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Plot Summary
OSCAR ® Nominees Maggie Gyllenhaal (2009, Supporting Actress, "Crazy Heart") and Viola Davis (2011, Actress, "The Help") lead a stellar cast in writer-director Daniel Barnz’s inspirational drama inspired by actual events. Frustrated by her dyslexic daughter’s struggles at a failing inner-city school, Jamie Fitzpatrick (Gyllenhaal) tries to enroll her somewhere else. When this fails, Jamie recruits a disillusioned but caring teacher (Davis) to try to fix the broken school. Soon, the women find themselves in a tense battle against apathy, hopelessness, and powerful interests. OSCAR ® Winner Holly Hunter (1993, Actress, "The Piano") and OSCAR ® Nominee Rosie Perez (1993 Supporting Actress, "Fearless") also star in this inspiring story that shows how profoundly parents can affect their kids’ education.
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
33%- Reviews Counted: 98
- Fresh: 32
- Rotten: 66
- Average Rating: 5.0/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Rotten: Teachers unions are by no means perfect, but Won't Back Down turns them into public school enemy number one.
Rotten: Even terrific casting and a well-intentioned story don't add up to a wholehearted cinematic win.
Rotten: So shamelessly manipulative and hopelessly bogus it will make you bite your tongue in regret and despair.
Rotten: So didactic that viewers are likely to feel less uplifted than lectured.
Customer Reviews
Don't Read the Biased Media Critcs' Reviews
When I heard about the plot of this movie I knew right away the movie critics would hate it. Mom takes on teacher's union --- that's all the critics--New York Times, TIME magazine, USA Today, LA TImes-- had to hear to give a thumbs down to this great story and inspiring story. Movie crtitics are liberals first, movie critics second. And I'm 100 percent sure never had to raise their kids in a failing school system.
Love it!
Love it! Love it! Love it! Forget all your talk about politics, it was a movie about a mom fighting for a better life for her child. No parent could say that if they were in that situation they would do anything else.
Knight
After reading other reviews , I was very glad I disregarded them and watched this movie.
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