The "Blackboard Jungle" of its generation, "Stand and Deliver" kicked off a revival of the tough teacher taking on a troubled class genre, but this remains the best of them.
Edward James Olmos delivers a wonderful performance as this film's tough teacher, and the film resists the maudlin sentimentality that the genre falls prey to. There's no scene of the students standing on their desks, cheering for their teacher. It's an uplifting, hopeful film, but it manages to be uplifting and hopeful in a realistic way.
Olmos received an Academy Award nomination for his performance; I can't think of another major role he's had since.
Grade: A-
Edward James Olmos delivers a wonderful performance as this film's tough teacher, and the film resists the maudlin sentimentality that the genre falls prey to. There's no scene of the students standing on their desks, cheering for their teacher. It's an uplifting, hopeful film, but it manages to be uplifting and hopeful in a realistic way.
Olmos received an Academy Award nomination for his performance; I can't think of another major role he's had since.
Grade: A-