Higher Learning (1995)
Average Rating: 5.3/10
Reviews Counted: 34
Fresh: 17 | Rotten: 17
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 4.8/10
Critic Reviews: 12
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 7
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.5/5
User Ratings: 20,228
My Rating
Movie Info
This drama examines the personal, political, and racial dilemmas facing a group of college freshmen as they begin their first semester at Columbus University. Malik (Omar Epps) is an African-American student attending on a track scholarship; academics are not his strong suit, and he goes in thinking that his athletic abilities will earn him a free ride through college. Fudge (Ice Cube), a "professional student" who has been at Columbus for six years so far, becomes friendly with Malik and
Jun 1, 1994 Wide
Jul 3, 2001
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Watch It Now
Cast
-
Omar Epps
Malik Williams -
Kristy Swanson
Kristen Connor -
Michael Rapaport
Remy -
Jennifer Connelly
Taryn -
Ice Cube
Fudge -
Jason Wiles
Wayne -
Randall Batinkoff
Chad Shadowhill -
Andrew Bryniarski
Knocko -
Bradford English
Officer Bradley -
Bill Evans
Security Guard -
Laurence Fishburne
Professor Maurice Phipp... -
Colleen Fitzpatrick
Festival Singer -
Adam Goldberg
David Isaacs -
Cole Hauser
Scott Moss -
Regina King
Monet -
Malcolm Norrington
Cory -
Warren Olney
T.V. Reporter -
-
Alicia Stevenson
Monet's Friend -
Bridgette Wilson
Nicole -
Kari Wuhrer
Claudia -
Rick Avery
Guard Beats Malik -
Jay R. Ferguson
Billy -
Graham Galloway
Frat Member -
Skip O'Brien
Security Guard -
Tyra Banks
Deja -
Busta Rhymes
Dreads -
J. Trevor Edmond
Eddie -
Chad Dowdell
Disgruntled Yet Eager S...
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All Critics (34) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (17) | DVD (8)
Despite some likable performances (Epps is especially winning), the drama in Higher Learning is constricted, hemmed in by Singleton's compulsion to view his characters as walking paradigms of racial and sexual politics.
Top CriticHigher Learning has a great many things on its mind, which immediately places it in a rather exclusive category of American films these days.
A stylish, intelligent film-maker, Singleton interweaves the threads of his demographic tapestry with assurance, passion and a welcome awareness of the complexities of the college community's contradictory impulses towards integration and separatism.
Everyone here, from beer-swilling white fraternity boys to rap-loving black students harassed by the campus police, can be judged at face value. Everyone is exactly what he or she seems.
Higher Learning is often clichéd, unfocused and didactic. But Singleton has a goal most of his contemporaries have given up on: He wants to make a movie that makes a difference.
Presenting problems is not the same as dramatizing them successfully, and as strong as his message is, Singleton has not found the best way to deliver it.
The film lapses into polarized melodrama but it's a handsome piece, displaying a fair understanding of our desperate need to belong.
Singleton gets points for exposing the hypocrisy of "politically correct" institutions, but stilted dialogue and cardboard characterizations undermine the message.
There's some nice ideas and realistically felt characters here.
For anyone who's been to USC, it's a pretty hilarious parody of life there. If you take it as presented, however, it's over-dramatic and unbelievable.
Another tour-de-force for Singleton
John Singleton at his most pretentious and preachy.
...John Singleton's third (and best) film.
Flawed but often arresting drama
Almost unwatchable.
A flawed endeavor... but still an entertaining and thought-provoking film.
Audience Reviews for Higher Learning
Super Reviewer
It deals with so many touchy subjects and is like a coming of age drama/crime film. It reminded me of going to high school and college and the struggles we go through while trying to find ourselves during those times. Definitely see this one.
Super Reviewer
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