Lean on Me

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Directed by John G. Avildsen
Produced by Norman Twain
Written by Michael Schiffer

With: Morgan Freeman, Beverly Todd, Robert Guillaume, Alan North, Lynne Thigpen, Robin Bartlett, Michael Beach, Ethan Phillips, Sandra Reaves-Phillips, Sloane Shelton, Jermaine 'Huggy' Hopkins, Karen Malina White, Karina Arroyave, Ivonne Coll, Regina Taylor, Michael P. Moran, Tony Todd, Mike Starr, Michael Imperioli, and Ahmed Best

Cinematography: Victor Hammer
Editing: John Carter and John G. Avildsen
Music: Bill Conti

Runtime: 108 min
Release Date: 03 March 1989
Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1
Color: Color

Twitter Capsule:

This much too celebratory spin on the inspirational-teacher subgenre gives us Morgan Freeman in his first starring role as the controversial high school principal Joe Clark. John G. Avildsen directs in Rocky/Karate Kid mode where his Joe approach might have served the material better.

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How I Rate Films



An All-timer. One of the 5000 greatest films. Usually only awarded after repeat viewings.



One of the year's best. An excellent film. Possibly one of the 5000 greatest and certainly worthy of repeated viewing.



A very good film. Most films I see fall in the two- or three-star ranking. I give an extra half-star to three-star films that could end up on the list of the 5000 greatest.



A good film that fully succeeds at what it sets out to accomplish. Well worth seeing, but less effective than a three-and-a-half stars films and often less consequential than a two-and-a-half star film.



A noteworthy or enjoyable film that I can’t fully recommend. Still, two-and-a-half star films are often some of the most memorable films of a year.



A disappointment, an interesting failure, or just a bad movie. But still worth seeing if you’ve got the time.



A bad, rant-worthy film. Should be avoided regardless of hype or talent involved.



One of the worst films.