Freedom Writers (2007)
Average Rating: 6.3/10
Reviews Counted: 124
Fresh: 86 | Rotten: 38
Freedom Writers is a frank, formulaic entry in the inspirational inner-city teacher genre, with an energetic Hilary Swank leading the appealing cast of unknowns.
Average Rating: 6.2/10
Critic Reviews: 36
Fresh: 23 | Rotten: 13
Freedom Writers is a frank, formulaic entry in the inspirational inner-city teacher genre, with an energetic Hilary Swank leading the appealing cast of unknowns.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 269,053
My Rating
Movie Info
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 students 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
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Cast
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Hilary Swank
Erin Gruwell -
Scott Glenn
Steve Gruwell -
Imelda Staunton
Margaret Vail -
Patrick Dempsey
Scott Casey -
Mario
Andre -
-
Robert Wisdom
Dr. Carl John -
John Benjamin Hickey
Brian Gelford -
Pat Carroll
Miep Gies -
Hunter Parrish
Ben -
Kristin Herrera
Gloria -
Jaclyn Ngan
Sindy -
Sergio Montalvo
Alejandro -
Jason Finn
Marcus -
Deance Wyatt
Jamal -
Vanetta Smith
Brandy -
Gabriel Chavarria
Tito -
Antonio García
Miguel -
Giovonnie Samuels
Victoria -
Will Morales
Paco -
Armand Jones
Grant Rice -
Ricardo Molina
Eva's Father -
Angela Alvarado
Eva's Mother -
Anh Nguyen
Sindy's Boyfriend -
Liisa Cohen
Brandy's Mother -
Brian Bennett
Brandy's Father -
Mr. Horace Hall
Himself -
Tim Halligan
Principal Banning -
Lisa Banes
Karin Polachek -
Giselle Bonilla
Young Eva -
Earl Williams
Young Marcus -
Blake Hightower
Olive -
Angela Sargeant
Marcus' Mother -
Robin Skye
PTA Mom -
Chil Kong
Store Owner -
Juan García
Defense Attorney -
Larry Cahn
Prosecutor -
Sharaud Moore
Hall Monitor -
Abel Soto
Gang Member -
Dan Warner
Cop #1 -
Randy Hall
Cop #2 -
Carl Paoli
Cop #3 -
Dominic Daniel
Drug Dealer -
Cody Chappel
Bookstore Clerk -
DJ Motive8
DJ -
Renee Firestone
Herself (Holocaust Surv... -
Eddie Ilam
Himself (Holocaust Surv... -
Elisabeth Mann
Herself (Holocaust Surv... -
Gloria Ungar
Herself (Holocaust Surv... -
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All Critics (133) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (94) | Rotten (40) | DVD (29)
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.
Top CriticSquare, sincere, and proud of it.
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 in Dangerous Minds.
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-time Oscar winner, gets to you.
Freedom Writers is another exceptional teacher scenario not so different from the norm.
It's not a great movie, but at-risk teens could do a lot worse.
The movie benefits from an interesting subject and good acting, I just wish it were more focused and deep.
Unless you're a teacher longing to identify with your lifestyle on screen, this movie is still just another of many in an already oversaturated genre.
Familiar plot has a strong, inspirational message.
A richly rewarding film experience that rises to the top of its genre.
While it is, like its genre brethren, inspiring and uplifting, Freedom Writers glosses over so much material that it makes the process look too easy.
Ironically, the film features almost zero teaching. Despite much pedagogical posturing, it doesn't teach us much, either.
The HD-DVD version of Freedom Writers includes just one high definition item among its extras: the movie trailer.
Worthwhile because of its honesty, because it tells a true story that's worth telling, and because Hilary Swank and company have done it so well.
Is this film formulaic? Yes. Does it accomplish what it set out to do? Yes. ... It's certainly not a perfect movie but it does offer many pleasures.
Paramount's DVD presentation provides further incentive to give this movie a look.
Swank's earthiness is key here, and she consistently rises above the story's cliches.
an intelligent film about complex issues, social and emotional, personal and professional, all handled in a way that challenges the audience rather than reassures or placates it.
Audience Reviews for Freedom Writers
Super Reviewer
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- Eva: I saw white men come into my home and take my father for no reason except because they feel like it! And because they can. And they can, because they're white. *sniff* So I hate white people on site.
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- Eva: Paco did it... Paco killed the guy.
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Foreign Titles
- Freedom Writher (DE)
- Ecrire pour exister (FR)
