Details
Movie Description
A Marine officer leaves her military career behind to become an inner-city English teacher. With a style all her own she gets her class of tough-as-nails kids to trust her and to believe in themselves. This true-life drama is based on "My Posse Don't Do Homework," a novel by educator LouAnne Johnson.
Synopsis
The true story of one teacher's struggle to have a positive effect on her students' lives.
Ex-Marine LouAnne Johnson abandons her military career in order to pursue her dream of becoming an English teacher. When she is assigned to Parkmont High, a rough "inner-city" school, she soon finds that teaching English is going to be tougher than she expected. Clearly, her bored, surly, unhappy students would rather be anywhere else than in class. However, LouAnne tackles this obstacle, employing unconventional tactics to get through to the kids: she uses Bob Dylan's lyrics to teach poetry, rewards the students with candy bars, and even takes them out for an expensive dinner. Soon, LouAnne notices a change in her pupils, who are beginning to see school -- and life -- in a new light.
Film Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1 Encoding
"Gangsta's Paradise" video by Coolio
Chapter Search
Released in the USA August 11, 1995, this film had an opening weekend box office gross of $14.9 million. Spurred on by rapper Coolio's #1 hit song "Gangsta's Paradise," the movie went on to become one of the surprise hits of the year, grossing $84.9 million domestically.
Andy Garcia's role (as the boyfriend of Michelle Pfeiffer's character), was completely edited from the film.
Color by Technicolor.
Additional credits: Jessica Kreps, David Larson (assistant directors); Gala Autumn (costume supervisor).
Produced in association with Via Rosa Prods.
Film was shot in North Carolina.
Also features music performed by Sista (featuring Craig Mack), Rappin' 4-Tay, Tre Black, 24-K, DeVante, Big Mike, Immature, and Mr. Dalvin & Static.
Rated BBFC 15 by the British Board of Film Classification.
Industry Reviews
"...Pfeiffer gives a funny, scrappy performance..."
Rolling Stone - p.108-110 - Peter Travers (08/24/1995)
"...[Pfeiffer gives] a strong, resourceful performance..."
Premiere - p.88 - Josh Rottenberg (02/01/1996)
"...[An] earnest, sweet-natured inspirational drama....Dominguez, Harris and Santiago stir strong sympathy and show a good deal of promise..."
Variety - Todd McCarthy (08/14/1995)
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