In contrast, Gruwell’s father, played by Scott Glen, sees the good his daughter is doing and helps her however he can. As he tells her, she’s been “blessed with a burden” and he realizes she can’t just turn it on and off when it comes to these kids. She’s in it for the long haul.
Writer-director Richard LaGravenese leads this mostly young cast (with several acting newcomers portraying students), as well as two-time Oscar winner Swank, and is able to provoke excellent acting and touching scenes.
The film is rated PG13 and is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround and 2.0 surround sound. An audio track is available in French, with subtitles available in English.
Extras include commentary with LaGravenese and Swank, which provides background of the film, as well as two featurettes, "Freedom Writers Family" (19:20) and "Freedom Writers: The Story Behind the Story" (10:03), both of which include interviews with cast and crew. There are also 11 deleted scenes. "Making 'A Dream'" (5:24) covers the production of "A Dream," which samples Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech and is a collaboration of Common and will.i.am. Rounding out the extras are a theatrical trailer of Freedom Writers, a photo gallery, and previews for Dreamgirls and Norbit.
On the whole, Freedom Writers is inspirational, hopeful, and entertaining, much like Gruwell herself.
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