Pure Determination

Freedom Writers, directed by Richard LaGravenese, had both it's strong points and weak ones.

Hilary Swank, playing the role of Erin Gruwell, was eager to begin her new career as a high school teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach. Her enthusiasm quickly vanished when she realized that the cheery children she expected to teach, were unprivileged shadows with astonishing lives. Determined to help her students and with her marriage on the line, Erin goes out of her way to try and do what everyone thinks is impossible.

Unlike Richard LaGravenese's film, P.S. I Love You, Freedom Writers had low levels of romance and relationships. I'm disappointed at how the relationship with Erin and her husband, played by Patrick Dempsey, was shown very little throughout the film. Although there was similar conflicts in both movies, Freedom Writers swayed away from romance factor.

Hilary Swank showed pure determination, dedication, and power in her role. She had her questionable moments, but overall great acting. The students, in my opinion, were even better actors and actresses. They showed the feeling and sadness of their real lives, and would make the real people in this true story proud. One of the students, Eva Benitez, played by April Lee Hernández, showed her heart-breaking life and stabbing pain as if it was her own real life. The writing in the film was good for the most part, slightly over did it at some moments with their love for the teacher.Good lives on, leaving the past behind. Did all the children's lives change for the better like the movie makes it seem? Do good things truly happen to those who deserve it?