Movies. Give a review of the movie “Dangerous Minds”. How did Louanne Johnson change lives of her students?

Dangerous Minds is a 1995 American drama/hood film directed by John N. Smith, and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. It is based on the autobiography My Posse Don't Do Homework by former U.S. Marine LouAnne Johnson, who took up a teaching position at Carlmont High School in Belmont, California, in 1989, where most of her students were African-American and Hispanic teenagers from East Palo Alto, a then-unincorporated town at the opposite end of the school district. Starring Michelle Pfeiffer as Johnson, the film was released to an overwhelmingly negative critical reception, but became a surprise box office success in the summer of 1995, leading to the creation of a short-lived television series.

So, to understand the main problems touched upon in this film, let’s appeal to its plot. A former marine became a teacher at high school. At first her students didn’t take her seriously, but she managed to attract their attention by karate and philosophical poems. She made them shoes their future and their way of life. One more her “ruse” was to reward the pupils for their attempts. Since they were “difficult children”, she had to solve a lot of problems and there was a situation, which she wasn’t able to improve. One of her students was killed, so she made up her mind to leave school, but the pupils didn’t let her go.

Now I’d like to say a few words about acting. Here I should say that it was very impressive and natural. If it wasn’t an almost unreal plot, I’d believed. Michelle Pfeiffer was perfect. It’s also important that there were not famous actors among children, so they were so sincere that it seemed as truly as in life.

As for directing, it’s well-done, but I still don’t believe in reality of the whole situation. If the changes were not shown so quickly it would probably seem more natural.

To crown it all, I’d like to say that I like this film first of all because it’s biographical. It gives us, as future teachers, a brilliant example of the way we should behave with children. For me personally it’s an urgent problem. This teacher didn’t give up. She worked hard and struggled to teach his pupils and make the best ones. I think that there should be more such vital films, which can teach us something we don’t know or if we are not sure how to do something in a right way, especially being teacher. Such a wonderful example of a leader, who is able to ignite children’s hearts is necessary for those who is still in doubts.