Vincent Spano (The Tie that Binds, Alive) packs "personality and punch" (Los Angeles Times) and Jamie Gertz (Twister, The Lost Boys) is "precociously sexy" (Variety) in this nerve-rattling thriller "drenched with atmosphere [and] episodic action" (The Hollywood Reporter) that will have your heart pounding at every turn! At 19, Johnny (Spano) is already a charismatic but ruthless gangster, running the mob's drug trade in Alphabet City, New York's toughest neighborhood. But when his bosses order him to torch a buildingone which happens to be the home of both his mother and sister (Gertz)Johnny defies them. Now a marked man, he must find a way to protect his family and get out of Alphabet City before they take him out for good!
Alphabet City was an incredible movie! Both Vincent Spano and Michael Winslow were amazing! The great cast includes Vincent Spano, Michael Winslow, Kate Vernon, Jami Gertz, Zohra Lampert.
Freedom Writers [HD DVD] - Watch Any Movie Any Time You Want
Though the "inspirational teacher" theme may feel done to death, Freedom Writers succeeds because it emphasizes the students as much as the teacher. Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby, Boys Don't Cry) comes to a southern California high school bubbling over with naive optimism, but quickly discovers that her unruly classroom isn't easily won over by her good intentions. After a few floundering attempts to connect with her students, Gruwell gives them the assignment of keeping journals about their own lives--an assignment that the class bites into with relish, which eventually bonds them together and pushes racial rivalries aside. This plotline has been made before, sometimes well, sometimes poorly; Freedom Writers, by drawing heavily from the published journals of the students--and thanks to a (mostly) unheroic script, direction that emphasizes individual characters over stereotypes, and rigorous performances from the whole cast--makes the story seem fresh and genuine. Swank does solid work, but the standouts are April L. Hernandez as a girl whose gang wants her to lie and send an innocent boy to jail and Imelda Staunton (Vera Drake) as a teacher who resents Gruwell's offbeat success. Also featuring Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), Scott Glenn (The Right Stuff), and a plethora of strong young actors. --Bret Fetzer
Beyond Freedom Writers
More Inspirational Teacher Films on DVD
The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell
More DVDs Starring Hilary Swank
Stills from Freedom Writers (click for larger image)
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Freedom Writers [HD DVD] was an incredible movie! Both Hilary Swank and Patrick Dempsey were amazing! The great cast includes Hilary Swank, Patrick Dempsey, Scott Glenn, Imelda Staunton, April L. Hernandez.