Rating: 
Summary: "What good is Mozart gonna do a bunch of people . . . "
Review: ". . . who can't go out and get a job?" Thus sprach Joe Clark. Well, OK, but last time I checked, high school is not trade school. One of the aims of public schools is to broaden the minds of its pupils. But fascist principal Joe Clark doesn't have time for any of that. He must get those kids' test scores up to a 70% average. What firing the music teacher has to do with achieving that goal is unclear. Here's a lady preparing her students for a Mozart recital at Lincoln Center -- arguably, the single thing that Eastside High can be proud of. (Before Clark finally cleans the place up with his bullhorn and baseball bat.) Clark's response? Fire the b---h. And we're supposed to ROOT for this man! The scene is not played to show us that Clark is going too far; on the contrary! The music teacher is WRONG! Then we're supposed to laugh when she threatens the bully with a lawsuit. (Interestingly, the movie doesn't follow this particular story-thread; doubtless her suit was successful in real life.) Oh sure, Clark saves the school from extinction; but one wonders if a school that dismisses Mozart as "useless" is worth saving, anyway. ITT Tech, Novell certification, beauticians' school, here we come! -- I give *Lean on Me* a 2nd star for the sake of Morgan Freeman, who is supremely entertaining in the role of the real-life egomaniac Joe Clark. It's unfortunate that the writers give him speeches instead of character development. Let's face it: the role demands little more than nonstop bellowing. It's a measure of Freeman's talent that we don't mind all that much.
Rating: 
Summary: Perseverance and Determination
Review: "Lean on Me" is one entertaining movie, and Morgan Freeman is sensational in it. In fact, if he hadn't made another movie that year called "Driving Miss Daisy," he probably would have gotten an Oscar nomination for this. That said, I have to say the film has gotten the traditional Hollywood biographical treatment, which is to say credibility and plot coherence take a backseat to uplifting entertainment. The final score: for entertainment value, give "Lean on Me" *****; however, it only ranks a * on the credibility scale. The plot has been regurgitated enough by previous reviewers, and several of the more honest reviews have been incisive and accurate in pointing out the flaws in the plot. I, too, had a hard time with the chaining and locking of the school doors; this act is such a flagrant violation of the fire code it is laughable and puts the safety of hundreds of students at risk. Also, the speech Clark gives where he blames the faculty for the failure of the students (in front of the student body, no less) is offensive and disrespectful and totally ignores a more important problem altogether: the total unwillingness of many parents to take responsibility for their failings as parents and for the acts of their children. And I truly doubt Clark could get by with expelling three hundred students and face the wrath of a small group of angry parents led by what can only be described as a cruel stereotype: the loud-mouthed, trouble-making, liberal-minded, white and authority-hating ghetto mother, played by the late, wonderful character actress Lynne Thigpen. (Even she struggles with this dreadful role.) And the entire student body rallying to Clark's defense when his irresponsible actions finally catch up with him? Laughable, to say the least. But I have to disagree with the reviewer who characterized the story as a "liberalization" of what really happened. If anything, Clark's tough-love approach to running the school is extremely conservative in nature, and many of his educational tactics are reminiscent of G.W. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" educational programs, which is the main reason Thigpen and the other parents fight him as hard as they do. But as I said up front, the film is definitely entertaining if it isn't taken too seriously. Director John G. Avildsen approaches the material in the typical crowd-pleasing, underdogs-win-in-the-end-so-let's-have-a-good-cry manner, which is effective until fifteen minutes after the film is over and you kick yourself in the butt for being manipulated. And the supporting cast is stellar, including Robert Guillaume, Beverly Todd (as the beleagured vice principle) and Michael Beach. And the wonderful Regina King has a touching two-scene cameo as a depressed, unemployed mother who no longer feels worthy of her daughter's love. But this is Freeman's show and his incredible performance dominates the proceedings. No matter how ridiculous his actions, no matter how over-the-top his character travels, (picking up a baseball bat and declaring to the press: "They call me "Crazy Joe" now they can call me Batman!") he makes Clark believable and manages to pull back and reflect on his own shortcomings and accept criticism at just the right time to keep the character from becoming a total egomaniac. He is sensational, and "Lean on Me" was one of several consecutive films (including "Street Smart," "Clean and Sober," "Driving Miss Daisy," and "Glory") in the late '80's that made him one of the most unlikely superstars in cinema history. Believe me, you'll love "Lean on Me." Just don't be surprised if you end up hating yourself for it.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertainment value *****: Credibility *
Review: "Lean on Me" is one entertaining movie, and Morgan Freeman is sensational in it. In fact, if he hadn't made another movie that year called "Driving Miss Daisy," he probably would have gotten an Oscar nomination for this. That said, I have to say the film has gotten the traditional Hollywood biographical treatment, which is to say credibility and plot coherence take a backseat to uplifting entertainment. The final score: for entertainment value, give "Lean on Me" *****; however, it only ranks a * on the credibility scale. The plot has been regurgitated enough by previous reviewers, and several of the more honest reviews have been incisive and accurate in pointing out the flaws in the plot. I, too, had a hard time with the chaining and locking of the school doors; this act is such a flagrant violation of the fire code it is laughable and puts the safety of hundreds of students at risk. Also, the speech Clark gives where he blames the faculty for the failure of the students (in front of the student body, no less) is offensive and disrespectful and totally ignores a more important problem altogether: the total unwillingness of many parents to take responsibility for their failings as parents and for the acts of their children. And I truly doubt Clark could get by with expelling three hundred students and face the wrath of a small group of angry parents led by what can only be described as a cruel stereotype: the loud-mouthed, trouble-making, liberal-minded, white and authority-hating ghetto mother, played by the late, wonderful character actress Lynne Thigpen. (Even she struggles with this dreadful role.) And the entire student body rallying to Clark's defense when his irresponsible actions finally catch up with him? Laughable, to say the least. But I have to disagree with the reviewer who characterized the story as a "liberalization" of what really happened. If anything, Clark's tough-love approach to running the school is extremely conservative in nature, and many of his educational tactics are reminiscent of G.W. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" educational programs, which is the main reason Thigpen and the other parents fight him as hard as they do. But as I said up front, the film is definitely entertaining if it isn't taken too seriously. Director John G. Avildsen approaches the material in the typical crowd-pleasing, underdogs-win-in-the-end-so-let's-have-a-good-cry manner, which is effective until fifteen minutes after the film is over and you kick yourself in the butt for being manipulated. And the supporting cast is stellar, including Robert Guillaume, Beverly Todd (as the beleagured vice principle) and Michael Beach. And the wonderful Regina King has a touching two-scene cameo as a depressed, unemployed mother who no longer feels worthy of her daughter's love. But this is Freeman's show and his incredible performance dominates the proceedings. No matter how ridiculous his actions, no matter how over-the-top his character travels, (picking up a baseball bat and declaring to the press: "They call me "Crazy Joe" now they can call me Batman!") he makes Clark believable and manages to pull back and reflect on his own shortcomings and accept criticism at just the right time to keep the character from becoming a total egomaniac. He is sensational, and "Lean on Me" was one of several consecutive films (including "Street Smart," "Clean and Sober," "Driving Miss Daisy," and "Glory") in the late '80's that made him one of the most unlikely superstars in cinema history. Believe me, you'll love "Lean on Me." Just don't be surprised if you end up hating yourself for it.
Rating: 
Summary: 'Crazy Joe' goes Hollywood...
Review: '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...
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: 'Lean on Me' truly inspires its audience. Morgan Freeman triumphs in this drama turning a ghetto-style school filled with gangs, under-achievers, and drugs into a scholastic phenomenon. The bad reviews below seem pretty shallow to me. But don't trust any review, just watch the movie and decide for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: 'Lean on Me' truly inspires its audience. Morgan Freeman triumphs in this drama turning a ghetto-style school filled with gangs, under-achievers, and drugs into a scholastic phenomenon. The bad reviews below seem pretty shallow to me. But don't trust any review, just watch the movie and decide for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: A very good and uplifting film, one that can and should be seen today, how Mr. Clark never waivered from his ideas of making this school and the students succeed. A perfect example of one person with the help of his administration could do to turn something negative into something positive. A lesson all of us can benefit from. An excellent film with an excellent cast, schools should show this film.
Rating:
Summary: 9 out of 10
Review: Absolutely beautiful picture. Very uplifting acting by Morgan Freeman. Actually, to tell you the truth, Morgan's role as Joe Clark should have been on the AFI Top 50 heroes. Oh well...politics through AFI have left me angry. Also, my observation is that Morgan should have been nominated for Academy Award for best actor. He can't win it because he can't defeat Daniel Day Lewis's work in My Left Foot, no way or how. Morgan also in the film achieved a breakthrough and had himself lept to stardom through better and more powerful films such as Driving Miss Daisy and Shawshank Redemption. There is no denying the fact that Morgan Freeman has claimed himself as one of the most great African American actors ever to appear on a silver screen. This movie is definitely a Rocky type movie, ironically made by John G Avildson who also made Rocky. Well done and high praise for allowing this movie to be produced and show others that people can change, no matter how hopeless the situation looks.
Rating:
Summary: A pure delight of a movie
Review: Although not one of his best movies, but one of his best performances. Of course, I speak of Morgan Freeman. A movie veteran who never gives a poor performance. Starts out with brutal honesty of how students can be and turns out to be a feel good movie that keeps you cheering for the main students and their principal. Yes, director Alvidsen has taken this approach before, but isn't the old saying, if it ain't broke don't fix it? GRADE: B+
Rating:
Summary: Fact and Fantasy, Hollywood Style
Review: Amazon does not explain why this movie is an "essential video." For the message, for the history, or for the film itself? I believe this movie fails in each category. The real story of Joe Clark and his tenure at Eastside High School is remarkable and compelling enough on its own, and any effort to reshape it, even for noble social reasons, does harm to Joe Clark as well as to the history and the message. Mythologizing Joe Clark doesn't help anybody, and it doesn't make a good movie, either. The movie begins by portraying Joe Clark as a gifted and exciting teacher, who ends up leaving due to his inability to compromise his integrity. Twenty years later he is given the opportunity to return to the school as its principal. The first day on the job, he informs the school staff that they are miserable failures as educators. He then expels the entire senior class only because it is too late to save them. The entire movie is like that, in which Joe Clark moves from one dramatic scene to another. While there is some connection between the movie and reality, the overall effect is more misleading than informative. Just as damaging is what the movie leaves out. For example, in the movie, no reference is given to the important fact that Joe Clark was a drill sergeant in the Army. That background explains a lot about Joe Clark's philosophy and attitudes about discipline and respect. I suspect the movie left it out because it didn't fit in well with the "liberal" vision of education. The movie never attempts to show what happens to the hundreds of kids who are expelled. The movie shows the evil "conservative" forces plotting against Joe Clark; for example, presenting the concerns about chaining the doors as a political rather than a safety issue. The movie takes too many liberties in trying to cast Joe Clark in a liberal light and as a children's crusader. There is no doubt about Joe Clark's integrity, and no doubt about the value of discipline, responsibility, effort, and commitment, but this movie suffers from an ironic lack of integrity and discipline. If you are truly interested in Joe Clark, you had better look to more factual accounts. I don't agree with many of Joe Clark's methods. His primary method seems to be, "Speak loudly and carry a big stick." But I do admire his integrity and commitment.
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