“Leave it to Hilary Swank. Even when her film’s pace lags behind its cliches, she sparks this true story, about a California teacher who sparks her students, with the passion the subject demands. Erin Gruwell (Swank), wearing pearls, yet, seems helplessly ill-equipped on her first day at Wilson High School in Long Beach. The time is just after the Rodney King riots. Racial tension is high. But Erin, inexperienced and hopelessly naive, thinks she really can teach English to a class of blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians, most of whom are involved with gangs. The school authorities, repped by a ramrod Imelda Staunton, merely expect Erin to warehouse these alleged no-hopers, played with feeling by a cast of newcomers, who move their desks to segregate themselves into racial groups. Erin must learn their ghetto reality before she can reach them, which she does by assigning The Diary of Anne Frankand getting them to write letters to Miep Gies (Pat Carroll), the woman who helped the Frank family hide from the Nazis. Miep’s visit to Erin’s classroom is the film’s emotional highlight. But Erin’s most notable accomplishment was to persuade her students to write their own stories of persecution. These journals were published in 1999 as The Freedom Writers Diary, which writer-director Richard LaGravenese (Living Out Loud) used as his source material. Erin’s dedication helped end her marriage — Patrick Dempsey, a.k.a. Grey’s Anatomy’s Dr. McDreamy, plays the whiny husband — but started young lives on a whole new course. Corny? You bet. And worse when the plot veers into the glitz of a Dangerous Minds and the sappiness of a TV After School Special. But the movie, which Swank helped produce by using her clout as a two-time Oscar winner, gets to you.”

PETER TRAVERS

(Posted: Jan 8, 2007)

This review was spot on for me.  At the end when the critic tells about his feelings about the movie, he states that it was like a corny after school program. I agree with this totally.  The movies plot was kind of corny and it did feel like a movie that should be on PBS kids.  Even with all of this, the critic says, “But the movie…, gets to you.”, as it did me.  All in all i enjoyed this movie.

There were many symbols in this movie.  One example is the cliques that formed in Ms. G’s class on the first day.  Blacks sat with blacks, Mexicans with Mexicans, and all the other races with their own.  These groups forming in the class room and in the court yards symbolize the racial segregation that exists in the outside world.  Ms. G broke down these racial symbols by assigning a seating order.

I feel that there are two strong themes in Freedom Writers.  One of the themes is to let color of skin segregate you and keep you back.  The other theme that is more important, is that no matter who you are or where you came from, you can get out of your current situation and do what ever you want.

The tone of this movie was redemption.  One example of redemption is when Marcus went back to his mom.  He had to reedem himself and go back home.  Another example of redemption is when Eva told the truth in court.  Even though her family hated her for this, she recieved self-redemption by doing the write thing.  These are two examples of the them of this moive, redemption.

Sam woke up and relized that he was in the middle of a dark vacant street.  Not knowing how he got there, he started to walk.  Looking at his watch Sam realized that it was 2:00 am.  The street had an erie feel to it, but nothing out of the ordinary for a deserted street at 2 am.  As he strolled down the street, he could hardly noticed the rows of house with their dull designs.  Same just couldn’t take his eyes of this red door.  The home that housed this red door was a distance away at the end of the street.  For some reason, Sam became mezmorized by this door.  The uncanny sounds of  the night didn’t phase Sam one bit.  Picking up the pace, Sam finally approached the door.  Something in  Sam’s gut told him to just go in, but his mind told him to just go home.  Not knowing what was going to greet him on the on the otherside of the door, he opened it.  After a flash of light and a shreek of terror, Sam found himself in a bed.  Taking in his surroundings, he realized that he was in his room safe and sound. 

Based on December 24, 2006.

On the day before Christmas

Everyone was waiting.

On the day before Christmas,

People were celebrating.

On the day before Christmas,

Kids wanted the “new thing”

On the day before Christmas,

They wondered what Santa would bring.

On the night before Christmas,

Children ran to their beds.

On the night before Christmas,

Sugar plumb fairies dance in their heads.

On the night before Christmas,

Dad put presents under the tree.

On the night before Christmas,

Mom labeled presents “From Santa” “To Me”

I’m online quite often but my writing is very limited.  I talk on IM to some of my friends but thats in IM slang.  The only other writing I do has to do with myspace or facebook.  When I’m on the computer I usually mess around with photoshop or dreamweaver, or i play some games.  That about sums up my online hours.