Movie Chat

(Thoughts about recently released, still playing movie - in subject matter similar to the 1955 movie The Blackboard Jungle  - 

                         The Freedom Writers 

Glenn Ford as a Goody-Two-Shoes teacher
in the NY Ghetto 1955, with, for the first time
says critic Maltin, Rock music, Rock Around the Clock,
over the opening credits: was it persuasive, or
just an opportunity to see actors do their star turn?
Sidney Poitier doing his glamor smirk with
his voice so tweaked it might rip. The latest venture
in this genre is WRITING (forget full title, don't
tell me).

This new movie with Swank electricity, "Writing"

the word in the title, which title can't be any good if

I can't remember it, produced by the cute/smart

short guy from TAXI co-producing is great while you

watch, not easy to anticipate, but at home you get hit with

the nagging question: "What the hell was all that

really about?" My son and his friend saw the movie in

the afternoon - I drove him there, and his friend's mother

picked them up: Son said it was good so his mother

and I went in the evening. Not sorry.  But, it does contain

some interesting failings.

Number One: be verry careful about bringing in the Holocaust.

This movie not only brought it in, they evern trundled in a most

lovely old lady, completely believable, Anne Frank's friend

and protector, to talk to the children about - well, what DID she

tell the children? Violence is bad? Good.  What else? These

are kids, characters, who've never read a book, children

for whom WW2 was a movie.

CRASH brought in the Holocaust: for five seconds, max.

If you're gonna have a love story, a marriage for example,

get into trouble while sending the audience a 'message'

you'd better not make one ot the parties villainous.

What additional virtues does Swank's character acquire

by having her husband leave her? None, zip.

This movie suffers from a "Superfluity of overt intention."

Some of the young people students were mighty attractive,

and good actors, who will get even better. 

Swank is solid gold. As usual.

Barry