“Dangerous Minds” by the little-known director John N. Smith gave me a mixture of curiosity and wariness. But after the first quarter of the film, this very wariness disappeared, completely absorbing my attention and holding it to the very final credits.
I want to praise the director of Smith. His pitch and a message to the viewer. Though it is extremely simple, but it does not lose its relevance. The picture is qualitatively shot, and the cult track “Gangsta’s Paradise” fits into the overall atmosphere of the film, making it more tangible. And two nominations for the best soundtrack, the picture received quite deservedly.
Beauty Michelle Pfeiffer once again pleased with a strong acting, entering the image of her heroine with all her inherent charm. I just fell in love with her Luanna Johnson. Some say that the picture came out a little naive, but I do not agree with this statement. Because if you don't believe there are people like Mrs. Johnson, you don't believe in the good in people. Dangerous Minds is a really touching drama with colorful heroes, good morals and beautiful music. And after watching it, I can't imagine anyone in the lead role other than Michelle Pfeiffer. In addition to numerous awards and nominations, the actress was nominated by MTV for the title of “Most Desirable Woman”. And I agree with that opinion.
I guess I’m not the only one who came to this film in the footsteps of the once super-popular Gansta’s Paradise song (in the distant years of my studentship, this hit was just a blast bomb for any kind of crony party, but YouTube videos at that time were still as unheard of as in principle the user Internet – yes, I am so ancient :) And so, it wasn’t nearly three decades ago that I was reminded of this song, and I watched the movie. The picture about “difficult teenagers” and a talented teacher turned out to be really soulful, human, and Michelle Pfeiffer in the title role is charming and convincing. Movies like this make us remember that life is not comic book pictures, so we have to stop eating popcorn and turn on our brains.
The topic of troubled teens, like the headache of any high school, has always been relevant, especially for a multicultural and free America. This is the only film of the little-known Canadian director John N. Smith, which has spread outside Canada and the United States, because his other works are known only in the homeland. The film was nominated four times for the MTV award, in particular, for the world-famous Coolio - "Ganstas Paradise" (it sounded a lot, but the "debut" was here), for best female role, plus the most desirable woman of the year, Michelle Pfeiffer, and even was nominated for the title of best film of the year, but the film did not receive its awards.
Returning from service in the elite units of the Marine Corps, LuAnne Johnson (Michelle Pfeiffer) chooses an unusual profession for herself - an iron lady with a sensitive heart becomes a high school teacher. But the skills of the army service immediately came in handy for her new job, because the “academic class” in which LuAnn managed to get, so called jokingly and not much different from the battlefield, and the students are almost no different from thugs and bandits. The special-purpose teacher had no choice but to go on a decisive offensive, trying to find a common language with the children, gain their trust and somehow interest them in their studies, which will be very difficult for her.
Michelle Pfeiffer - perhaps the main decoration of this script banal and directorially uncomplicated film, shows the on-screen character of the iron lady, but, at the same time, not without fragility, sensitivity and femininity. It is the combination of such qualities of a person that allowed her character to reach thick-skinned guys, to penetrate this troubled world of teenage souls, who, it turns out, despite external cruelty and aggressiveness, are very fragile and vulnerable creatures at heart, capable of good and bright deeds, often even having a beautiful soul and an interesting inner world, which hides behind a protective mask of indifference. A well-known fact from the psychology of most adolescents. Many children had a difficult childhood, family troubles, criminal fights at such an early age on the hectic streets of dysfunctional neighborhoods, which turned many of them into soulless thugs. Even the cruel and dangerous leader of the class, the authority Emilio Ramirez (now the late Wade Dominguez), before whom the whole school stands, as it turns out, hides behind seven locks a tormented and wounded soul, because of which, this seemingly negative hero, becomes pathetic, as an unhappy and downtrodden lamb, forced to harden himself, only to not break.
LuAnne Johnson is a real-life character, a teacher who has developed her own unique teaching methodology without standards. On the screen, she was shown, perhaps, as the best teacher in the world, because any teacher, first of all, must find an approach to her students, assemble a single friendly team from them, so that all further training will benefit. And, as you can see, even the most terrible students can, with the right approach, make successful candidates for admission to prestigious institutions. Such an image causes only sincere sympathy. Perhaps all the action in the film and looks, to become an American TV show, naive, overly sparing his viewer, and in real life such miracles do not happen, but he is still kind and bright, and fans of Michelle Pfeiffer will be able to enjoy another bright screen embodiment of the favorite, because she is here on top.
6 out of 10
There are a lot of films about troubled teenagers, not all of them can be counted. This is a topic that will not lose its relevance. But what do these movies always look like? There are bad children, a good teacher comes, instructs them on the right path. "Dangerous minds" is a completely different case.
Let's talk about characters. All the characters in the picture are good, of course, the time is given unevenly and someone goes to the second or even the third plan. But when in the cinema such an abundance of characters is impossible otherwise, but despite this, most of the characters of the tape are still perfectly prescribed and revealed. It is interesting to watch them, I want to know their thoughts, what they think. To say that we empathize with them is not enough, I personally began to be interested in their future, what will happen to them, what their future fate will be. And so to interest the viewer is difficult. The main characters develop in the course of the story and watch it a pleasure. Michelle Pfeiffer herself is beautiful, she with one eye conveyed a spectrum of emotions that most modern actors are unable to show. Great acting roles among the younger guard.
How many serious questions are raised during the film. Reluctance to learn from one part of the youth and the lack of decent conditions for those who may not care about it. Hard everyday life of adolescents in adverse areas. The suppression of the personality in children by the parents themselves, this topic took 5 minutes in the film, but even it is revealed so much that the jaw just falls. We have not forgotten the differences in perceptions of the world by different generations, because indeed, what could happen if teachers and students could fully accept each other’s worldviews and understand other people’s situations. However, even the lack of knocking on the door can cause problems. Yes, and maybe the established systems no longer work, in the end, not everyone can succumb to this system, but if you can not adapt, then few will help. But does this apply only to the lives of these students?
But the main idea of the film is that there is no completely lost generation. I want to believe that all these students will be able to get on a decent path in life. How important it is at the right time to meet a person who will direct you in the right direction, who will give advice.
Despite the rather soft ending of Dangerous Minds leaves an incredible feeling behind it, it leaves a desire to change something in yourself, to do something. For those who study at school or any educational institution, the film is especially recommended. A real masterpiece.
I will not let myself die.
When I go down to the grave, I will sing.
Bob Dylan
The case when the tape immortalized her own musical theme – the best ever rap song “Gangsta’s Paradise”, performed by Larry Sanders and Coolio. In the video for the song there are shots from “Dangerous Minds”, moreover, additional scenes were filmed specifically for him, in which the lead singer Michelle Pfeiffer participates. Unique in its dramatic power, music is also so successfully placed on the video that from the film you expect two hundred-degree passions and revelation. Alas, “Dangerous Minds” does not have such a strong impact, although you can not call them a disappointment.
The film adaptation of the autobiographical book by LuAnn Johnson, who after serving in the Marines came to work in a school for disadvantaged children, somehow strangely balances on the verge of family, criminal and social drama. The difficult teenagers of all races and stripes who will have to teach Michelle Pfeiffer, who played her, are the difficult ones, not the ones who are so cautiously named for politically correct reasons. The film does not make them monsters, constantly threatening the safety of the new teacher, but it does not slide into protracted dialogue about morality.
Dangerous minds expose American bureaucracy and formalism, both bureaucratic and pedagogical. And the first success in winning the respect of hooligans is achieved by the teacher who does not see in his wards enemies or underdeveloped. One who sees them first and foremost as human beings. Of course, if you dig deeper and wider, you will discover both the political and economic system that led to social stratification and, in fact, American history. The film does not claim to be such an extensive study, but it illustrates some issues, including national ones (after all, the main composition of the complex class is colored from criminal districts). It is no coincidence that the heroine Pfeiffer begins to teach them the poetry of Bob Dylan, which at one time had a huge impact on the fight for black rights in the United States. And as the main message here can be called lines from the subtitle. Cinema convinces, despite all the difficulties, not to get dragged into crime, the narrow path of which can lead to nothing but death or prison, but to fight for themselves and as a lifeline calls education. True, and here there is a “but” – after all, one desire is not enough when the obstacles begin to fix their own relatives.
However, the most tragic and dramatic moments are filmed as if in a hurry, or not filmed at all, but played out in the reactions of Pfeiffer and students. And I must say that Michelle is still more charming and convincing as a smiling teacher with a bag of chocolates, winning the sympathy of the class, than as a heroine who lost a loved one. Although it is impossible to reproach the actress with the fact that she clearly did not finish something.
And in general, “Dangerous Minds” can be called one of the most important American films of the 90s about teenage problems. Especially with such a soundtrack.
Michelle Pfeifer, I want to note first of all the main role in this picture, the role of a strong woman who does not leave indifferent, and actions make you cry in places, panic, admire her, etc. on the list of positive emotions. I believe that she had a deservedly high fee. Lu, who comes from the Marine Corps, waiting to teach "gifted teenagers", did not even suspect, apparently, how much. Because she wasn't embarrassed by the fact that they weren't the kind of special class, peace-loving schoolchildren who would give her a quiet job. Also there is constantly her friend-teacher, who supports her in everything and Hal Griffith, for which he is personally grateful. But still, a beautiful blonde has to cope with the class itself, because others are just afraid to approach these difficult teenagers.
The film is really cult for those times, and constant unrest, it has a pretty strong sound, Coolio - Gangstas Paradise, which is probably on the ears of most of us. But that's not the point. The whole picture of the film is played out in school dungeons, where we encounter unmanageable high-aged teenagers. Everyone stood out in their own way, but for some reason I forgot the main backwater in the class, independent Emilio (Wade Dominguez). Which Lou had to deal with first. I want to point out that all the actors who played school children in Dangerous Minds don’t look like school children. How many American high school age groups? 14-16 years old? Here teenagers are already at least 20 years old. Every 10 minutes there will be such serious, adult problems that God forbid every child to experience. Take Raoul (Renoli Santiago), who had to face a national showdown. So does Kelly, Angela... How many times can you say it’s not fair! during this movie, you just can’t count.
Lu is a perfect example of approach to people, not only a purely human upbringing, but a motherly care. Separately, it is worth noting that she taught literature and instilled a love of poetry in people who were as far from all this as one can imagine. But the question remains: did they study poetry in school? Why did they get one teacher who taught one subject? If you do not go into some of the nuances of this movie, which I consider an omission that leads away from real life, then in general, this is a rather psychologically subtle, instructive film that once again proves that only patience and a special approach to each person can calm down and resolve even the seemingly most hopeless life situations.
Something like that description... Perhaps Director with James Belushi first of all comes to mind, where there was also a school with difficult teenagers, which comes to a teacher who wants to at all costs to train his boobs, only methods use more realistic and relevant in the presented conditions.
Here the situation is almost identical: no teacher can cope with the “gifted” class, from there all reasonable teachers run away in crowds. It is here that the superwoman who served in the Navy and owns karate techniques falls. What immediately comes to mind? What are the most visual methods? Yes, that’s how it all starts, but then the logic goes a little bit wrong.
For some reason, after a couple of classes, the entire diverse team, far from prone to any movements in the direction of learning, suddenly discovers considerable literary knowledge, as well as mutual assistance, and almost all known moral qualities in addition. It looks, to a lesser extent, implausible. In the same film with Belushi, this process was not carried out at a similar Stakhanov pace.
Well, then such inconsistencies are only more striking. A banal heart-to-heart conversation - the main instigator becomes silk. Another problem is solved with another student.
In short, Dangerous Minds is generally a good movie, but ridiculously naive, which makes all the positive moments somehow lost. There are more pictures on this subject.
Dangerous Minds 1995 became one of the highest-grossing and most famous films of its time. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, the film acquired a cult status right away, which was greatly contributed by the soundtrack of the film, which became the hallmark of this social drama and one of the symbols of the 90s.
The film is based on the memoirs of Lou Anne Johnson, who was forced under pressure from the Marine to retrain as a teacher. The class that she got was far from the best and most successful at this school in the slums, but Lou-Ann was able not only to find contact with a complex contingent, but also to help these difficult teenagers, whose fate no one cared.
It’s quite unusual to see Michelle Pfeiffer as a strong and confident woman, but she managed to play Lou Anne beautifully. In fact, the film is based solely on her character and a simple plot from life acquires depth and versatility.
The direction in the film is very smooth, because the director strives for realism and pays much attention to the psychological drawings of the characters. The film attracts attention immediately and holds the viewer to the end, although the picture is devoid of suspense. Just the story told in the film catches and I want to see the film again.
Dangerous Minds is an amazing and life-changing drama that I recommend everyone watch.