Front of the Class

December. 07,2008      
Rating:
8.1
Trailer Synopsis Cast

A boy with Tourette's syndrome overcomes criticism and discrimination to achieve his dream of becoming a teacher.

James Wolk as  Brad Cohen
Treat Williams as  Norman Cohen
Dominic Scott Kay as  Young Brad Cohen
Sarah Drew as  Nancy Lazarus
Kathleen York as  Diane
Joe Chrest as  Jim Ovbey
Patricia Heaton as  Ellen Cohen
Johnny Pacar as  Jeff
Charles Henry Wyson as  Young Jeff
Charlie Finn as  Ron

You May Also Like

Sons & Lovers
Sons & Lovers
Filmmaker Stephen Whittaker adapts author D.H. Lawrence's simmering tale of sex, love, and family. In the years leading up to World War I, the problems faced by many families were uncannily similar to the issues that mankind would still be struggling with nearly a century later. Human relationships remain as fragile as ever, and the only constant in life seems to be a humbling sense of uncertainty. Sarah Lancashire stars in a drama detailing the anguish of first love, and the awkward confusion of first sex.
Sons & Lovers 2003
The Time Capsule
The Time Capsule
After ten years, a group of high school friends reunite at their alma mater to dig up their old time capsule. When they open it, they make a pact to recreate all their best high school moments. Little do they realize the power of the time capsule to heal broken hearts and inspire newfound relationships.
The Time Capsule 2018
Karen Kingsbury's Maggie's Christmas Miracle
Karen Kingsbury's Maggie's Christmas Miracle
Maggie, a single mom has to balance between her career and her son, Jordan. Jordan finds a tutor named Casey to help him at school, and Casey becomes like a father figure. Will the three of them find happiness and love once again?
Karen Kingsbury's Maggie's Christmas Miracle 2017
Jackie & Ryan
Prime Video
Jackie & Ryan
A modern day train hopper fighting to be a successful musician and a single mom battling to maintain custody of her daughter defy their circumstances by coming together in a relationship that may change each others lives forever.
Jackie & Ryan 2015
Berlin Syndrome
Netflix
Berlin Syndrome
A passionate holiday romance leads to an obsessive relationship when an Australian photojournalist wakes one morning in a Berlin apartment and is unable to leave.
Berlin Syndrome 2017
Flight 93
Flight 93
Flight 93 is a 2006 made-for-TV film, directed by Peter Markle, which chronicles the events aboard United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11 attacks. It premiered January 30, 2006 on the A&E Network and was re-broadcast several times throughout 2006. The film focused heavily on eight passengers, namely Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett, Jeremy Glick, Lauren Grandcolas, Donald Greene, Nicole Miller, and Honor Elizabeth Wainio. It features small appearances from many other passengers, namely Donald Peterson and his wife, Jean, and also from flight attendant Sandra Bradshaw.
Flight 93 2006
High Strung Free Dance
Netflix
High Strung Free Dance
Zander Raines, a dazzling and tempestuous young choreographer, gives the break of a lifetime to two hopeful artists when he casts a stunning contemporary dancer, Barlow, and innovative pianist, Charlie, in New York’s most-anticipated new Broadway show: Free Dance. But the move throws off the show’s delicate creative balance when Charlie falls hard for Barlow, while Zander embraces her as his muse.
High Strung Free Dance 2019
Day of the Dead
AMC+
Day of the Dead
When a small Colorado town is overrun by the flesh hungry dead, a small group of survivors try to escape in a last ditch effort to stay alive.
Day of the Dead 2008
12 Mighty Orphans
Starz
12 Mighty Orphans
Haunted by his mysterious past, a devoted high school football coach leads a scrawny team of orphans to the state championship during the Great Depression and inspires a broken nation along the way.
12 Mighty Orphans 2021
Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous
Starz
Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous
When fluffy, bubble gum movie star Megan Valentine suddenly finds herself broke and humiliated in the public eye, she wanders from the wreckage of a car accident and witlessly enlists in the U.S. Army hoping in vain that it will change her life.
Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous 2008

Reviews

Solemplex
2008/12/07

To me, this movie is perfection.

... more
Fairaher
2008/12/08

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

... more
Tobias Burrows
2008/12/09

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

... more
Mathilde the Guild
2008/12/10

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

... more
Ratri Bilqis Auwibi
2008/12/11

First time i watched this movie was in a class with all of my friends about 4 years ago. the lecturer let us watch it. usually, when lecturer ask us to watch movie, it would be something boring and old. but not with this movie. the best way for me to enjoy movie is watching them alone using an earphone. in fact, i enjoyed this movie so much when i watched this with about eighties people in room. Tonight i'm watching it again and thinking about to write a little words about it. its touching. and the value, it gives us lesson that something which usually looked as weakness or a bad thing in contrary become something that strengthen you so much. because sometimes, a normal people could still being shame of their self and pessimistic. but this tourette syndrome taught you not to give up. I'm just so in love with this movie, its so deep. and james wolk played his role as Brad never failed me a bit. 10 thumbs!

... more
jithin k m
2008/12/12

I don't normally write reviews, I was not planning to write one for this. But after watching this a few days back, I couldn't help but write,this by far is one of the most inspirational movie you will see. I just loved the smiling face of our hero, whatever happens with him he has that smile and he has his companion. I would recommend everyone to watch this movie at least once, if possible more than once.I am not going to dwell into the nitty gritty of acting or directing, because i found everything coming together in the movie. Best thing i felt was that it was all based on true story, it welled up my eyes and i was crying my hearts out all through out this movie

... more
MSaxe
2008/12/13

Hallmark Hall of Fame movies are always interesting and heart-tugging. This one is no exception. It features fine performances by veterans Treat Williams and Patricia Heaton-they're always good. Williams makes an unsympathetic character, one easy to dislike-a human. He makes him human, you understand his feelings, his point of view. Its truth in acting-its a great performance. Heaton is inspiring and delightful. She takes the easy role of "Mom as Hero" and makes it so much more rich and in-depth.However, the stand out performances in this are by Dominic Scott King and Jimmy Wolk as Young and Adult Brad Cohen. Both do a simply amazing job incorporating Cohens Tourettes tics into their acting. Considering the fact that this was Wolks first leading role out of college and Kings youth, its simply extraordinary. They're incredible.The film is well written (although does it really need the dying kid?) with moments of humor, inspiration, and more. The ignorance of people is astounding, their casual cruelty towards Cohen and his syndrome shows how truly awful so-called "good people" can be when something seems strange or different to them. This is something this film does an excellent job in showing. You want to leap into the screen and pound the people who are unjustly cruel to Cohen. You want to stand by Heaton as his mother and the actor playing his brother Jeff when they stand up to people on his behalf. The film illustrates these uncomfortable and embarrassing moments for Cohen in an excellent way. It does an equally good job showing his worries when it comes to finding love in a relationship and Cohens own frustration at his syndrome. You truly feel sad for him when he tries so hard to control his tics and simply can't. Both Wolk and King do a fantastic job showing every side of Cohens efforts to handle his Tourettes and live his life to the fullest.The film is well edited, and is directed well. I really have no complaints about any technical aspects of the film.In case you're wondering about the title of my post-I knew Brad and Jeff growing up in St. Louis. We went to summer camp at Camp Sabra in the Lake of the Ozarks in MO. together, and were in BBYO together as well. Both of them are a few years older than me, so I never really got to know them well at all. However, I have observed Cohens Tourettes in person and its not always as extreme as it was in the film. I admit, as a young kid (9-10) I was sometimes scared and frustrated by his tics. However, when I learned that he couldn't control it-I was shocked and felt terrible. I learned to get used to it and expect it when I was in a place with him. For the most part, both he and Jeff were pretty cool guys. Though sometimes, they could be jerks. Especially Jeff-he was something of a bully with a chip on his shoulder as I remember. But as I have learned-that's just being human-and especially being a teenager. We're all jerks sometimes. I knew that they wouldn't show this in the movie, so its not like I'm crying "J'accuse!". I just wanted to put that out there. "The more you know" you know. Regardless of what I think about the "real" Brad and Jeff Cohen, its a fine TV movie. What Cohen has done with his life is a great story-worthy of Hallmark Hall of Fame. I just wish as an actor, I could have been in this movie or at least auditioned for it. Its a major bummer because its a good film about people who I have actually met.Considering that Wolk was practically just out of college, had never had such a large role in a film before, was working with two seasoned vets like Heaton and Williams, and is maybe a decade or so younger than the "real" Brad Cohen, I am even more impressed with his performance watching it again than I was before.A nice family film, and a great true story.

... more
jlclark44
2008/12/14

We had the great honor and pleasure of meeting Brad at a weekend long retreat for families dealing with Tourette's that he hosted over Halloween weekend, our 6 yr old was diagnosed last spring. He is truly an inspiration, and the movie only scratches the surface of how wonderful a person he really is.As for the question of if he makes the noises that often, from the 2 1/2 days we were around him, yes it is that often if not even more often.In the auditorium scene if you look you will see a quick shot of a teacher in a white shirt and tie standing in the back, that is Brad. He was only able to stay for a minute so his ticks didn't interfere with the movie.

... more