Higher Learning (1995)

Kristy Swanson Omar Epps and Michael Rapaport star as first-term freshmen who get a crash course in diversity identity and sexuality in writer/director John Singleton's bold look at contemporary college life. Also starring Laurence Fishburne Ice Cube Busta Rhymes Jennifer Connelly and Tyra Banks.System Requirements:Running Time: 127 minutesFormat: UMD Genre: DRAMA/URBAN LIFE Rating: R UPC: 043396259607 Manufacturer No: 25960 Product Description

When Singleton was king

Higher Learning came and went in theaters due to its nature and content. Movies that focus on issues of race will always get mixed reviews. So the masses either slept on it or allowed WASP-owned publications like Jive...oops I meant Vibe ragazine and countless other ragazines to persuade their opinions. So it fell on deaf ears and John Singleton was forced to make MTV-style fodder like 2 Fast 2 Furious, Baby Boy and Illegal Tender. Had this movie been accepted with all its flaws, I believe that Singleton would have still made movies with substance.

Higher Learning is centered around 3 people: Kristen(Kristy Swanson), Malik Williams(Omar Epps) and Remy(Michael Rapaport). Kristen has trouble fitting in and after getting raped she befriends an female activist(played by Jennifer Connelly) and joins her movement. Malik Williams is a track star that has to deal with a stern professor named Maurice Phipps(Laurence Fishburne) and a track coach that has no time for tardiness from Malik. He has problems in class as well as problems on the track and he befriends Fudge(Ice Cube) as well as an attractive female track runner named Deja(Tyra Banks). Remy is from Idaho and has problems adjusting to college life. He ends up making friends with skinheads whose wrongheaded advice and racial bias change him for the worst.

Higher Learning has its flaws: the pacing is meandering, Scott's(the leader of the skinheads in this movie) goons are unconvincing and Busta Rhymes is so out of place in this movie that you unintentionally laugh at him when he is on screen. Omar Epps does a good job as the well-intentioned but somewhat naive Malik. Michael Rapaport does as well as the confused Remy. Fudge is probably Ice Cube's best performance on screen. He dropped jewels in this movie that the sheep that watched it have yet to pick up. Laurence Fishburne fared well as Professor Phipps. Tyra Banks did okay as Deja even though Tyra is not known for her acting abilities. I thought it was a good attempt at showing a subject that people would rather dodge than face head on(Racism). While not perfect, Higher Learning is the last movie of substance that John Singleton made before he started to pander to the MTV crowd. The fact that Baby Boy was accepted more than Higher Learning is a reason not to take these snooty critics seriously. This movie is recommended to people that like movies that deal with serious issues and can handle them. To anybody else why waste your time? December 2, 2008

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