Rent Dangerous Minds (1995)

Getting through to youngsters who at first don't want to listen - Dangerous Minds review by PT

Michelle Pfeiffer plays an ex marine who takes on her toughest challenge, teaching rebellious inner city kids English. The kids have so far driven one teacher to a nervous breakdown and the other quit before meeting the same fate. On her first day she turns up all prim and proper, like she's teaching at Eton. Five minutes of abuse and she walks out on the verge of quitting. Of course she digs in and returns next day in jeans and tailors her teaching to get the kids attention. Strangely she uses Bob Dylan's lyrics as the poetry to study, I say strangely as this is based on a true story and Bob just been given the Nobel prize for literature.

She starts earning some respect with her unusual methods, like throwing out candy bars to right answers and rewarding good work with a trip to the fairground.

There are some knock backs along the way but the teacher starts to spark an interest , and the intellect of these so called problem kids start to shine through.

Pfeiffer who is actually acting in a class here, is always a class act, making you like her for her compassion shown to the kids. Equally you get to care for the kids and want to see them reach their potential. Top marks.