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Dangerous Minds has often been accused by critics as being too preachy, whilst failing to highlight sensitive and often difficult personal issues and situations the pupils at school were facing themselves. Yet this is a film which is anything but that. This wasn't just about a teacher trying to achieve and maintain trust from her so called 'troublesome' students but it attempted to delve into the efforts Lou-Anne Johnston makes to achieve what's best for the teenagers and to get the best out of them as possible. Dangerous Minds is not a film of which tells teachers how they ought to do their jobs but rather it emphasises the types of issues the students and Lou-Anne embark on in their lives.
When Lou-Anne first enters the classroom she is met by a chorus of boos, chaos and anarchy by the students- they don't like her and they all think that she isn't any different from the other teachers in the school. They are often rude, in-yer-face and disobedient. Eventually though, she wins them over by being compassionate, fair and caring but at the same time instilling tough discipline and tough love and warranting respect without having to patronise or judge those students, of which they return the favour. She also shares with them the personal hurdles, obstacles and difficulties she had to overcome and face, thus she shows herself up to be somebody the kids could relate to, because she has been through exactly the same types of struggles they have gone through and are going through themselves.
Personally, Michelle Phieffer gives a good performance in her role as Lou-Anne and whilst it isn't up there with her very best, she is very convincing throughout. Considering how much this film was trashed by so many people, the truth nevertheless is that there are certain efforts which strike a chord with viewers and touching them in ways that inspire thought, understanding and empathy on their part, and Dangerous Minds is one of them. It also helped considering this is based on a true story, and so a lot of what takes place within and outside of the academic environment, rings a lot of truth. The so-called teacher as hero(ine)concept of the movie is approached in an almost realistic, dark and serious matter but not in a way that puts viewers off.
All in all, this is a very good movie that is not afraid of portraying the gritty and tough suburban outlooks of inner city school life, as seen through the eyes of the pupils themselves and Louanne Johnston herself. Dangerous Minds is at times challenging and through-provoking and whereas it can often be a tad preachy, it still packs a mean punch.
Recommended.
score 8/10
wchngliu 9 October 2007
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw1743592/ |
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29-11-2019 20:23:28
