Directed by:
John N. SmithScreenplay:
Ronald BassCinematography:
Pierre LetarteCast:
Michelle Pfeiffer, George Dzundza, Courtney B. Vance, Robin Bartlett, Beatrice Winde, John Neville, Lorraine Toussaint, Renoly Santiago, Wade Dominguez (more)Plots(1)
Based on an incredible true-life story -- Pfeiffer is former U.S. Marine Lou Anne Johnson, a first-time high school teacher assigned to a class of tough but smart inner city students. When conventional methods fail to reach them, the feisty Ms. Johnson tries the unconventional -- defying the rules and creating her own curriculum! In the process, she instills a new self-confidence in her students -- motivating them toward their greatest potential. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (2)
This is a great film.
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This is the 90s to the bone, both in terms of filmmaking and contents. How many takes on the theme of a good teacher with an atypical history vs bad high school students have there been? Loads. But Dangerous Minds is without doubt one of the best. It manages to hit the 90's vibe perfectly on its typical setting of hip-hop bangers, plaid shirts, lots of vulgarity and a unique Boyz n the Hood street style that distinctively and accurately evoked the mood of the American urban agglomerations of the time, while reflecting the lifestyle of poor neighborhoods and, of course, racial disparities. It certainly doesn't avoid clichés, especially at the end when the bad students become good ones suspiciously quickly, but there are quite a lot of thematic grips and problems explored through entertaining and often suspenseful sequences. Plus Michelle Pfeiffer is an incredibly good actress in any role or mood.
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