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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 2044
Released: April 17, 2007 |
| Our Price: $5.36 |
| Used Price: $2.99 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
A young teacher takes on a class of at-risk students in a violent high school, inspiring them to learn tolerance and to apply themselves through daily writing in a journal.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 31-JUL-2007
Media Type: DVD
Description of Freedom Writers (Full Screen Edition):
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) Freedom Writers (Full Screen Edition) Reviews:
Freedom Writers 
2009-11-01 - Of this movie "Who Magazine" says, "The scripting and performances are taut and intense". Again, about this movie, "Moviehole" states, "A masterful achievement that engages the mind and touches the heart". Two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank stars in this gripping story of inner-city kids raised on drive-by shootings and hard-core attitude-and the teacher who gives them the one thing they need most: a voice of their own. Dropped into the free-fire zone of a school torn by violence and racial tension, teacher Erin Gruwell battles an uncaring system in a fight to make the classroom matter in her students' lives. Now, telling their own stories, and hearing the stories of others, a group of supposedly "unteachable" teens will discover the power of tolerance, reclaim their shattered lives and change their world. With electrifying from its all-star cast, including Golden Globe Award Winner Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy)and recording star Mario, FREEDOM WRITERS is based on the acclaimed best-seller, THE FREEDOM WRITER DIARY.
Wonderful story!
2009-10-05 - I have only seen this once but it was such a great story I had to get it on blu-ray. Teachers will love it.
Wonderful movie
2009-10-03 - This was a gift for a friend. I had already seen it....it is a GREAT movie - lots of meaning and true life happenings!
Freedom Writers 
2009-09-11 - Do not buy from this seller. It took FOREVER for the dvd to be mailed to me. I was very disappointed when I received the dvd as the case was not in good shape at all. However, the dvd has only minor scratches. The description was inaccurate, saying it was in excellent shape. It's not in excellent shape.
Fast & Affordable!
2009-08-31 - I was impressed by the speed! I received my DVD in just a few days with standard shipping. DVD was new as promised.
