Overall Rating: Score: 8.3/10
Grade: A-
Family-Friendliness Scale: Level 4 (Great)
Kids ages 9+
If you can’t beat the system, change it.
Inspired by actual events, single mother Maggie Fitzpatrick (Maggie Gyllenhaal) is working two jobs and trying to provide for her 8-year old daughter Malia. Unfortunately, her money only allows Malia to attend John Adams Elementary, a poorly-owned school in the poorest section of Pittsburgh, PA, where students like Malia can’t read. Jamie, upon finding out her daughter’s inability to read, she decides to try and find another school. But when she is unsuccessful, she teams up with a teacher named Nona Alberts (Viola Davis) and they start up a rally to try and take over the school.
Positive Notes
Won’t Back Down features a strong message on selfless devotion. Jamie and Nona both are loving mothers and do everything in their ability to help their kids. In the darkest of times, they are willing to stand up for their children and for what they believe is right. At first, Malia is enraged at her Mom and thinks all she’s doing is causing her daughter to do worse. But through the hearing of a petition, Jamie finally reconnects with her daughter, and vice versa. Nona tells us, “my mother used to say, what are you going to do with your one and only life?” That quote is a nice reminder how we all need to make the most of opportunities in life. The movie also points out that there are no shortcuts to success, and that hard work and determination are needed if you want to reach your goals.
The movie is also brilliantly acted, with Gyllenhaal, Davis, Holly Hunter, Rosie Perez, and Ving Rhames all doing a fabulous job with their roles. The story is well-written and has a great ending (but I'm not spoiling it).
Negative Notes
A half-dozen mild profanities (two a-words, and one use each of b----rd, the d-word and p-word), and we hear “screw(ed)”, “jeez”, “sucks”, “scumbag” and one misuse of God’s name. Jamie wears revealing outfits at times, and makes a suggestive comment or two. A few scenes revolve around Jamie’s job as a bartender, in which characters drink and make references to drinking. Misunderstood, Malia and Cody act disrespectful to their mothers (but later change their attitudes). A kid ruins Malia's backpack.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Its’ a bit of a shame that Won’t Back Down has failed to find an audience in theaters, because it has a similar true story-based angle to recent live-action films such as Big Miracle, Soul Surfer and Dolphin Tale. And despite not seeming like its’ a family movie, it actually is clean enough that it just about successfully classifies as one.
Content concerns are actually quite limited for a mainstream, live-action movie. And while we can't ignore the bits of language, drinking and melodramatic undertones, we also can’t ignore the movie's strong lessons on parental devotion, determination, and making the most of opportunities in life. Plus, it gives us an emotional and authentic look at the condition of majority of today’s public schools, a system desperately in need of change.
The movie has drawn quite a bit of controversy for its’ anti-union premise and message. But, if anything, the activism doesn’t quite feel heavy-handed. Its’ more used to help raise awareness for how education needs to change, rather than use most of its’ two-hour running time to point out all of the supposed adversary’s faults (as they do credit where they have succeeded as well).
Its' not for families with younger children, but Won't Back Down's heartwarming story/messages and authentic, down-to-earth tone make it a great movie worth watching.
Content concerns are actually quite limited for a mainstream, live-action movie. And while we can't ignore the bits of language, drinking and melodramatic undertones, we also can’t ignore the movie's strong lessons on parental devotion, determination, and making the most of opportunities in life. Plus, it gives us an emotional and authentic look at the condition of majority of today’s public schools, a system desperately in need of change.
The movie has drawn quite a bit of controversy for its’ anti-union premise and message. But, if anything, the activism doesn’t quite feel heavy-handed. Its’ more used to help raise awareness for how education needs to change, rather than use most of its’ two-hour running time to point out all of the supposed adversary’s faults (as they do credit where they have succeeded as well).
Its' not for families with younger children, but Won't Back Down's heartwarming story/messages and authentic, down-to-earth tone make it a great movie worth watching.
