Inside the gates of Wilson High, there exists a vicious war. Racial tensions boil over, as members of "Little Cambodia" duel the Latinos, who brawl the "Wonderbread" bunch, who fight the blacks. Teens dodge angry fists and carry guns for comfort.
But once inside the walls of room 203, one group of students experience a sense of relief, a safe zone from the everyday struggles of their outside lives of dodging bullets and living on the streets.
While at first glance this cinematic battleground painted in the early scenes of "Freedom Writers" sounds a little too "Dangerous Minds" for comfort — and the audience can almost hear the ominous intro of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" — the film manages to avoid falling prey to the standard middle-class-saves-the-underprivileged devices. Combining a talented cast of actors and weaving the "tales from the hood" together with effective cinematography, the movie, written and directed by Richard LaGravenese, tells the underdog tale without a saccharine coating.
"Freedom Writers" traces its roots to the true story of Long Beach, Calif., educator Erin Gruwell and her relentless quest to give a class of students the education they deserve, when the rest of the world has turned its back on them. Along the way, Gruwell's mission is met with resistance from colleagues who are unwilling to give her proper instructional materials and from minority students who — as a result of their upbringings in a society where white officers of the law perpetually target their families and friends — are unwilling to pledge their undying support to an idealistic, white teacher.
Somehow, Gruwell must find a way to gain their trust and earn their respect. When attempting to teach Tupac lyrics as poetry doesn't work, she must pursue more inventive ways to prove she's different from other members of the faculty — she knows they have the potential to succeed if presented with the proper opportunities.
Moonlighting as a lingerie saleswoman and a concierge, Ms. G raises the money to bring her students into the world of others experiencing similar racial and ethnic strife, through the pages of such novels as "The Diary of Anne Frank." She also gives them a voice of their own, within the pages of their private journals. The "Freedom Writers" are born.
As can be expected, Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank delivers a powerful performance as crusading young teacher Erin Gruwell. Though "Freedom Writers" is certainly a far cry from "Million Dollar Baby," Swank again thrives in the role of the underdog, successfully making viewers hate all of the opponents hoping to quash her mission (Read: the nagging troll heading the English department, Margaret Campbell, played by Imelda Staunton). The actress effortlessly transitions among the many faces of Ms. G: from passionate educator, to trusted friend, to caring wife.
While his own character is a tad flat and underdeveloped, TV's "Dr. McDreamy," Patrick Dempsey, helps draw upon the softer side to the powerful prof's character, as her husband Scott. While the onscreen chemistry between Dempsey and Swank is effective overall, the actor shows he is still better suited for the small screen donning scrubs. Conversely, teenage R&B sensation Mario and TV actress April Lee Hernandez stand out among the ranks of room 203, as Andre, a drug dealer who struggles with his brother's recent incarceration and Eva, a Latino girl who is forced to pick sides when she witnesses a shooting inside a mini-mart.
The stories of these two teens and others are forcefully brought to life through the use of clever cinematography. LaGravenese effortlessly creates emotionally evocative scenes from the written words of the students' journals, flashing back and forth between the present and the past experiences of the Freedom Writers. While the film succeeds in depicting the grave injustices endured by each student, it is not completely bogged down by the negative. "Freedom Writers" strikes just the right chords, juxtaposing street violence and gang beatings among scenes showing Ms. G struggling to learn the latest hip-hop moves and ebonic slang to create a well-balanced, heartwarming storyline.
MTVFilm cynics, hold your fire. Unlike lackluster ventures like "The Perfect Score," "Freedom Writers" is one MTV foray into the high school scene that tackles a worthwhile plotline. You'll laugh; you'll cry … you'll hardly even miss "Gangsta's Paradise."
