{Movie Review} Won’t Back Down: Not Just Emotional, Empowering
September 13, 2012 in All Posts, Parenting, Sponsored Posts
I’ve been on a blogging break to try and reorganize and refresh my own life and the lives of my various blogs, so I wasn’t sure whether it was the right time to accept an invitation by Circle of Moms and Pop Sugar to a screening of Fox Studios’ movie Won’t Back Down, starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, and Holly Hunter.
I was so wrong - it was the absolute BEST timing.
Mingling with other Bay Area mom bloggers energized me about getting back into things, which was such a welcome feeling and I loved meeting these amazing women in real life.
More unexpected, though, was the way Won’t Back Down ignited a desire to improve every aspect of my own life.
*Motherhood has made me feel the importance of raising healthy, happy, educated children.
*Blogging has made me think about the different ways we can achieve this for our own children and children everywhere.
*Won’t Back Down reminded me that we, as parents or educators, have the power to change the lives of our children and each of our own lives.
My one word review: Empowering.
Won’t Back Down is the story of two mothers, Nona Alberts (Viola Davis) and Jamie Fitzpatrick (Maggie Gyllenhaal), one a teacher and one a single mom, who share the same goal: making sure their children have the best future possible.
Together they beat bureaucracy to transform their children’s failing school.
You can imagine it is an emotional story - but it’s so much more than a tear jerker. (And you can believe what I’m saying because I am not a cryer). Even though there are plenty of scenes that tugged - no heaved - at my heartstrings, there were so many more inspirational acts of tenacious devotion and ideological determination that moved me. Not just to tears, but to my own resolve to take my children’s futures and my own life into my own hands. To not stand idly by when I believe there is a better way or an open opportunity to make the most of the future - for everyone - by doing something NOW.
Part of the movie was a little lost on me, I must admit: the political part about parent-trigger laws. (Some states, including California, have a parent trigger law that allows public school parents to form a charter school, remove a failing school’s staff, or close a failing school entirely if they gather enough signatures and meet a bunch of other requirements). Since seeing the movie I’ve read a few reviews criticizing the movie’s portrayal of the union and labor issues related to parent-trigger laws, but honestly, I don’t know enough about those issues to even comment on them. During the movie, I sort of just whizzed past any of it. I’d venture to say that regardless of your stance on these issues, the movie has a message that resonates with everyone: Believe in something - whatever it is - and go for it.
So like I started out saying, this event and movie couldn’t have come at better timing. I’m so ready to come back and take charge!
What do you think? Will you heading to the movie when it comes out on September 28th?
BTW, once Won’t Back Down’s Facebook page reaches 20,000 fans, they’re giving away 500 books to schools in need!
To read more reviews of the movie Won’t Back Down from other fabulous Circle of Moms bloggers, click here.
Disclaimer: I received a free ticket to attend the screening of Won’t Back Down from Circle of Moms/Popsugar and was compensated for my time. As always, all opinions expressed are my own, as I’m sure you could tell.
Parents and friends: for more ideas, activities, and inspiration for #RaisingThinkingKids, click on an icon below to join us on Facebook, Pinterest, Google+ and Twitter.
Fellow bloggers: join me at Bloggy Law, where you’ll find Simple Tips for Bulletproofing Your Brand and Blog and I’ll help you navigate the social media legal landscape a little more smoothly.
Chrissy – who has written 426 posts on The Outlaw Mom® Blog - Creative Living in a Conventional World.
[…] of Cookies and Clogs, both who I had really really meant to follow up with after we went to the Circle of Moms screening of Won’t Back Down, but - of course - I’ve been way too behind to reach out to them and the other […]
[…] the original post: Movie Review Won't Back Down: Not Just Emotional, Empowering … This entry was posted in Children's and tagged box office, buddypress, bureaucracy, features, […]
It was great to meet you. I love your write-up.
[…] reviewed/will be reviewing the movie as well: Unknown Mami The Foggiest Idea Silicon Valley Mamas The Outlaw Mom Cookies and […]