Review Text (Movie)

Front of the Class Movie Review

Written by: Yuri Azirovi

Front of the Class is a 2008 American drama movie based on true story of Brad Cohen who has Tourette Syndrome.  Brad Cohen is also the author of the book Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had. The script was adapted from the book by Tom Rickman and the movie was directed by Peter Werner. Andrew Gottlieb as the producer worked together with McGee Productions, the famous Company Production in the United States. Front of the Class’s movie which use American English, was made in Shreveport, Louisiana. Furthermore, this movie became great because of David Beatty who edited it. This movie was made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie that starring by newcomer James Wolk—a 2007 University of Michigan graduate—and featuring Treat Williams and Patricia Heaton as Cohen's parents; the movie aired on CBS on December 7, 2008 with running time 95 minutes.

When Brad Cohen was twelve years old, his parents got divorced. Thus, he lives in Missouri with his mother, Ellen, and younger brother, Jeff. Brad almost always gets a problem with his father and the teachers at school because of his strange voices. Brad’s mother searches out to the library and comes across Tourette syndrome (TS) in a medical book. She shows this to the psychiatrist, who agrees with the diagnosis, and says that there is no cure. From then on, Brad aspires to become successful and to never be like the other Tourette syndrome.

Time passed away, now Brad Cohen is an adult who lives with his house mate, Ron, in Georgia. Brad is looking for work as an elementary school teacher. He is turned down after many interviews because of his TS. He finally gets an interview where the staff are accepting and they give him the job. On his first day, Brad explains his TS to the children. He helps Thomas with reading and makes an impression on Heather, a girl with terminal cancer. One student's father pulls her out of Brad's class as he fears Brad will distract her.

Brad meets Nancy on an online dating site and invites her over for Thanksgiving back at his mother’s house, where he tells Nancy he loves her, and the feeling is reciprocated. He confides in Ellen his concern that Nancy will get fed up of his tics, but she reassures him that he mustn't let his TS get in the way.

An observer at the school assesses Brad's teaching, and the head teacher announces that Brad has been chosen to receive the Teacher of the Year award, which he accepts his award in front his family, friends and students. The ending titles tell that Brad got his Master's degree; he dressed up as Homer, the Atlanta Braves mascot; he married Nancy in 2006; and photographs of the real Brad Cohen teaching his class are shown.

              Front of the Class is a perfect set movie. In this movie, I did not find any weakness. This movie is so remarkable which give us new motivation and spirit. It also reminds us to thankful to the God that has given us everything.

In short, this story talked about a man who has hard effort to be success even though he has Tourette Syndrome. He had terrible experiences when he was in Elementary School where the teachers never care of him because his tics and strange voices. This movie is very touching our soul when we watched it. The tears will fall down when we see his effort to be a teacher with all of his weakness. I do recommend this movie for all of you who have a dream to be success. I guarantee it that you will have a new spirit to reach you dream when you watch this movie.