Customer Reviews

Lean on Me (Snap Case Packaging)

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

`Lean On Me' has become one of my favorite inspirational movies involving real people and events, despite the simplified and sometimes sappy-sickly-sweet Hollywood `feel-good' treatment it's been given, along with a happy ending that ties everything up a bit too neat and nice. The forces trying to stop Joe Clark's straightforward efforts to turn Eastside High School around has been simplified for the movie, basically involving just a disgruntled parent and the city mayor. Even the many heated arguments between Clark and his faculty & superiors are less than sophisticated in wording and tone. None the less, I've always loved Morgan Freeman's performance of Clark.

Clark's expulsion of the most delinquent students was a pretty neat scene, and was something of a surprise when I first saw it. Anyone who'd attempt that nowadays would probably get sued penniless. And the rooftop scene where he tells expelled crackhead student Thomas Sams to just jump off the roof of the school and kill himself swiftly rather than slowly by smoking crack is one of my fave film moments, and the best 'tough love' moment in movie history: "It kills your brain cells, son, it kills your brain cells!"

And as the school improves, Clark does as well. In the movie you see him learning and adapting alongside the students & faculty. Even with his best efforts, he discovers that can't turn things around by himself. At first, his gruff behavior and strongarm approaches to solving problems makes most of the teachers reluctant to help him out. But they learn to adapt to Clark, and he learns to soften his methods a bit, and even gains a sense of humor.

Sadly, the real Joe Clark, to a small degree, has `gone Hollywood'. His big gig nowadays is working the lecture circuit, as a motivational speaker. He's even written a book about what to do to save America's public schools. I've heard some of his speeches, and found them rather compelling, but I feel his talents and drive are best suited for running a school in need of a decisive, no-nonsense leader who gets things done.

`Late...

The movie, Lean On Me, focuses on the vigorous efforts of one man, Joe Clark, to clean up Eastside High School and make it a safe enviroment conducive to learning. The Joe Clark, portrayed by Morgan Freeman in the movie, began his task with a domineering, aggressive manner that held the ideal that the positive outweighs the negative. With a transactional leadership quality, Clark immediately gains control of the schoolthrough "challenging the process" as he reprimands the school's faculty for the current state of the school. His next step was to expell students deemed as undesirable trouble makers. Altogether, 300 students were told that they were no longer welcome at Eastside High School. The antagonist in the movie is a mother of one of the expelled students who immediately begins plotting Clark's demise, and continues to do so throughout the movie. While reforming the school and working to raise student test scores, Joe Clark not only transforms the school for the better, but also goes through a personal reformation as he learns to show appreciation for those working with him to accomplish a shared vision.

There's much to learn hear about leadership, management, and discipline. All of which seem to be in short supply in many of our public schools. But that may be more of a result of lethargic school boards rather than faculty. Morgan Freeman is transformed into Joe Clark, the brash, hard nosed, take no prisoners principal of the all too real East Side High. His principles are straight forward. 1) Discipline. No cigarettes, weapons, mouthing off, grafitti, drugs, tardiness. 2) Personal responsibility for both teacher and student alike 3) Pride in yourself, your race, your community, and your institution. 4) Hard work. And perhaps most importantly 5) the value of an education to affect your opportunities in life.

Joe Clark listens, encourages, chastises, and directs students and faculty. And perhaps most importantly he is accessible. Walking the hallways, attending classes. Although his measures may have been at times extreme and not in keeping with popular sentiment you could not argue with his results.

The film works and I definitely rate it as a purchase just not necessarily a classic.

Paul Newman once said 'Give an actor a good script and he'll move the world'. Well thats what Morgan Freeman did. His portrayl of principal Joe Clark is astonishing. He obviously studied Clark very very closely....its a commmand performance.


So if you want to see Freeman in one of his best movies, well this is it. A must see!!!

I grew up in the same neighborhood Eastside HS is in, and several friends of mine were students there. I was about 12 when I first saw the movie. While some of his character shifts in the film made me wonder if Clark was good or weird or good again, it didnt matter too much. Morgan Freeman did an incredible job in this movie. (The Real Dr. Napier and others make cameo appearences) Although much of the events and intensity was over-hyped Hollywood style for the film (the violence depicted wasn't That bad in real life, the mayor wasn't the cartoon character you saw, all the HS kids rallying for his release?! hahah get real),..the Overall message of self-worth, and discipline hit the nail on the head and was moving to say the least. The film itself was a little too cliche, and kinda corny in some areas.. but I liked it.

If you are a Morgan Freeman fan, this is a great movie. As always Morgan Freeman is excellent in the role of Joe Clark. Based on a true story of a man who was willing to do whatever it takes to make something great happen.

This movie, when it first came out in the late '80s, I felt I had to see. I specifically recall the news stories of "Crazy" Joe Clark carrying around a bat in the Eastside HS hallways to keep students in line and the locking of the fire exit doors to protect the kids. Morgan Freeman was very believable as Clark and Robert Guillaume (of "Soap" and "Benson" fame) as the school superintendent was equally as good. I especially loved the scenes where the two of these actors would get into heated arguments, but because they were friends, the arguments were never taken personally. Even though some may accuse this film of being extreme in handling school violence and failing students, it's a movie all teachers and principals should see. In the school system today, such tactics as Joe Clark used are necessary! Great film!

Morgan Freeman's role in "Lean on Me" is typical of the kind of roles he's particularly good at: "My way or the highway." He nearly sinks his own efforts to turn around a failing school by acting as if he ALONE is the only one that can get the job done. This is a lesson for every administrator out there: "Lean on" Your Staff/Faculty. Give your staff and faculty the respect they are entitled to and they will work for you and the students much better than if you brow beat them and circumvent their authority as professional educators. It is only when Freeman's character learns this that things begin to go his well-intentioned way.

NOTE: This outstanding film is now packaged with another outstanding film on education, Stand and Deliver/Lean on Me. These films are worthy of a place in your DVD collection.

After catching Lean on Me on cable recently I decided to purchase my own DVD copy of this 1989 movie. It's a movie devoted to those who love kids and educate them day in and day out. I am so happy there is a movie that teaches through tough love you can succeed in everyday living. This is what Crazy Joe (Morgan Freeman) inspired in this film. The supporting cast is first rate. Despite some of the language in this I liked everything about it. If you want to see something so powerful, go out and watch Lean on Me! You won't regret it!!

Morgan Freeman plays an excellent role as principal Joe Clark of a crippling New Jersey high school. The school was falling apart because of neglect from the teachers, parents, community, and state government. Joe Clark stormed in and fixed all that with old-fashioned techniques by getting everyone involved in the school and its students. Clark didn't back down despite the powers that be that were against him. The supporting roles from Robert Guillaume and the late Lynne Thigpen helped make the movie a good watch.