Higher Learning
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| Higher Learning | |
|---|---|
 The movie cover for Higher Learning. |
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| Directed by | John Singleton |
| Produced by | John Singleton Paul Hall |
| Written by | John Singleton |
| Starring | Ice Cube Kristy Swanson Omar Epps Michael Rapaport Tyra Banks Jennifer Connelly Laurence Fishburne Jason Wiles Busta Rhymes Regina King Cole Hauser |
| Music by | Stanley Clarke |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
| Release date(s) | January 11, 1995 |
| Running time | 127 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Higher Learning is a 1995 drama film, starring Omar Epps, Kristy Swanson, Ice Cube, Busta Rhymes, Jennifer Connelly, Michael Rapaport, Laurence Fishburne and Randall Batinkoff. It also featured supermodel Tyra Banks' first performance in a theatrical movie.
Fishburne won an Image Award for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture" for his performance; Ice Cube was also nominated for the award.
UCLA filled in for the fictional college, Columbus University, the movie is set around in some of the exterior scenes.
In addition to "Higher", performed by Ice Cube, the soundtrack includes performances of newer material by OutKast, Liz Phair, Tori Amos and Rage Against the Machine, as well as older hits from Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, and Cotton Mather.
[edit] Plot summary
This drama examines the personal, political, and racial dilemmas facing a group of college freshmen as they begin their first semester at Columbus University. Malik (Omar Epps) is an African-American student attending on a track scholarship; academics are not his strong suit, and he goes in thinking that his athletic abilities will earn him a free ride through college. Fudge (Ice Cube), a "professional student" who has been at Columbus for six years so far, becomes friendly with Malik and challenges his views about race and politics in America, while Professor Phipps (Laurence Fishburne), a black man who teaches political science, firmly tells Malik that he will not be graded on a different standard either because of his race or his ability to run quickly. With Deja (Tyra Banks), Malik finds a girlfriend, a tutor, and a training partner all rolled into one.
Meanwhile, Kristen (Kristy Swanson), a somewhat naive young woman from California, meets a boy named Billy (Jay R. Ferguson) after both have had too much to drink at a beer blast; Kristen soon becomes a victim of date rape and becomes involved with a campus feminist group to deal with the painful experience. While working with the women's group, Kristen gets to know Taryn (Jennifer Connelly), a strong but understanding woman who is also a lesbian, and she finds herself becoming attracted to her.
Remy (Michael Rapaport) is a confused young man from Idaho who feels lost in the multi-cultural atmosphere of Columbus. He is approached by Scott (Cole Hauser), a member of a group of racist skinheads, who believe that Remy is a perfect candidate to help carry out his group's violent goals.
Gwyneth Paltrow has a part as a student; rap stars Busta Rhymes (his first collaboration with Singleton, alongside the Shaft remake), D-Knowledge and Mista Grimm also appear in supporting roles, as well as a cameo by the rock band Eve's Plum.
[edit] Trivia
- Most of the Nazi-Skinheads were played by Jewish actors (Andrew Bryniarski, Michael Rapaport, Trevor St. John, Talbert Morton, and Cole Hauser)
- Tupac Shakur was originally set to play the role of Malik but he was jailed shortly after getting the part and the role went instead to Omar Epps.
- John Singleton wanted Sidney Poitier to play professor Maurice Phipps. He was not available. Singleton's second choice for Professor Phipps was Samuel L. Jackson; the studio preferred Laurence Fishburne, who had worked successfully with Singleton in Boyz in the Hood.
- Originally John Singleton wanted Leonardo DiCaprio to play Remy, while Michael Rapaport was originally going to play Scott Moss. DiCaprio was cast, but unable to be in the film because of a scheduling conflict with The Quick And The Dead. So Singleton had Rapaport play Remy once Hauser was cast.
- Vivica A. Fox was the second choice for the role of Deja.
- The idea for the film came when Director Jonathan Demme approached John Singleton about making a movie about college racial issues throughout the country when they were in pre-production for Boyz N The Hood which was being developed at Orion Pictures with Singleton directing and Demme producing. Once the deal with Orion Pictures fell through, Singleton took the idea and began to develop it while at Columbia Pictures.
- According to John Singleton, this film is based on his college experiences while attending USC. Singleton says in the DVD commentary that the scene in which Remy walks up to Malik and voicing his opinion about the T-shirt that he was wearing is based on an actual incident that happened to him in which he too became enraged and wanted to beat the hell out of the guy.
- Dustin Hoffman was originally considered for the role of the professor that becomes a mentor to Malik. Hoffman wanted the plot to revolve around the professor and the student, but Singleton refused.
- Drew Barrymore lost the role of Kristen.
[edit] External links
| Films directed by John Singleton |
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| Boyz n the Hood • Poetic Justice • Higher Learning • Rosewood • Shaft • Baby Boy • 2 Fast 2 Furious • Four Brothers • Luke Cage |
