Freedom Writers

Paramount Pictures | Release Date: January 5, 2007

7.8	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 89 Ratings

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AndrewK.Mar 3, 2007

This movie was pretty entertaining. Nothing special. It had its moments. One of the better aspects of this film was that the students seemed very real. A lot of movies like this make the kids come off as unrealistic, but I felt the kids were This movie was pretty entertaining. Nothing special. It had its moments. One of the better aspects of this film was that the students seemed very real. A lot of movies like this make the kids come off as unrealistic, but I felt the kids were a lot like people I went to high school with. Hilary Swank was good, as always. I found the aspect of her character's husband leaving her to be very telling. I've learned over the years that people tend to be very selfish in relationships, and that's why so many marriages fail. Obviously, this was based on true events, so it was interesting to see that part of the story. This one's not going to win any awards, but it was a well made film.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

BeckyJun 2, 2007

This movie was average and at times pretty boring. Hilary Swank is a great actress, but her talent wasted on an almost meaningless film. It's all about gangs and violence, so why does almost everything work out in the end? Yes, it had This movie was average and at times pretty boring. Hilary Swank is a great actress, but her talent wasted on an almost meaningless film. It's all about gangs and violence, so why does almost everything work out in the end? Yes, it had its touching moments, but should've gone farther with the gangs. This movie was too dragged out.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

[Anonymous]Jan 5, 2007

It's unfortunate that a true story with such potential was ruined by poor film making. Although at times moving, freedom writers only serves to rehash all the cliches of the "genre" (there have been so many movies like this it could be It's unfortunate that a true story with such potential was ruined by poor film making. Although at times moving, freedom writers only serves to rehash all the cliches of the "genre" (there have been so many movies like this it could be called a genre of its own). The almost immediate transformation of the culturally deprived urban students to highly motivated students is not at all beleivable. I don't know how the real life Gruwell accomplished what she did, but it couldn't have been how it was portrayed in this movie. The student's intense and genuine diary entries, no doubt a major factor in the reviews, would be just as effecting if you read them yourself. The real children were insiteful and aware of life in the ghetto. It's to bad the filmmakers weren't more like them (although, to their credit, the classroom interaction among the students at the start of the film was spot on). See Half Nelson, a much lower profile, yet much better movie that isn't an insult to your intelligence.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

EnriqueFeb 28, 2007

Just an average feel-good movie. Good performances.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

jimmytancrediDec 2, 2011

Swank is an undeniable talent. It may not be possessed of a beauty worthy of Hollywood standards but delights rightfully so. Casually because she played properly fair. Being a good actress is not having a perfect face. Particularly, I thinkSwank is an undeniable talent. It may not be possessed of a beauty worthy of Hollywood standards but delights rightfully so. Casually because she played properly fair. Being a good actress is not having a perfect face. Particularly, I think this is the best movie I've seen of hers. And there's more of hers that I have the pleasure to see... With this film, you realize how imortant not to lose the grip of being in a classroom. Who works in such spot recognizes it. You inspire me to teach their ideas. As I am shy with the public, I need good ideas to teach. I saw this movie, great tips about it. Bright, with riveting performances and leaves you to ponder when the letters begin to rise ...… Expand

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moviegrabbagJun 12, 2011

This movie is kind of laughable in a way. It's chalk full of cliches, and yes I realize that was a pun. The first half of this movie was inspirational and moving, and then slowly it turns crazy. The principle, other teachers and departmentThis movie is kind of laughable in a way. It's chalk full of cliches, and yes I realize that was a pun. The first half of this movie was inspirational and moving, and then slowly it turns crazy. The principle, other teachers and department head are almost cartoonish villains. Short of holding a cat and saying "we can't let the Negroes rise against us!" she is laughable. Also Hillary Swank's character also sort of loses her mind. I understand that she made great sacrifices but she goes to far. She loses a marriage and then fights to stay with the kids through the high school. This sounds nobel on the surface but we lose sight of the other classes that she is dumping. Hazzah she saved 30 kids and screwed 130. The kids can always come back to a teachers room to get help. It shows how she falls short as a teacher to prepare these kids for the future. Maybe I am biased because my wife is a teacher but I have seen troubled kids in her classes move on and then come back for help. The kids were able to move on and become grown ups with out their hands being held. Thats the biggest problem with this movie. This movie could have been far better then it was but it falls short. Overall it is a good school movie but not much else… Expand

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RikiegeDec 1, 2012

It is the typical movie bad children who become good thanks to a good person. The plot is typical, but the movie is entertaining.

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FranzHcriticJun 14, 2014

It really...did...not...need to be made. As if these school stories about troubled teenagers had't become a formulaic and rely too much on lachrymose story-lines of inner-city school teaching. In truth, all except the non-minority I feltIt really...did...not...need to be made. As if these school stories about troubled teenagers had't become a formulaic and rely too much on lachrymose story-lines of inner-city school teaching. In truth, all except the non-minority I felt sympathetic to. I'm not racist, but every other character is either a waste, thug, or junkie. And in Hilary Swanks character, I can pitifully admire her insistence on teaching these, "students", how to live life not in the ghetto's. Once is about enough.… Expand

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ForeverfeelinMTNov 15, 2017

This film had things going for itself but, it had issues that it could've perfected on. For example, a major flaw with the casting of the students was that they looked twice the age of a regular high school Freshman. Despite the fact thatThis film had things going for itself but, it had issues that it could've perfected on. For example, a major flaw with the casting of the students was that they looked twice the age of a regular high school Freshman. Despite the fact that this might irritate some moviegoers, it didn’t get under my skin that much since it seems like this is one of the more common flaws in most present day “coming of age” movies, and I was somewhat expecting that going into this film. Most of the scenes are shot in a pretty generic way, with tons of quick cuts that almost interrupted scenes. In a scene of one of Eva’s (April L. Hernandez) outbursts, she is seen kicking what appears to be tin on the ground and the scene in general was a bit silly. Also, the editor cut out part of the scene too quickly and it just didn’t flow. Although, I would consider the scene when the movie depicts the upbringing and backgrounds of the troubled students while Mrs. Gruwell is reading their journal entries, to be one of the more effective parts of Freedom Writers. This is because the inclusion of master shots during the scenes represented the more short and traumatic events all in one setting, and the long takes depicting the more lengthy events taken place while walking around on the streets. In my opinion, Freedom Writers should've utilized more of a variety of different shots to make the film visually more interesting. The directing and dialogue in the scenes between Mrs. Gruwell and the students are the strongest, especially when she mentions the analogy comparing gangs to the Holocaust.* I would regard this scene to also be the most realistic since I can picture even regular students getting heated with the teacher if they bring up a sensitive topic (gangs) and speak about it as if it was something they have personally experienced enough to know the emotion and impact attached to it. In addition, this scene also indicates to the audience how uneducated theses groups of students are, once its revealed that they didn’t even know what the Holocaust was. However my main issue with the film is that it exaggerates the antagonists too much, making them more one dimensional. Of course the first person that others would assume I’m referring is Margaret Campbell (aka Professor Umbridge). Even though she has been type casted in the same kind of role since Harry Potter, it is definitely for a purpose since she acts in that malevolent role very well. Both Mr. Gelford’s (John Benjamin Hickey) and Scott Casey’s (Patrick Dempsey) scenes in particular were super contrived in terms of trying to make them unlikeable characters. A scene I would say sums up how Mr. Gelford is portrayed is when Mrs. Gruwell meets up with the Board of Education and at one point, responds with something along the lines of, “You really think I care about the students?” No one in that scene even commented on the inappropriate statement he made and he was still perceived as being one of the more reputable and normal teachers in that district. Speaking from the perspective of someone who has a parent that works at the school, I would think that making absurd and unprofessional comments like that around the Board of Education would get someone into some trouble. Dempsey’s scenes are even more unconvincing since they shift from him expressing how dissatisfied with their distant relationship to him forgiving her and being all affectionate with her too quickly. These scenes would’ve been better if they just executed the first two scenes with him in a way that made it seem like they were a normal couple with no issues and then slowly add tension. Another issue I had with Freedom Writers was the portrayal of Ben Daniel’s (Hunter Parish). I felt in the beginning of the film, that he would be a prominent character but they just squeezed in his character’s backstory during the most random scene. Despite the drawbacks I just mentioned and the occasional cheese, Freedom Writers is an uplifting movie that I would rate higher than Stand and Deliver (the super dated original version) but lower than Dead Poet’s Society since that move is better in all aspects. So, a fair score for this movie would be a 3 out of 5.… Expand

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