187

Samuel L. Jackson, Kelly Rowan, John Heard

Warner Bros.; Directed by Kevin Reynolds

Rated R; 119 minutes; 1997

In this dramatic thriller, Samuel L. Jackson stars as a committed inner city high school teacher who is attacked by a student for giving him a failing grade. A year later, he returns to substitute teach at a high school in the San Fernando Valley. Though his wounds have long since scarred over, the incident has changed him in ways he himself doesn’t fully perceive or understand. While he connects with some misguided pupils and inspires them with personal, innovative instruction, when some of the others dare to confront him, they are surprised to find such a defiant and aggressive opponent in this unusual educator.