Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Tayloriona Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

mjacksongta This is a very underrated and under-appreciated film based on a true story of a New jersey school principal who is faced with the task of trying to turn a struggling school back around.This concept has been done many times before like in dangerous minds and other alike movies but this movie is different as it came first, is based on a true story and lastly that Morgan Freeman absolutely nails this role. All of the acting is strong in this film, even though there are a lot of no name one time actors in this movie the main characters are strong and again Morgan Freeman gives the performance of his life.If you are a Morgan Freeman fan and have not seen this movie you need to watch.... NOW!!!!

Michael Neumann The true story of 'crazy' Joe Clark, the fiery principal of Eastside High School in Patterson, New Jersey, is transformed by the director of 'The Karate Kid' and the original 'Rocky' into a (no surprise here) strictly artificial, assembly line crowd pleaser. The film is notable mostly for Morgan Freeman's typically dynamic portrayal of a compelling lead character: the George S. Patton of academics, who made his reputation by stalking school halls with a bullhorn, a baseball bat, and a series of tough, inspirational sermons, speeches and lectures to students and faculty alike about responsibility and pride.The deterioration of Eastside High from a model institution in 1967 to a mid-1980s netherworld of graffiti, drugs and indifference is introduced in a stunning visual dissolve, but the transition pales next to Clark's ascent from dedicated administrator to scholastic Messiah. Did the entire student body actually storm City Hall in protest of his arrest, and was he rescued by the 11th-hour arrival of the latest, improved test scores? It's unlikely, but let's face it: Hollywood never was much inclined to let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Courier_New I would like to start by first saying that I am not generally a fan of the student/teacher film genera. Movies of this type usually come across as either too sentimental, overly contrived, or both for my taste. "Lean on Me" would probably have been a likewise forgettable experience if it had not have been for Morgan Freeman's perfect casting for the role of Principle Clark.Based on true events, the film takes place in Eastside High School, one of New Jersey's worst public schools. When a bombardment of graffiti, drug dealing, riots and low grades threaten to pull the institution apart, superintendent Frank Napier (Robert Guillaume; The Lion King, Big Fish) decides to hire his most controversial teacher, Joe Louis Clark (Morgan Freeman; The Shawshank Redemption, The Dark Knight) as principle to clean things up.The best part of this picture was undeniably Morgan Freeman's role. The concept of an eccentric and short-tempered character has been, to say the least, overdone; However, Freeman's portrayal of 'Crazy Joe' feel new and, surprisingly, relatable.That is not to say that the Morgan Freeman's casting was the only saving grace of this film. The relationships played out between the teachers, administration, parents, and students were fairly well done on all parts.Ultimately, Freeman succeeded in stealing the spotlight throughout. He carried something that would have been average and made it not a just a brilliant film, but his brilliant film. If anything, "Lean on Me" was a movie that leaned on Morgan Freeman in order to be as great as it was.

Polaris_DiB The year is 1967. Joe Clark, teacher, preacher, and all around good guy, is doing his thing for the next generation. But then internal politics kicks him out of his school, and Joe Clark, teacher, preacher, and now oracle, predicts "this school will get what it deserves!" 20 years later... and we know it's 20 years later because there's a highly kitsch dissolve... the school has fallen into ANARCHY and CHAOS! There are DRUGS and teenagers are BULLIES and the teachers can't DO ANYTHING and everything has just gone to HECK! So the politics grinds its little gears and there's good ol' Joe Clark, principal, disenchanted educator, and lean mean fighting machine to COME BACK and set things straight! 'Course you know, people don't like him because he's a jerk and he yells a lot, and it's hard because politics is still grinding the gears and parents don't like their kids being treated like anything but total angels even if they're drug dealers, but, you know, that's just, like, the drama, and stuff.Pretty much this movie is split 50/50 between Morgan Freeman yelling in somebody's face, and campy 80s things like the world's worst montage and the titular song played--twice in a row, in fact! It's also entertaining beyond measure. The fact that they are willing to go as far as they are into the kitsch and the culture of it is just too much fun to describe! That's not to deny the power of Freeman's own investment in his character. Honestly, you want a good laugh, watch this movie. However, the entire overall "oomph!" of the thing... Wow! This is a real experience! --PolarisDiB