Freedom Writers Review

 

        You may have noticed that the two films about teachers teaching students that come from harsh backgrounds have one thing in common. That is because those two movies are part of the genre called Hood Films. Typically, Hood Films deal with life that involves around Hispanic or African Americans that mostly includes gang violence or bad living situations. Freedom Writers is probably up there among best Teacher movies and having a diversifying view about Hood life. 

1. Erin Gruwell

        My first exposure to the film was during my Eighth Grade English class when I was in middle school. I forgot the reason why the teacher put it on, but I assume it was a lazy kind of day, so we watched it. It was a sight to see when the students were talking and immediately grew quiet as they were glued in with what the film was about. Hillary Swank plays the teacher Ms. Erin Gruwell. 

        We first see her as being an optimistic teacher who goes into Woodrow Wilson High. She then meets the Department head Margaret. I know that the actress plays an annoying professor at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. At least she is type casted in a “Karen” teacher role. Anyways, Erin sees the high school as deeply divided. With various cliques aligning with different ethnicities. 

        She enters her class and isn’t that turned off when she encounters the room as being in disarray. Even the desks have deep cuts of drawings. Like with any movie, the kids don’t listen to her and joke around. She really gets a handle of how bad it is, when one of her students Eva, lets in her gang to fight a kid who walked by them. 

        Throughout the film, Erin goes above and beyond to change her teaching style and to really be invested with the kids. I feel that this is the definitive way of any new teacher dealing with an bad social environment, which mostly involves students wanting to instigate violence among other students. She tries to be hip with the class, not that it comes across as cringy, but it works that she’s attempting to relate to them.

        Obviously, the best scene involving Erin and the class is when they pass around an offensive drawing of a classmate. She asserts herself and says that most of the stuff that they believe in is nothing since they think by force is how they get respect. Gruwell even attests that no one will remember them based on their actions. Even comparing the drawing to Nazi propaganda. 

        It’s from there that the film really starts. That conversation really gets the ball rolling, including the whole class not knowing what the Holocaust was. What I love is that the film is real, granted yes that it is a movie. What I mean is that, the film doesn’t shy away with what the kids go through. Or what Erin goes through in her personal life. There are moments where his husband, starts to get jealous at Erin’s successes. 

        The whole movie has Gruwell going up against so much that it’s a recurring motif. Such as her class ruffling the feathers on Margaret and the Honors teacher. Since they see Erin’s students as lost causes. The key thing is that she genuinely cares about them and even exposes them to new literature and going above and beyond to give them more. Since I’m slowly pivoting to the class, let’s talk about them.

2. The Students at Room 203

        These students are the main highlights in the film. I honestly thought that the student Eva was going to be our only perspective to life outside school. Luckily, the students provide their brief perspectives to us as they write and narrate on what they have to deal with. I know that the book goes into more detail and I have not read that yet. The main idea about them is that they’re not that different from each other. 

        It’s stressed when Ms. Gruwell creates a Line Game for them to answer questions that hits home for all of them. For the kids, all the talk of turf or any form of divide is done away when they’re all dealing with the same thing. One of my favorite moments involves her reading their journals after no parent visited during parent teacher night. She reads them, and we see just how much of an unfortunate life the kids go through daily.  

        All that leads to Erin taking the kids to the Holocaust Museum. Most of the kids learn about it, and really put it into perspective that all the things they’re dealing with is nothing compared to what happened a century ago. Even more admirable is that they generated enough money to bring in the woman who sheltered Anne Frank. All of that from Erin teaching them about humility and to be open about what their life experiences are for their classmates. The only downside is that most of the student actors are about 20. Although, I’ll let it slide since they give in a good performance and to really sell the struggle of what they constantly go through. 

3. Overall  

        Freedom Writers is a feelgood movie for anyone to watch. It’s rare to have an MTV Films movie be good, since the stuff they churn out mostly involves cheesy dramas and Jackass movies. The film invites teachers and potential ones to see that not all students are problem makers. 

        Freedom Writers gets a four out of five. 

Mean Girls Review

 

        It seems that after The Breakfast Club, each decade would have that one popular high school film that is considered the best in their decade. Such as the 90s belonging to Clueless, and the 2010s with the film Easy A. Mean Girls is the definitive high school film of the early 2000s. It showed just how toxic being a popular girl is. What makes it interesting is that it utilizes a literary device called “Defamiliarization” to show people a weird and exaggerated look of high school, albeit with a new perspective. One more thing, this film is loosely based on the book "Queen Bees and Wannabes". Add it to the list of great films based on books. 

1. Cady Herron

        Lindsay Lohan portrays the new girl Cady in her first school. It’s been established that her parents were researchers studying animals in Africa. She also narrates to the audience about attending high school and what goes on in it. I like that she’s our eyes and ears. Sort of like a nature documentary narrator who goes and documents the different animals in their biomes. In this case, junior students in high school. 

        She has a difficult time making friends, but soon is invited to hang out with two oddballs: Janis and Damian. We are then introduced to the main group of the movie, The Plastics. Janis explains who the group is to Cady and to never talk to them. For as you see, The Plastics spread gossip and rumors among the other girls, to the satisfaction of their leader Regina George. One day, the group invites Cady to sit with them. Prompting Janis to have Cady infiltrate them and to break them apart. 

        The overall film has an approach where Cady tries to break up the group, but unintentionally changing herself and becoming the new leader. This is probably the only time where we see a character completely change for the worse and have it be authentic when she acknowledges what she is doing is wrong. I have to give major props to the screenwriter Tina Fey, who acted and wrote for Saturday Night Live and creating her show 30 Rock. Only she can be that talented and portray high school as a cesspool of drama and toxicity. 

        Besides Cady being the new girl, she does fall for a guy. Here, the way the film goes about it is very nuanced. Since she likes a guy in her advanced math class, she tries to play dumb with the mistake that makes her gradually fail math. All for getting his attention. There are moments where she corrects him in her mind when he tutors her. It shows just how difficult adjusting to a new environment she’s in.

        In one way she can be innocent for the audience, but when she acts like a “Plastic” is the disheartening fact about her. She goes above and beyond to have the girls turn against Regina, even insulting and creating a rumor about her math teacher. This is the kind of arc that has an amazing depth that makes me really like the movie. What makes Cady Herron work is that she knows what she’s doing and owns it when the film progresses in the end. 

2. The Plastics or Toxic Femininity 

        This is the main highlight of the film. The group that is so toxic and hilarious that there are endless gif memes that are made about the individual members. With Regina, Gretchen, and Karen making up the group that they look down at the other girls to make themselves feel good about each other. As I mentioned before, they invite Cady to sit and eat with them. Regina is the leader and boy oh boy she’s a vindictive, well you know. 

        What’s so interesting is just how quick she is with breaking down other girls. Albeit upfront and being sly about it. When she talks to Cady, she notices her African bracelet and asks about it. While also asking questions and making Cady look dumb unintentionally. This is one talent where any girl has and is probably the most unlikeable in life. The best scene to represent them is when Cady calls Gretchen. Who calls Karen, which makes her call Regina. There is no honesty, just talking behind their back and to see it just how much awful they are. 

        There is one part that I like when Cady proceeds to usurp control of the group. That is when she talks to Regina and sees her compliment a skirt from another girl. Who without missing a beat then proceeds to tell her that the skirt looks awful. There’s even a flashback when Cady remembers her complimenting her African bracelet. It’s personal to Cady, now that she knows just who Regina really is and ruin her.

        Thinking about the film more, the overall idea is that every girl in the school is a “Mean Girl”. Or just someone who talks gossip. Including Janis who tells Cady to go into the group to get back at Regina for an old rumor from middle school. While yes, she doesn’t change throughout the film, but she couldn’t let go of the vendetta she had against Regina. Having her use the new girl was out of line to get back at her. Clearly the only good girl or woman was Ms. Norbury who figured out Cady when she noticed her failing the class. Even realizing Heron wrote the nasty rumor about her. 

3. Legacy

        This film is beloved by my generation through the constant use of the gifs to the catchphrases. It’s astounding that probably two of the main characters have an excellent career. Especially Amanda Seyfried who plays Karen appearing in a lot of great films including David Fincher’s Mank and getting nominated. As well as Rachel McAdams gaining award nominations for her appearance in Spotlight. It’s such a shame that Lindsay Lohan hasn’t appeared in anything else special. Probably due to her personal problems and appearing in B-Movie type films that usually feature in Lifetime.

        More so, I think this film should be a case study with dealing with high school girls going through the motions of toxicity. Every now and then I hear about Toxic Masculinity and I’m glad it gets attention since every guy doesn’t have to be treating anyone like a dick. With the film, I think that every girl should learn to not be vengeful or care what anyone has to say. Although, cliques will always be a part of high school. 

        One last thing, there's a sequel. I don't know why, but it's obvious it was made to ride on the popularity of the first film. Will I watch it? Nope.         

4. Overall

        Mean Girls is a great film. I still laugh at all the hilarious moments, and it has great characters to make me care about. 

        Mean Girls gets a four out of five. 

The Breakfast Club Review

        This film needs no introduction. It’s practically a gateway film for every teenager to watch when they become that age or go into high school. The Breakfast Club has become a ubiquitous high school film that is the standard of portraying high school students in their honest views. This film is so good that I can guarantee that Hollywood would never want to reboot the idea of the movie for a new generation. It transcends the time it was released. 

1. Saturday Detention

        So the film is simple. Five high school students each have to serve detention on a Saturday for eight hours. At the start, we see the shots of the high school. It’s empty yes, but when we hear Brian narrating his essay, it cuts to the sections of the high school that is associated with the five students. 

        With all that, we have Claire, Andrew, Brian, Bender, and Allison arrive and choose the seats to sit. It’s one of those things where you don’t notice it but where they’re sitting is supposed to represent the high school structure. From the popular and athletic students to the outcasts. The Vice Principal arrives and tells them at the beginning that they must write a long essay on what they think of themselves. 

        This is where the film kicks off when Bender trolls Vernon and antagonizes the group. Judd Nelson was older than the other actors and actresses, but he manages to be a convincing bully with what he’s given. Most of the time, it seemed that Andrew would be the leader of the group. The one to really stop and threaten him to quit pestering on Claire. 

        The film’s greatest strength is that the entire characters have great synergy and chemistry when they interact. One key thing that is practically stressed when watching a high school film is the believability of the performances that makes us think that they are high schoolers. All the young actors are committed to their performances that, it would be one thing to bump into them in a high school hall, and not think twice that they are students.

        That and it would be very easy to screw up the concept if they were just one-dimensional characters. What I mean is that if they just have one personality and don’t change from when we see them at the start to the end. It wouldn’t be as engrossing when we see them escape the library and get high on Bender’s weed. And just act like high school students with real problems. I will applaud the film on that since for most films taking place in high school, the idea of personal problems of a student is almost taboo. Since a film is mostly an escape from real life. 

        Here, they all admit that they have a messed-up life when they aren’t in school. While we don’t see that, they are committed to telling their peers of their problems at home. From abusive parents, controlling parents, or parents who just ignore them. The best example is when they each leave their parent’s cars. It’s one of the best scenes and establishes one small glimpse of what they are like outside. All except Bender who walks, and Allison trying to say something but the car leaves. 

        One last thing is just what exactly is the film about? I think it’s about the saying “There’s more than meets the eye.”. Almost everyone assumes what the students are clique-wise. When the pivotal scene is shown, they hate that they’re associated with the cliques and their parents wants to have them be more than they are. Vernon is the one to assume everyone’s high school stereotype. 

        For instance, Vernon has it really out for Bender. He constantly tells the other students just how much of a scum of the Earth John is. Going above and beyond that he expects Bender to be a criminal and to be there when he sees it. So much so that he drags him into a storage room and offers Bender to punch him in the face. Bender is freaked out by this and the Vice Principal tells Bender that he's a turd. 

2. John Hughes

        The 80s is when John Hughes dominated the teen movie. It seemed that he has this talent of being the teen whisperer or someone who has enough writing talent to make people become empathetic to teenagers. Or he’s that good of a writer. Since he did the double duty of writing and directing, I must praise that the film has a very simple premise and is shot mostly minimally. 

        Although, it’s easy to do a checklist on a John Hughes movie like having it located in Illinois, or in a fancy Chicago suburb. As well as having some representation of the local teams like the White Sox when the Janitor, Carl wears their jersey under his uniform. As well as having that mean authority figure being the adult who doesn’t understand the younger generation. 

        While he has that last thing appear in The Breakfast Club, there is one scene that I like that involves the only two adults. It’s when both Vernon and Carl talk about their past and what they think. Carl wanted to be somebody and in fact, we see his face in the portraits. Vernon wanted to be someone who is respected, but is jaded when he says that the students walk over him. He’s afraid of the new generation but can’t seem to put in the work to care as Carl suggests he do.

3. Legacy

        My first exposure to the film was a visual gag on Family Guy in one of the first season’s episodes. It was parodied in the film Not Another Teen Movie with Chris Evans. Then as years went by, I finally sat down and watched it on what was ABC Family. The film has become a standard or a cinematic bible of how to portray a high school student. As many more films about high school have been released. Either through spoofing or trying to emulate how a high school should be. Mostly its hit or miss since it requires genuine talent and performance to sell what it’s like to be a teenager with problems. 

4. Overall

        Need I say more? The Breakfast Club is a real gem of the 80s and it still holds up. Maybe not a lot of kids would understand or relate to the film but will always get that to never judge anyone just on who they are. 

        The Breakfast Club gets a five out of five.

Stand and Deliver Review

 

        It’s August so you know what that means. Back to school for some kiddos and college students. High School movies is a very particular genre since it can range from drama to musicals. What can make and break a high school movie is if the school location doesn’t feel authentic or the students being too old. And then there are those where the focus is on the teacher, usually leading a motley crew of students to academic success. I remember the first time being exposed to this film when I was in middle school. Stand and Deliver is one of those films to get the ball rolling for that sub-genre of high school films. 

1. Jaime Escalante

        This guy is the quintessential math teacher every new teacher wants to be. Edward James Olmos plays Mr. Escalante. We see him enter Garfield High and looks around the front office being covered with graffiti. He initially was hired to teach computer classes. Although the school didn’t have computers, so the principal makes him teach mathematics. 

        One would think immediately that he would be just a stick in the mud teacher and then becoming a source of inspiration for the students. He has an idea of what he’s going against, such as dealing with unruly kids and the whole classroom’s chalkboard being covered with white markings. Eventually, when he returns the following day, he gets their attention by having this comedic act. Mostly it involves having his kids call him Kemosabe which is the nickname of The Lone Ranger from the tv show of the same name.

        He has a barrio approach to him and is comedic when dealing with the students. Not stooping to their level or talking down to them but utilizing one of the students for a math problem. Like any teacher he must confront the gangster students. The one on the poster, Angel is the heart of the classroom. Escalante manages to bargain with him to be a good student and to show up in the class. So much so that Jaime gives Angel three Math books to make sure he doesn’t lose his standing in the school. 

        The overall drama that is plaguing the high school is losing their accreditation. Throughout the film, Mr. Escalante goes above and beyond to make sure the students learn calculus to pass the test and take the AP test. What works in the film is Olmos’ take on the teacher. He never loses his patience easily and works with the students to learn advanced math. The only reason why he makes them take the test is that he wants them to have the motivation or “ganas” to succeed.

        So much so that to be even more prepared, he decides to have them take summer classes. It’s the dedication in him that he wants his students to have successful careers. It’s justified since he wants them to grow beyond the stereotype of Mexicans being lazy. We see that when he is having dinner with his wife and notices that the tab is wrong. The owner calls his daughter over who appeared to drop out of school. Mr. Escalante tells the owner that his daughter has to potential to do more than working in his restaurant. 

        One thing that the film doesn't shy away from was revealing that he had to deal with petty problems involving some of the math teachers. I think it was just pettiness from them since they're jealous at how Escalante was handling his students. I like that he was willing to defend them and advocate that they should be able to be taught calculus if all of them wanted to succeed. Although, some had preconceived notions that their confidence will be ruined if the students failed. 

2. The students

        The students in Escalante’s class are also the main highlight in the film. As far as I know, mostly all of them are fictional creations. They show just how well Escalante manages to reach the kids to teach them math. It would’ve been easy to make them just one note tokens who don’t get the subject and then understand it. 

        What fixes that potential issue is that we get scenes where they are outside of school. It mostly amounts to gossiping about Escalante and just regular life stuff. I feel that the personal lives with Angel and his friend was more interesting. Since Angel kept arriving late to class and he was just driving along with his friend.

        The moment that I like is that it’s one of those rare moments when Angel is participating with the students. I’m glad that he wasn’t just a gifted prodigy who just chooses not to be smart. Instead, he accepts a bargain with the teacher and gains the respect of the students. Such as when the few of them go to the beach and Angel is just hesitant of going in the water. 

3. Overall 

        Just the fact that the movie was moderately successful, and the USPS released a special stamp of Mr. Escalante shows just how much he influenced his students. Stand and Deliver shows those rare instances where a minority teacher manages to impact his students. 

        Stand and Deliver gets a four out of five.