Lessons in classroom drama – and biopic – done well.

The decade following the release of Stand and Deliver saw the release of several high-profile (and hit-soundtracked) films about a fish-out-of-water teacher thrown into a ‘rough’ high school classroom (either too poor and under-resourced, or too elite and restrictive), who inspires and empowers troubled kids society has given up on to better themselves and create their own opportunities for a better life. While Stand and Deliver isn’t the first film of its kind, it is one of the better examples (it could even be argued, one of the best), and it’s worth understanding what makes it work so well.

Structurally and archetypically, it may sound formulaic now – but it’s a formula that Stand and Deliver perfected.

The charismatic performances, including a wonderful lead performance which I’m sure is by now considered iconic, are showcased and supported by efficient storytelling. Co-writers Ramón Menéndez and Tom Musca convey so much detail about the characters, setting, and stakes, in incredibly succinct vignettes and clear beats. Menéndez, who also directs, together with Tom Richmond‘s understated cinematography and Nancy Richardson‘s economical editing, all keep things moving at a clip. Within the first ten minutes, teacher Jaime Escalante has already made his first attention-grabbing, and ultimately successful, attempt to reach these kids; by the two-thirds mark, the obstacles that we’ve seen the students face individually in their families and circumstances are overshadowed by the greater conflict, as both teacher and students learn what they’re really up against: a society and a system where “if you try real hard, nothing changes”. Structurally and archetypically, this may sound formulaic now – but it’s a formula that Stand and Deliver perfected. There are only a couple of really showy, ‘this is a movie!’ moments (in particular, Andy Garcia is doing… stuff, which, by contrast, looked positively understated in Brian De Palma‘s The Untouchables only a year earlier) – but these are minor distractions which only highlight just how tight and focused Stand and Deliver feels overall.

Further Viewing

Edward James Olmos on how his performance is based on the real-life ‘Kimo Sabe’, Jaime Escalante:

Olmos and Lou Diamond Phillips on their characters:

Profile on Jaime Escalante on NBC: