Higher Learning [Blu-ray]

Director: John Singleton John Singleton

Overview

The challenges faced by a diverse group of freshman students at a major university are the focus of this ensemble drama. Their attempts to adapt to their new environment force them to discover their stances on the pressing issues of racism, sexism, political correctness, and other hot-button campus topics.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/05/2019
UPC:	0043396555082
Original Release:	1995
Rating:	R
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:08:00
Sales rank:	20,901

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.