Higher Learning

Director: John Singleton John Singleton

Overview

"Higher Learning includes an excellent 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that presents the movie in nearly pristine colors. In the opening shot the bright red, white, and blue of the American flag shines and presents one of numerous impressive examples on this picture. Although it lacks the near perfection of reference transfers, it falls only slightly from this perch. Similar to the image transfer, this 5.1-channel Dolby Digital audio track features remarkable levels of clarity. The numerous soul, alternative rock, and metal songs blaze across the sound field and add considerable power. The dialogue is easily understandable, even in the heated moments, and the surrounds are utilized nicely throughout the running time. This disc also contains an effective Dolby Surround track, which only drops slightly below its companion in terms of depth and force. Higher Learning features an enjoyable commentary from writer/director John Singleton that contains plenty of intriguing thoughts about the story. Much of the material in this script stems from his own experiences while attending college at U.S.C. Singleton openly explains how numerous scenes originated and shows a refreshing willingness to describe his own life and its connection to the film. It's also impressive to see a filmmaker willing to admit that he's still growing and there are flaws in his creations. Singleton utilizes a conversational tone that makes the track entertaining and insightful without the highbrow tone of some directors. This release also includes selected filmographies for Singleton, Omar Epps, and the other major actors. Full-frame theatrical trailers also exist for this film, including Poetic Justice and Boyz 'N the Hood."

Product Details

Release Date:	06/04/2002
UPC:	0043396067684
Original Release:	1995
Rating:	R
Source:	SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMT
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:07:00
Sales rank:	36,434

Special Features

Digitally Mastered Audio & Anamorphic Video; Widescreen Presentation; Audio: English 5.1 (Dolby Digital) and 2-Channel (Dolby Surround), French, Spanish; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai; Director's Commentary; Theatrical Trailers; Filmographies; Interactive Menus; Scene Selections

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Omar Epps	Malik
Kristy Swanson	Kristen
Michael Rapaport	Remy
Jennifer Connelly	Taryn
Ice Cube	Fudge
Laurence Fishburne	Prof. Phipps
Jason Wiles	Wayne
Tyra Banks	Deja
Cole Hauser	Scott Moss
Randall Batinkoff	Chad Shadowhill
Bradford English	Officer Bradley
Regina King	Monet
Busta Rhymes	Dreads
Jay Ferguson	Billy,Billy
Andrew Bryniarski	Knocko
Trevor St. John	James
Talbert Morton	Erik
Adam Goldberg	David Isaacs
J. Trevor Edmond	Eddie
Bridgette Wilson	Nicole
Kari Salin	Claudia
John Walton Smith Jr.	Coach Davis
Malcolm Norrington	Cory
Antonio Todd	Adam
Tim Griffin	Orientation Advisor
Patricia Forte	Counselor
Sheila Ward	Counselor
George LaPorte	Starting Judge
Warren Olney	TV Reporter
D-Knowledge	Himself
Skip O'Brien	Security Guard
Joe Bugs	Security Guard
Bill Evans	Security Guard
Ernie Singleton	Fudge's Homie,Actor
Dedrick Gobert	Fudge's Homie
Bruce Williams	Fudge's Homie
Richard D. Alexander	Big Shorty
Michael Buchman Silver	Frat Member
Graham Galloway	Frat Member
Paul Anthony Kropfl	Frat Member
J.W. Smith	Race Official
Walton Greene	Race Official
Mary Bakjian	Race Official
Mista Grimm	Drunk Student
Alicia Stevenson	Monet's Friend
Colleen Fitzpatrick	Festival Singer
Robby Parker	Dogman
Pola Maloles	Flyer Girl
Ingrid Walters	Party Girl
Kiante Elam	Black Pepper
Jamie Jo Medearis	White Salt
Rick Avery	Guard
Tony Donno	Gay Victim
Cole McLarty	Gay Victim
Gwyneth Paltrow	Actor
Chad Dowdell	Disgruntled Yet Eager Student
Stanley Clarke	Composer

Technical Credits

John Singleton

John Singleton	Director,Producer,Screenwriter
Jaki Brown-Karman	Casting
Paul Hall	Producer
Kimberly Hardin	Casting
Bob Minor	Stunts
Veda Campbell	Sound/Sound Designer
Dwight Williams	Producer

Editorial Reviews

Though it's overwrought and unrealistic, this ensemble drama from John Singleton was the first, and perhaps only, film to treat the identity politics of fin-de-siècle American universities as a subject for exploration rather than critique (Oleanna) or sophomoric parody (P.C.U.). Despite the heavy-handedness of Singleton's script, Higher Learning actually presents a pretty good cross section of the average state school, which often serves as the first taste for isolated teens of the melting pot they've been hearing about since the start of kindergarten. Omar Epps and Michael Rappaport turn in typically strong work as the track-star protagonist and his budding neo-Nazi foil; both characters come under the influence of ideological older men, setting the stage for both thoughtful character development and overwrought dramatics. Along the way we also get a typically fine supporting turn from Singleton regular Regina King and plenty of cool-cat attitude from a perfectly cast Ice Cube. The weakest of the three main plot strands is the one involving Kristy Swanson's date-rape survivor and tentative lesbian. Swanson actually acquits herself admirably, but the part is clumsily written; it's galling to see yet another film that thinks all lesbians are merely women who hate men, however justified. Throw in the inevitable Tori Amos track during the rape sequence and Jennifer Connelly's serene sapphic sister (named, of course, Taryn) and you've got so many lesbian clichés strung together that the film practically becomes a feminist camp classic. Still, Singleton's sympathetic look at the struggles of a variety of incoming freshmen gives the film breadth (and wider marketing opportunities than his previous efforts); the script also deftly intertwines the paths of its characters, resulting in a film that feels like a unified whole. Laurence Fishburne's regal, concerned professor may be a far cry from the clueless TAs who teach most freshmen courses at big schools, but his performance gives a much-needed grown-up perspective to a film that sometimes mirrors the callowness of its younger characters.