot, the way Mrs. G. connected with her students and changed them was just fun to watch. You can't help but feel happy when old enemies become friends. It is even crazier that this was a true story. I think it was exaggerated for Hollywood but they were like a family. Most of them didn't have family and the conflict in the movie is how long they will stay together. At least I think that is the conflict. There really is no major conflict, but more like three or four minor conflicts. It is different and it worked so touché to the director. The Holocaust became a symbol throughout the entire movie. It connected the kids along with the journals and I loved how it was used throughout the entire movie. Jamal was the one everyone made fun of and Tito drew a picture of him with bi lips and Mrs. G. found it in class. She went on a speech about propaganda the Holocaust. None of the students had heard of the Holocaust. She took them to the Holocaust museum and had her talk to Holocaust survivors. Somehow, they connected the Holocaust with their life style. Their stores were all so sad and deep and Mrs. G. really helped them.Her teaching methods for these kids were outstanding. My favorite scene is when she plays the line game. When she first said, "The line game." I had the same reaction as the students, which wasn't good. Then she asked the questions and got deeper and deeper into their lives. The students got to understand one another. They got little bits of respect and it was the first small step into a change in their life. The journal entries were absolutely brilliant as well. She had them write in their journals everyday about anything they wished and she would read the, if they liked. The kids just vented. They just told their story and their struggle and it helped Mrs. G. connect and understand with her students. And I'm a writer so I thought it was just smart in general. I had to ask myself, "Did the students really do all the work? Did they actually read the books?" in my mind it is kind of doubtful. Students today don't read under normal circumstances. These kids risk their lives walking outside. It is a little hard to believe they actually did all of their work, or even most of it.Overall, Freedom Writers is a good time with strong characters you will fall in love with and feel sorry for, but is also hard to believe. I'm sorry, you can't help but notice how Hollywood and cheesy the story and scenes can be. I still liked it a lot; I could watch it again and again. Freedom Writers gets the WillyT Honorable Mention.