Johnson tells me that this never happened. In one scene, Johnson is branded a “white bread bitch” by an enraged grandparent of African American twins who have dropped out of class. In the film, Johnson pointedly takes a special interest in three particular students: reluctant gang member Raúl Sanchero (Renoly Santiago) Callie Roberts (Bruklin Harris), a young black student who gets pregnant and Emilio Ramírez (Wade Domínguez), who becomes embroiled in a fatal personal conflict with a hardened criminal acquaintance. That perpetuates this myth that only minority kids are at risk, and that white kids don’t have any problems.”Ĭonsequently, although Dangerous Minds means well, it’s notable for being one of the most egregious examples of Hollywood’s “white saviour” trope, in which a white hero(ine) will act as the truth, the light and the way for some blighted minority figure(s) (see also: Freedom Writers, The Blind Side, and this year’s Kevin Costner mush-fest McFarland USA).
COOLIO GANGSTA PARADISE MEANING MOVIE
In the movie they made it all minority kids with a token white kid here and there. “In my class, the kids were evenly mixed: black, white and Hispanic.
Some of the most obvious tinkering came with the ethnic makeup of her students. She did not, she says, attempt to teach the kids about poetry by organising a Dylan Thomas v Bob Dylan contest (one of its most famous scenes) rather, she used rap lyrics. Johnson visited the set once, and soon twigged that her story was being changed beyond recognition. “They came to my classroom, with Pfeiffer – I knew who she was, but when they introduced themselves I said: ‘So Mr Bruckheimer, have you made any movies I might have seen?’ And he said Flashdance, Sleeping With The Enemy, and I said: ‘Oh! If I’d known you were famous I’d have been more impressed.’ I was kidding, but they didn’t know what to think!” Perpetuating a myth “I think Bruckheimer and Don Simpson were insulted because I didn’t know how famous they were,” she says. Johnson, who describes herself as “outspoken”, had no interest in kowtowing to Hollywood royalty. I said: ‘I know you didn’t, therefore I won’t rip your lips off – although I have been trained to do that!’” I think it was Jerry Bruckheimer who said: ‘Michelle probably won’t play it because she’s too pretty to be a teacher. Who do you think should play you?’ I said: ‘Oh, I don’t know… Bette Midler?’ Then they told me that Michelle Pfeiffer read it and wanted to do it. She recalls the project’s genesis with a combination of fondness and bemusement: “They called me and said: ‘We are going to make a movie. It could even afford to leave an entire romantic subplot between Pfeiffer and then-Hollywood heartthrob Andy Garcia on the cutting room floor.ĭangerous Minds was based on the autobiographical 1992 book My Posse Don’t Do Homework by US Marine-turned-teacher LouAnne Johnson, who is now in her 60s and still teaching.
Coolio's real name is Artis Leon Ivey, Jr.Reviews were generally poor (“stereotypical, predictable and simplified to the point of meaninglessness”, complained the Los Angeles Times “sentimental and often strains credibility”, said Variety) but they didn’t matter: the film’s lead performance – Pfeiffer floats through the film without dislodging a single honeyed, shimmering lock – and triumph-over-adversity narrative struck a chord with audiences nationwide. Grammy-winning rapper Coolio was charged on Thursday with unlawful firearm possession stemming from a handgun that prosecutors said was found in his backpack during a baggage screening at Los Angeles international airport last month.Ĭoolio net worth: Coolio is an American rapper and actor who has a net worth of $100,000. a year later, he worked various odd jobs - including security at Los Angeles International Airport - while getting his rap career back on track.Ĭoolio faces three years in prison after being arrested on gun charges. HE CAN COME TO COMPTON WITH OUT WORRY ABOUT BEING EXTORTED.Īlso Know, was Coolio a fireman? Coolio entered rehab and straightened himself out by taking a job as a firefighter in the forests of northern California. He was affiliated with some Compton Mona Park Crips gang members, but was never formally accepted into the gang.