Stand and Deliver
Stand and Deliver
PG | 11 March 1988 (USA)
Stand and Deliver Trailers

Jaime Escalante is a mathematics teacher in a school in a hispanic neighbourhood. Convinced that his students have potential, he adopts unconventional teaching methods to try and turn gang members and no-hopers into some of the country's top algebra and calculus students.

Reviews
FeistyUpper

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

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ShangLuda

Admirable film.

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ThedevilChoose

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

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Philippa

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

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thejcowboy22

Personally I had visions of Grandeur wanting to be an architect my chosen future profession. On the other hand the Math Department at Elmont Memorial High was only concerned with completing the curriculum on time before the state regent exams in June. Another words, rush or cram the material through and forget about getting the math right! My plans for my future were dashed and the dreams I had designing buildings were quashed. Geometry stood in my way like a brick wall. Barely made it through the year with a low passing grade. I wish my teacher was as enthusiastic as Jaime Escalante (Edward James Olmos) but then I wondered if I could keep up with his students and pass the AP Calculus exam with the extra ganas, (desire) provided by the colorful persistent instructor. Mr. Escalante or as he's known in his inner circle "Kemo" by his Latin students works extra hours before and after school in preparation for that big day. The story isn't only about the exam, but how each student has certain obstacles in their lives and balancing Calculus prep,regular school, family issues. Here we focus on one of the students Angel Guzman (Lou Diamond Phillips) who in the beginning was a typical East L.A. gang member running around town and getting harassed by the police, found his way in Kemo's class, (late as usual throughout the movie), prospered despite missing a day of class in a medical clinic accompanying his sickly Abuelita. Another student tells Kemo that he can make huge money driving a fork lift but the experienced Math teacher explains that in life you only see the turns but you don't see the road ahead! Another instance, a soft spoken bespectacled female Latin student who takes to the material in Kemo's class. Kemo feels she has a future in mathematics and industry. Our four eye sweety tells Kemo that her Dad is apposed to her attending college. Kemo takes his wife to her parents Mexican restaurant. Kemo promotes his daughter telling the stubborn Father she should go to college and pursue a career and not end up as a waitress in his establishment for the rest of her years. These 18 Latin students follow Kemo's road to success with some bumps in the road. Grade scores and cheating are questioned. Andy Garcia as the State representative questioned the grade scores and the classic confrontation as a ballistic Kemo threatened to beat the S--t out of the stunned Garcia. This movie wasn't sugarcoated and really showed the long hours and study needed to pass this intricate calculus exam. Kemo was demanding as he reiterated doing everything step by step. The Great inventor Thomas Edison once said,"One percent inspiration, Ninety-nine percent perspiration.

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sketchyshadydude

Any movie can be viewed a portal, a portal that can transport viewers to faraway places, alternate universes, or distant time periods. Although these movies started out as simple black and white projections, they have evolved into masterful cinematic experiences that defy the limits of the natural world. Today, a "good movie" typically boasts mind-blowing special effects, a deep plot line, well-known actors, or a combination of the three. These are just of few of the standards set by film-makers in the 21st century. However, I feel that it is worth recognizing films that were revolutionary in their time, not just films that live up to today's expectations. One of these films, "Stand and Deliver," is about a Calculus teacher at a local high school who turns a rag-tag group of seniors into excellent mathematicians. These students go on to take the AP Calculus exam, all earning passing scores. Although this movie is not impressive to modern-day standards, it is worth noting that at the time, passing an AP exam was very difficult, at any school. This simple, yet tremendous feat helps me appreciate the worth of the movie, despite it being outdated. Overall, "Stand and Deliver" is a likable movie because of its charismatic characters that are easy to relate to.Likable characters are important to a successful movie because they allow viewers to either relate to them or idolize them. In the case of "Stand and Deliver," there were both types of characters. Jaime Escalante, the teacher of the high school, was by no means a perfect teacher. Throughout the movie he made many mistakes, such as making a rude comment about a student's love life. He also had a heart attack just weeks before the students' exam. These downfalls show that Mr. Escalante is by no means a god or someone we are any greater or less than. He also showed his down-to-earth personality through his fun, charismatic teaching style. In one such instance Mr. Escalante created a simple algebra problem by replacing the variable "x" with the amount of "girlfriends" someone had. This did not only cause his students to like him, but the audience as well. In this sense, both parties develop a sense of respect towards him; it is very difficult for a teacher to educate and appeal to his/her students. Although Mr. Escalante is a likable main character, the supporting characters in "Stand and Deliver" demand viewers' affection as well.Likable supporting characters only add to the main character's charm because it shows how he/she affects them. For example, one of my favorite characters from the movie is a boy called Angel. Although Angel is involved with delinquent gang activities and smokes cigarettes, he shows viewers his soft interior when he is at home taking care of his sickly grandmother. On top of this, we later find out that Angel is an intellectual man who cares about his grades; although he doesn't want his friends to know this, he asks Mr. Escalante for extra textbooks so he can study wherever he is.Although movies can take us to amazing places and can let us travel with amazing heroes, but sometimes the best movies are the ones we can relate to. Although I have seen some exciting films, it's always nice to relax with one of the classics. "Stand and Deliver" is my favorite movie because it has likable characters that I can relate to. I hope reading this review will inspire you to watch the movie, as well as enjoy it as much as I did.

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mohammadalishafiee

The art is affected by confronting the powers to survive and their total domination. In new modern world and various arts, cinema found unique and important position. Now these days could be said that films are the most important tool in theorizing and managing the public opinion. In contemporary world history, cinema has played a main role in political, economic and cultural evolutions. This role was apparently observable in cold ware that was one the most important changes in contemporary history. The aggressive policy of United States against Union of Soviet in cold war was military threats, economic sanctions, cultural, scientific and social conflicts. In this way, Hollywood helped the American politicians in many ways. One the confrontation area between these two governments was space exploration. Americans started to make wide advertisements on walking on the moon in the way of using public diplomacy, they triggered Russian society. After a while there was whispers that pictures of walking on the moon was not true. This doubt has been continued until nowadays, which are not responded by NASA specialists. Based on this introduction, a distinctive review on the film of Stand and Deliver by Ramón Menéndez that is produced by Warner Bros. Co. is offered. This is a drama film with a simple story. It could be said that using the politics for art is the main strategy of this company and this film showed that this company has capability of narrating a story to confront the political threats, even in field of telling a simple story. Although the film was based on a true story, these companies could change a fantasy to a real one by their powerful tools. The cinema power and Hollywood claim that we will make anything that men can imagine. Escalante becomes a math teacher in Garfield high school where other teachers fail in forcing students to study. Students are way below their grade level and do not show any positive reaction to the new method of instructions. Nobody show this new teacher an agreeable reaction and it seems that his presence is an additional problem. Peer groups have formed based on the similarity in each class. They have same viewpoint to the school and class as previous and cannot accept the changes that Escalante want to help them. However, the special character of him make them change and they are attracted to him. They are encouraged to learn math. This process continues until Escalante ask school to participate in a difficult national test in calculus. He insisted on it and after the school agreed to participate, he start to prepare his students. The student worked very hard, in one of the parts of the film when he teaches the students in summer school in a very bad condition in the locker room of the school without any air conditioner, Escalante says that: "you think I want to do this, Japanese pay me to do this, they are tired of making everything, they want you guys to pull your own way, so they can go and take vacation." so it could be said that getting to better America and beating all of the world powers of that time, is one of the most self-motivations of him. So they got a wonderful result. The Educational Testing Service questions the success of the students, suggests the students cheated. Escalante defends his students but The Educational Testing Service did not accept the defenses and the only option is to retake the test. They have just one day to prepare. Escalante collect his students one more time and they prepare for second test. The second test is held and the same results is obtained. In this time, the representatives of the Educational Testing Service were present and the test was confirmed by them. Escalante is succeeded and in final scene, he is walking to the exit corridor that is shining. He step down to proof of the success of other part of American society. It could be men traveling to the moon! Edward James Olmos portrayed different characters as well as Escalante in his playing history. He is originally Mexican, he is also served as an ambassador for UNICEF and in his life he really emphasizes the role and value of education, the risks of gang life. He received an Academy Award nomination for playing as Best Actor in a Leading Role of Stand and Deliver. Unlike the simple story and normal play of leading and supporting roles, the trump card of this film was its music. Craig Safan composed one of his best music for the film. After three decades, his music has been used in different TV programs and attractive for audiences. In critical viewpoint, it need to be mentioned that this music is not fitted with this film. It was beyond the film of Stand and Deliver. Camera working and special effects of this film was so simple without any complexity. It made audience to feel just looking into a memorial book of a math teacher. He entered a school and discuss with other teachers, and he observed some problems among his students. He tried to help those students using new methods. His angry and happiness was so simple. Beside all of this it has to be noticed that the movie won 11 Awards and has nominations for 7 more. Finally, it could be mentioned that Menéndez introduce an American society as a capable, hopeful and with perseverance by narrating a simple story as well as increasing the morale and confidence of American audience. This society is not afraid of blames and in way of getting successful; they are ready to accept any difficulties. This definition can guarantee any society against his enemies. Menéndez give a self – confidence to his people and make them ready for cold war. In a war that science and knowledge seems to be meaningful tools, Menéndez could offer a simple pattern of achieving this goal in 1988 before ending the cold war.

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Lee Eisenberg

The frequent attacks on teachers by anti-public education ideologues make Ramon Menendez's "Stand and Deliver" all the more important. Edward James Olmos plays Jaime Escalante, who became a math teacher in an east LA high school. The students were viewed as lost causes, but Escalante refused to give up on them. In addition to showing what Escalante himself set out to accomplish, the movie makes the point that teachers do their best to teach, but are often put in nearly impossible settings. Indeed, opinions of students are often formed by their race, as Escalante realizes with the investigations.But the point is that "Stand and Deliver" is a real inspiration. It does just what the title says! Everyone should see it.

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