Freedom Writers (Full Screen Edition) | 
| Director: Richard Lagravenese
Actors: Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton, April L. Hernandez
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.99
Buy Used: $6.60
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Avg. Customer Rating:  110 reviews
Sales Rank: 797
Format: Color, Full Screen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 122
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 124324
UPC: 097361243245
EAN: 0097361243245
ASIN: B000NOK1KM
Theatrical Release Date: January 5, 2007
Release Date: April 17, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Complete. Includes original DVD and case. Free upgrade to first class shipping. There is writing on the disc.
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Product Description
Hilary Swank stars in this story about a teacher in a racially divided school who gives her students what they ve always needed - a voice. Swank plays Erin Gruwell the real-life teacher at Long Beach s Wilson High who inspired her students to overcome the gangs that divided them and the education system that forgot them. Based on the book The Freedom Writers Diary and supported by a cast of first-time actors who drew from their actual experiences on the street Gruwell teaches us all an important lesson about tolerance and trust.System Requirements:Running Time: 122 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: PG - 13 UPC: 097361243245 Manufacturer No: 124324
Amazon.com
Though the "inspirational teacher" theme may feel done to death, Freedom Writers succeeds because it emphasizes the students as much as the teacher. Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don't Cry) comes to a southern California high school bubbling over with naive optimism, but quickly discovers that her unruly classroom isn't easily won over by her good intentions. After a few floundering attempts to connect with her students, Gruwell gives them the assignment of keeping journals about their own lives--an assignment that the class bites into with relish, which eventually bonds them together and pushes racial rivalries aside. This plotline has been made before, sometimes well, sometimes poorly; Freedom Writers, by drawing heavily from the published journals of the students--and thanks to a (mostly) unheroic script, direction that emphasizes individual characters over stereotypes, and rigorous performances from the whole cast--makes the story seem fresh and genuine. Swank does solid work, but the standouts are April L. Hernandez as a girl whose gang wants her to lie and send an innocent boy to jail and Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake) as a teacher who resents Gruwell's offbeat success. Also featuring Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), Scott Glenn (The Right Stuff), and a plethora of strong young actors. --Bret Fetzer Beyond Freedom Writers 
More Inspirational Teacher Films on DVD | 
The Freedom Writers Diary
by Erin Gruwell | 
More DVDs Starring Hilary Swank | Stills from Freedom Writers (click for larger image)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 105 more reviews...
 Ummm...a bit more than just another teacher saving the sweat hogs story August 23, 2008
I read a few reviews of this movie, and I realized something that I thought was pretty well presented in this film: not everyone's reality is the same as mine...you might not see the same movie I saw. First, this is based on a true story. A teacher inspires a class to believe in themselves and change the attitude of a hopeless community. I don't think there is a situation in the film where people feel sorry for each other, they learn to understand and accept each other. Which is probably the worst thing that could happen to the human race as a whole (that's sarcasm). Ummm...this wasn't merely another film from a specific genre, it's based on a true story and dedicated to one of the students from the actual class who was killed in a gang-related crime. Ultimately, the movie is about doing the right thing, and how the people in charge often hide behind a system to prevent change. Now go read all the redneck 1-star reviews, and count how many admit they didn't watch the whole film.
 It's a Movie about Writing, Badly Written July 24, 2008
Leaving no cliche unturned, Freedom Writers is another in a long line of "uplifting" movies about inner city school kids moved to greatness by a struggling, selfless rookie teacher. I'm sure the true story upon which this disaster was based was indeed inspiring, but this movie was realized in such a leaden, ham-fisted and amateurish fashion, it took all of the self-discipline I could muster to keep watching through to the end. Barely literate high-school students, suddenly handed empty journal books, magically transform into brilliant writers. Character development, especially that of the school's faculty and administrators is limited to minimal cardboard stereotypes. Baffling subplots serve to make the film seem even more intolerably lengthy. Hillary Swank looks great, though.
If you want to see a story about inner city education brilliantly and honestly portrayed, check out season 4 of HBO's "The Wire".
where's patrick demsey? July 22, 2008
a good classroom movie all in all and inspirational, of course. But why have Patrick Dempsey (one of my fav actors)in the movie if he's not going to do anything? The movie carts him off after a separation scene at the breakfast table. We are given no explanation whatsoever why swank and dempsey need a separation from their marriage. Instead of involving Dempsey in her project somehow, he's erased from the plot....waste of a good actor in my opinion.
 Stellar Movie In This Type of Drama Genre July 21, 2008
There are a lot of movies out there on the market that deal with the same or similar type of theme/genre as presented in "Freedom Writers" (i.e. "Dangerous Minds", "The Ron Clark Story", "Music of the Heart", etc.)....
However, "Freedom Writers" is one of the best I have seen so far in this type of genre. The acting by all cast members is fabulous, the storyline & the way in which the material is presented is extremely well done by the screenwriter(s), director, cinematography and so on.
"Freedom Writers" is a very inspiring story based on the real life teacher Erin Gruwell, whom rises to the challenge in making a difference in the lives of her students. When Erin Gruewell comes along as a rookie teacher fresh out of college, she ends up making a real connection with her students and gets them interested in learning. Hence, the students are now interested in learning because they can see they do have a future and so, they end up achieving better grades and overall test scores.
Education is a wonderful thing and it is wonderful to know there are many outstanding teachers in this world willing to go beyond the extra mile to teach future generations of young people.
 Express yourself. July 15, 2008
Freedom Writers is a good teacher/student film but jeez don't all these inspirational films seem the same? Hilary Swank plays a very spunky and overally positive English teacher who wants to reach her wayward students through journal writing. Patrick Dempsey also stars as Swank's loving but impatient husband. Dempsey shows he's more than a pretty face, I have always thought he was a great actor. This film is somewhat sugary but it's based on a true story so expect some tears to flow. I highly recommend watching this diamond in the rough, enjoy!
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