Dangerous Minds (1995)

Director:

John N. Smith

Writers (WGA):

LouAnne Johnson (book)
Ronald Bass (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 August 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

She Broke The Rules... And Changed Their Lives.

Plot:

An ex-marine teacher struggles to connect with her students in an inner city schools.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | Teacher Student Relationship | Compassion | Teen Angst | Student

Awards:

5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Louanne Johnson
George Dzundza	...	Hal Griffith
Courtney B. Vance	...	George Grandey
Robin Bartlett	...	Carla Nichols
Beatrice Winde	...	Mary Benton
John Neville	...	Waiter
Lorraine Toussaint	...	Irene Roberts
Renoly Santiago	...	Raul Sanchero
Wade Dominguez	...	Emilio Ramirez
Bruklin Harris	...	Callie Roberts
Marcello Thedford	...	Cornelius Bates
Roberto Alvarez	...	Gusmaro Rivera
Richard Grant	...	Durrell Benton
Marisela Gonzales	...	Angela
Toni Nichelle Buzhardt	...	Nikki

Also Known As:

My Posse Don't Do Homework (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #33926) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG | Chile:14 | Denmark:12 | Finland:K-10 | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Burlingame, California, USA

Company:

Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Trivia:

Originally entitled "My Posse Don't Do Homework", the name of the book from which this true story was taken.

Quotes:

Louanne: What should i tell them? If they dont want to die remember to knock?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "30 Rock: Hard Ball (#1.15)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

I WANT YOU BACK

Great movie!...

I'm not about to call this movie a "feel-good movie" or a "coming-of-age-tale." What am I gonna do is call it what it really is - a great movie.

Michelle Pfeiffer is at her best. She is absolutely fantastic in this movie. The actors in the classroom hold their own against her as well.

Basically, the plot is as follows: White teacher enters a mostly-minority "alternative" (read: group of kids that act out) classroom and commands respect. In turn, she changes their lives as they change hers. It's basically the story of Raul, Emilio, and Carrie, and how they cope with life as a result of Ms. Johnson.

The movie has some really good lines (my favorite: "You asked me how I was gonna save your life. This is it. This moment.") and really good drama. Sure, some of it is hokey-it-only-happens-in-the-movies, but the majority of it is good. I'm a guy, and I shed a few tears.

Overall: 9/10.