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Movies / On DVD / Freedom Writers
Freedom Writers

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Freedom Writers (2007)

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85 %
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Reviews Counted:367

Fresh:315

Rotten:52

Average Rating:7.3/10

Consensus: 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.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for violent content, some thematic material and language

Runtime: 2 hrs 40 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Jan 5, 2007 Wide

Box Office: $36,489,507

Synopsis: Based on actual diary accounts of several teenagers following the L.A. riots, FREEDOM WRITERS is the story of an idealistic teacher's attempts to make a difference in the lives of her at-risk... Based on actual diary accounts of several teenagers following the L.A. riots, FREEDOM WRITERS is the story of an idealistic teacher's attempts to make a difference in the lives of her at-risk students. Located in gang-ravaged Long Beach, California, Woodrow Wilson High is a hotbed of violence due to a voluntary integration program which brings Black, Latino, Asian, and White students together. Rather than having the desired effect of creating healthy diversity, this program breeds constant war between all parties involved, the result being daily gun shots, constant racial slurs, and gang violence. Played largely by young unknowns, the freshman class in question is both naïve and wise beyond its years. While never having heard of the Holocaust, these kids are well-versed in the pain of poverty, the legal system, and death. Despite being up against unthinkable violence, devoted first-time teacher Erin Gruwell (Hillary Swank) never gives up, slowly bonding with her class of at-first unreachable pupils, breaking down their tough exteriors and getting at the real people beneath through requiring the students keep daily journals. Meanwhile, a strain is put on Erin's marriage as her student involvement gradually takes priority over her personal life. The intensity with which Erin relates to her work threatens her husband (Patrick Dempsey), who in seeing Erin's transformation, is reminded of his own stagnancy. Thanks to a catalogue of films including STAND AND DELIVER and DANGEROUS MINDS, any film about inspiring teachers risks feeling redundant and preachy. But writer/director Richard LaGravenese manages to put a fresh spin on this already familiar formula thanks to powerful performances by Hillary Swank, Imelda Staunton, and several newcomers. While slightly predictable, FREEDOM WRITERS critiques the public education system in an ultimately moving way. [More]

Starring: Hilary Swank, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn

Starring: Hilary Swank, Imelda Staunton, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn, Robert Wisdom, April L. Hernandez, Kristen Herrera, Sergio Montalvo, Jason Finn, Deance Wyatt, Vanetta Smith, Gabriel Chavarria, Hunter Parrish, Antonio Garcia

Director: Richard LaGravenese

Director: Richard LaGravenese
Screenwriter: Richard LaGravenese
Producer: Danny DeVito, Michael Shamberg, Stacey Sher
Composer: Mark Isham
Studio: Paramount Pictures

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Release:

May 22, 2007

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Reviews

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tanglehood12/20/09
80%
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Fresh
Amazingly well told and woven movie. Powerful message and moralities reach out and touch even the... More
Quote by tanglehood
william m.12/14/09
90%
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Great movie. An inspiring tale of how a teacher turned around the lives of her troubled students.... More
Quote by william m.
Coolasaurus234212/13/09
60%
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Max the Movie Kid12/12/09
80%
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Sophia W.12/9/09
80%
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Dane B.12/1/09
70%
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Christopher Small11/30/09
50%
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How many remarkable teachers like Erin Gruwell are made every movie season? There seems to be a... More
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des g.11/29/09
100%
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Eunice C.11/26/09
80%
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I Say It Like It Is11/21/09
100%
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it was very true it felt real you know and its sad that such a great film barely got a non rotten... More
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Grumpy Old Man11/20/09
50%
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In this movie Hilary Swank is approached as the only white person in the whole world who likes... More
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Liam C.11/14/09
90%
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azeritis11/14/09
70%
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JollyG8711/10/09
80%
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James M.11/7/09
60%
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anton z.11/6/09
100%
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Leighann G.11/6/09
50%
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I ENJOYED THIS MOVIE VERY MUCH.. I LOVED HOW HILARY SWANK PUT IN HER MOST EFFORT TO HELP THESE... More
Quote by Leighann G.
Kim Q.11/5/09
100%
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There is much to be said for this movie, the obvious being 'wow'. The students who were exected... More
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Spencer Samuelson11/2/09
70%
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Xavier10/29/09
80%
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