DVD Releases and News

DVD Review: "Freedom Writers"

Every once in a while a movie comes along that manages to stir your soul in such a way that it infects you for days afterward. It's an all too rare event in Hollywood, and while I love my popcorn movies just as much as the next guy, there's something to be said for a story that can bring a grown man to the verge of tears, and then beyond, for the greater part of the movie. I have not been this emotionally tied to characters, this quickly, since William Wallace's bride had her throat slit before our eyes in "Braveheart," yanking me along on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey that had my heart swelling with raw compassion until the tragic end.

You've seen this film before, or something like it, in "Dead Poet's Society," "Dangerous Minds," or even "Coach Carter," and so your first thought, upon seeing the trailer for "Freedom Writers," might be to roll your eyes at yet another teacher-inspires-school-misfits story. I'm telling you right now that it would be a huge mistake for you to make that assumption and pass on this film. Rent it, Netflix-it, whatever - just get this in your hands as soon as possible and show everyone you know.

The film portrays the story of Erin Gruwell, a high school teacher in Long Beach, California, who encouraged her class of at-risk students to overcome the gangs that divided them and the educational system that failed them, and to tell their stories in their own words. The journals the students were inspired to write ultimately became the book "The Freedom Writers Diary." The film features an outstanding cast of young actors, many of whom grew up surrounded by gang violence and were able to draw upon their own experiences on the street to portray Gruwell’s students with gritty authenticity.

Hillary Swank does a command performance as we've come to expect from her, but the real stars shine in the classroom with unexpected stellar acting from the cast of students. As we follow their transformation from hardened misfits to orchestrators of change in their own lives, we're moved not so much by any manipulation of the director as we are from watching kids that are essentially mistreated by the educational system - as well as the world they live in - manage to find a voice of their own.

DVD SPECIAL FEATURES

- Commentary: featuring Director Richard Lagravanese and Hillary Swank

- Deleted Scenes: The scenes that were cut from this film are worth watching largely due to the fact that they make you realize that they would have made the movie more melodramatic than it needed to be, or overly preachy. The film as it is strikes a perfect chord of an inspiring message without banging you over the head with it.

- Making a Dream:
A behind-the-scenes interview with Common and Will.i.am on the inspiration and creation of the movie's theme song.

- Freedom Writers Family:
Behind-the-scenes on how the cast became as much of a family as the real Freedom Writers, and the effects the film had on their lives.

- Freedom Writers: The Story Behind the Story:
A documentary about the true events that inspired the book and the movie.

- Photo Gallery of the production

- Theatrical Trailer

Movie Grade: A
DVD Grade: B

"Freedom Writers" hits DVD shelves Tuesday, April 17th.

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Posted by on April 16, 2007 9:41 PM
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