Rating: 
Summary: An independent film on the aftermath of a school shooting
Review:
I do not know if I have ever seen a film that offered a series of stunning revelations at the climax and then threw away the big finish with pair of directing theatrics totally out of place in the two-hour movie I had just seen. But even those mistakes do not stop "Home Room" from being a compelling film.
"Home Room" is about the aftermath of a shooting at a high school in a small town. Writer-Director Paul F. Ryan begins his film at the moment when the shooting is over and the first person we see is the tactical officer (Harper Johnston) who had to shoot the teenage boy inside the classroom. When Detective Martin Van Zandt (Victor Garber of "Alias") enters the room there the bodies of the shooter and his dead classmates, along with one living person, a girl standing in the corner.
Alicia Browning (Busy Philipps of "Dawson's Creek") is your typical Goth girl, but after being grilled by the police she goes home and turns herself blonde. Meanwhile, Van Zandt is ordered by his superior to find somebody to be held accountable for this tragedy. The shooter is dead and he killed his parents, from whom he got his gun, but the community is outraged and demands somebody be brought to justice. When it turns out that the shooter called Alicia the night before and talked for an hour, she becomes the prime suspect.
All Alicia wants to do is to graduate from high school and get out of town as quickly as possible. She has already missed a year of school, further alienating her from her classmates. When she goes to school to study for final exams she discovers it is closed, and when Principal Robbins (James Pickens, Jr.) learns she is spending her time smoking on the roof of her house, he forces Alicia to look in on Deanna Cartwright (Erika Christensen of "Traffic"), who is recovering from both a head wound and the trauma of being shot at the local hospital. The two have never talked before and Alicia dismisses Deanna, at one point calling her a girl who would see the silver lining in a mushroom cloud.
Obviously we have seen countless films where two people who have nothing in common forged a friendship, however unlikely and tenuous. But in "Home Room" that is only the framework for dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic experience. There are depths to both characters to be explored and this film takes its time in doing so. All of the dramatic threads come together in a scene that takes us back to where we started and examines from a different perspective what we think we know about what happened and these characters. You might see one of the surprises that comes in this climatic scene, but I do not think anybody is going to see all of them coming.
But then we are treated to a montage of the teenagers offering explanations as to "why" that looks like a public service announcement by the government and then goes right into a music video as Sarah McLachlan's "Sweet Surrender" provides a musical benediction to the final silent scene between Deanna and Alicia. I swear, it was like somebody else came in and directed the final minutes of the movie. From a dramatic narrative "Home Room" suddenly becomes a film that wants to discuss big issues out in the real world and the shift is just too abrupt and too heavy handed.
"Home Room" comes down to the performances of Philipps and Christensen, who both do a good job of getting beyond the stereotypical characters to show the traumatic aftermath of what they have been through, even as we are learning more about those traumas. I am sure there are serious discussions to be had over the question of violence and shootings in schools, and watching this film may well engender them. But I still think the human drama here stands on it's own, despite the problematic ending.
Rating: 
Summary: Erika Christensen is Beautiful (2003 AD)
Review: A very emotional film. Great acting performances
by Ms.Erika Christensen, and Ms.Busy Phillips.
The story is interesting, and
the BackGround Music by Michael Shapiro is electric/
touching/gives it the feel that the movie needs to give it
more life. One will also hear tunes from Sarah McLaughlin
and the GoGo's(and eighties band).
Erika Christensen looks sweet(or attractive) wearing patient hospital clothing, and she also has this Razor Buzz hair cut on her rightside of her head, which looks very beautiful.
Home Room is recommended. Why? The story feels real, and it
is about a post Columbine situation. This movie is two hours
long, but it is worth, and the ending is beautiful.
This is a short review, but i also posted a review for this film
titled, "Home Room" for the VHS section, so please check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Home Room. Erika Christensen, Great Film.
Review: Erika Christensen's performance in Home Room is really excellent.
The story is about a shooting that occurred at a high school,
in where Alicia Browning's boyfriend decides to kill six teenagers in a study hall(also known as HomeRoom), and this is where Erika's character comes into play. Alicia Browning(Busy Phillips) and Deanna Cartwright(Erika Christensen) become friends in the process, but the local police which is headed by an old police chief wants to put the blame on Alicia Browning because of she having some mysterious time off from school-in where the Police think that she was involved somehow with the shooting that took place at the high school, and is trying to hide away from the situation, but this is not so & there is more to the story as it unfolds. HomeRoom is about two hours long time wise, and the background instrumental music which was composed by Michael Shapiro really adds more feel to the movie, it blends well. This movie will also have music by the Go-Go's(in a scene in where Deanna is riding in a SUV and her parents flip thru the radio station), along with music by Sarah McLaughlin, her music will be played at the end of the movie, in the final scenes between Alicia and Deanna which will be the highlight of the movie too-the ending is really nice. This story to me felt so real. Deanna is a rich young girl who has everything a young lady wants in life(looks, driving exotic cars, being in the jet set, etc.), and Alicia is a girl who hails from a working class family(and who wears dark goth heavy metal clothing), but they both have something in common as the story advances, and it builds toward a solid friendship in the end even though the road is rocky. I think this movie should be movie of the year, but this is my opinion.Alot of teen movies out there focus on silly fake stuff, but this story is about a post Columbine situation of how students deal with life after the tragic event that has scarred them-physically and emotionally-the ones that get to live, and this is the case with the character of Deanna Cartwright( which is played by actress ERIKA CHRISTENSEN).
Home room was made in 2001 AD in where all the scenes were done in the city of Los Angeles CA USA, and this movie was released in 2003 AD in the month of September in limited release: Los Angeles, California, New York City, NY, and in Denver Colorado. Erika Christensen looks really beautiful wearing patient hospital clothing, along with having her right side of her head shaved for the part(a portion of it), but she looks very beautiful, and sexy. I think Erika is blessed with talent in where her performances are just Electric...there is so much life and chemistry in the characters that she plays/imitates, like i said it felt real. HomeRoom is recommended.
Rating:
Summary: The most phenomenal movie I've seen
Review: For me, a teen age girl still in high school who is not in the popular class this movie put everything in prospective. If the only people in this movie were other character such as Deana then the movie wouldnt have been so great.
You dont realise what it is like to be another type of person, you dont realise how greatly other poeple have dealt with lose and why they are the way that they are. But in this movie you get to see both sides of two very different poeple and realise that they arent that different at all.
I belive that this movie was made with very good intentions on how it was going to help people. I think that after the Columbine shooting adults more than anyone asked the question that the entire movie trys to answer... "why did it happen?" And the movie helps you to realise that there are so many different answers to that and even the people that comitted the shooting cant answer it.
Its a wonderful movie full of mystery, love, hate, differences, pain, lose, and friendship. Theres something in there for everyone. I dont think that anyone should go without seeing it.
Rating:
Summary: Very moving and meaningful movie
Review: I actually just watched this movie last night, I was expecting a movie more focused on the actual shooting and the shooter but it wasn't. It was focused on the strange and deepening relationship between the two main characters. This movie was rather long but you never noticed how long until it was over, I don't feel as though it dragged on at all. It really kept you hooked up to the last minute. It was a very beautifully and wonderfully made movie. I was very impressed to learn that it was an independent movie because it was done so well. The story was great the way it was told and I absolutely loved this movie. It really does change your perspective on people and you realize that someone may be mean or different but it may be for a reason--you have no idea what happens in other people's lives and this movie really makes you see that. I recommend that everyone go see this movie--if you go rent it, it's only like $4 or $5 and it's WELL worth it!
Rating: 
Summary: Boring, slow pace, cliche
Review: I don't see why this movie is highly rated. Very unlikable, simple characters, predicatble story - could have been told in 44 min tv show.
Rating:
Summary: "Hoom Room" is Outstanding!!
Review: I rented this movie solely on the fact that two of my favorite actresses, Busy Philipps and Erika Christensen, star in it. I was completely blown away at the performances the leading actors gave in "Home Room," especially that of Busy Philipps. In my opinion, Busy Philipps was definitely the best actor in this movie, but was surrounded by other great actors such as Vince Gilbert (of "Alias") and Erika Christensen ("Swimfan," "Traffic)This is perhaps the best movie I've seen in an extremely long time and I am more than satisfied that I saw it. The portrayal of young people who have experienced or are experiencing loss is perfect. The performances given by Philipps and Christensen renewed my faith in Hollywood. Lately all we see in theaters is crappy movies with less than par acting ability. However, independent films such as "Home Room" give hope to the industry and prove that there are still writers and actors out there who can give us 200% of themselves. I hope everyone gets a chance to see this film at some time in their life because it is one of the best films they will probably ever see.
Rating:
Summary: An amazing, moving tale that doesn't preach
Review: I thought this was a phenomenal movie. I'm glad the filmmakers did not try to answer the question of why the shooter appeared - in fact, you never see him nor the shooting onscreen. You only see the trauma afterwards and the pain that the characters go through as they struggle for an answer that's not there, and that's how it is in real life. Erika Christensen and Busy Phillips are just mindbogglingly good. Usually both preppie teens and Goth chicks are portrayed in a simple, one-dimensional fashion, but I've never seen a film that got under the skin of both these "types" better, and I've never seen another film that made me believe more that two girls who were seemingly so different could become so close. The catharsis at the conclusion is both believable and immensely satisfying. Yes, the police dialogue is both stilted and unreal (in fact, I think they could have taken the investigation part out altogether). Doesn't matter - the one police character who is part of the heart of the story does a great job with what he's given. If you get the DVD, don't miss the featurette. This movie was screened at Columbine after an English teacher requested it. Some of the viewers were shooting victims and they thought this movie was a very accurate portrayal of the chaos and unsatisfying groping for answers that happens in the wake of this kind of tragedy.
Rating:
Summary: Worth a buy
Review: I was drawn towards this movie because...well, first of all, I'm very inclined towards movies that have teens as the main characters...particularly teen girls...and I love movies that delve into people's psyche and this looked like (from the box) a movie that would do that, and it did this and more. The movie is well acted (Phillips stands out in my mind because of her scenes where she becomes really angry and really lashes out, and you can just FEEL it, even with the tv on mute). I haven't seen a lot of movies on school shootings, but I was very much impressed with this movie (and their ability to get so many recognizable names squeezed into the film...Jay Leno, Wal-Mart, The Bangles...must've cost a good bit for licensing)For a bit more in-dept description of the movie check the other reviews...they do a good job. Now...only two slight problems that I had with this movie, which will hardly make a difference to the average viewer, but...the cover line says something about a lesson in true evil...very misleading...gives the impression that you're about to watch something really dark, maybe a thriller, and there are scenes that are edited in a way that give the feeling of distortion, intense trauma or something that doesn't really fit with the movie (e.g. Christensen suddenly...err...flips out...and then she's talking and the dialogue doesn't fit with her actions...this is a cool effect, but it doesn't really fit the style of the film) But...this is not something that would bother a casual viewer. It's a great film
Rating:
Summary: WELL WORTH THE TIME
Review: I WASN'T SURE IF I WAS GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE. I SAW "HOSTAGE HIGH" WITH RICK SCHROEDER AND FREDDIE PRINZE JR. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND WAS EXPECTING THIS MOVIE TO BE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. BOY WAS I SURPRISED. THIS IS A WONDERFUL, EMOTIONAL, AND HONESTLY A VERY HEART-WRENCHING MOVIE STARRING TWO VERY TALENTED ACTRESSES, BUSY PHILLIPS AND ERIKA CHRISTENSEN. I REALLY DID LIKE HOSTAGE HIGH BUT I LIKED THIS MOVIE SO MUCH MORE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE I CAN SAY ABOUT "HOME ROOM" THAT THE OTHER NUMEROUS REVIEWERS HAVEN'T ALREADY SAID BUT I DO HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT. AND EVEN THOUGH IT NEVER SPECIFICALLY ANSWERS THE QUESTION "WHY DO SCHOOL SHOOTINGS OCCUR" IT DOES GIVE THE VIEWER A VERY CLOSE LOOK AT THE IMPACT THEY (THE SHOOTINGS THAT IS) HAVE ON THOSE WHO SURVIVE ONE. A VERY HUMAN STORY. IN OTHER WORDS, A MUST-SEE. 5 STARS.
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