Higher Learning (1995)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

John Singleton

Writer (WGA):

John Singleton (written by)

Release Date:

11 January 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

Question The Knowledge

Plot:

People from all different walks of life, encounter racial tension, rape, responsibility, and the meaning of an education on a university campus.

Plot Keywords:

College | Racism | Scholarship | African American | Skinhead

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Nov. 13	1:00 PM	BET
Sat. Nov. 21	10:00 PM	BET

Cast

Omar Epps	...	Malik Williams
Kristy Swanson	...	Kristen Connor
Michael Rapaport	...	Remy
Jennifer Connelly	...	Taryn
Ice Cube	...	Fudge
Jason Wiles	...	Wayne
Tyra Banks	...	Deja
Cole Hauser	...	Scott Moss
Laurence Fishburne	...	Professor Maurice Phipps
Bradford English	...	Officer Bradley
Regina King	...	Monet
Busta Rhymes	...	Dreads (as Busta Rhymez)
Jay R. Ferguson	...	Billy (as Jay Ferguson)
Andrew Bryniarski	...	Knocko
Trevor St. John	...	James

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:18A (Ontario) | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Originally John Singleton wanted 'Leonard DiCaprio' to play Remy, while 'Michael Rappaport' was originally going to play Scott Moss. DiCaprio was cast, but unable to be in the film because of a scheduling conflict with _Quick and The Dead, The (1995)_. So Singleton had Rappaport play Remy once Hauser was cast.

Goofs:

Plot holes: Though Jennifer Connelly's character is central in the film, she is never shown or mentioned again after being seen running during the sniper attack.

Quotes:

Professor Phipps: One's primary purpose at university level is to learn how to think.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "20 to 1: Sizzling Superstars (#8.15)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

SWAMP SONG

Well-Rounded View of Extreme Points of View

The film's design seems to be the alpha and omega of some of the major issues in this country (U.S.). We see relationships all over at the university setting for the film. Befittingly, the obvious of student v.s. teacher is present. But what the film adds to its value is its other relationships: male v.s. female, white v.s. black, and the individual v.s. society. But most important of all and in direct relation to all of the other relationships is the individual v.s. himself.

I was amazed at how bilateral a point of view the director gave to showing the race relations on campus. Most films typically show the injustices of one side while showing the suffering of the other. This film showed the injustices and suffering of both sides. It did not attempt to show how either was right, although I would say the skin heads were shown a much crueler and vindictive (quite obvious towards the end). The film also discusses sex and rape. It is ironically this injustice that in some ways brings the two races together, for a time. Lawrence Fishburne does an over-the-top performance as the sagacious Profesor Phipps. He crumbles the idea of race favortism and instead shows the parallelism of the lazy and down-trodden with the industrious and positive. Other stars that make this film are Omar Epps, Ice Cube, and Jennifer Connelly. Michael Rapaport gives an excellent portrayal of a confused youth with misplaced anger who is looking for acceptance. Tyra Banks make her film debut and proves supermodels can act.

Higher Learning gets its name in showing college as more than going to class and getting a piece of paper. In fact, I would say the film is almost a satire in showing students interactions with each other, rather than some dry book, as the real education at a university. It is a life-learning process, not a textual one. I think you'll find "Higher Learning" is apropos to the important issues at many universities and even life in general. 8/10