Higher Learning (1995)

People from all different walks of life, encounter racial tension, rape, responsibility, and the meaning of an education on a university campus.

Director:

John Singleton

Writer:

John Singleton

Stars:

Omar Epps, Kristy Swanson, Michael Rapaport

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Omar Epps	...	Malik Williams
Kristy Swanson	...	Kristen Connor
Michael Rapaport	...	Remy
Jennifer Connelly	...	Taryn
Ice Cube	...	Fudge
Jason Wiles	...	Wayne
Tyra Banks	...	Deja
Cole Hauser	...	Scott Moss
Laurence Fishburne	...	Professor Maurice Phipps
Bradford English	...	Officer Bradley
Regina King	...	Monet
Busta Rhymes	...	Dreads (as Busta Rhymez)
Jay R. Ferguson	...	Billy (as Jay Ferguson)
Andrew Bryniarski	...	Knocko
Trevor St. John	...	James

Storyline

Youngsters from different countries, races, and social background are forced to integrate when they all enroll in Columbus University. They all have their own problems, such as finance, harrassment, personal safety, and self doubt. Additionally, campus life seems to be causing a problem for everyone: racism. Students, already under pressure to perform in the classroom, on the track, or in front of their friends, are strained to the breaking point by prejudice, inexperience, and misunderstanding.

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Plot Keywords:

racism | lesbian | anger | sex scene | destroying a room | 

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Taglines:

Read between the borders

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for scenes of violence and sexuality, and for strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to John Singleton, this movie was based on his college experiences while attending USC. Singleton says in the DVD commentary that the scene in which Remy (Michael Rapaport) walks up to Malik Williams (Omar Epps) and voices his opinion about the t-shirt that he was wearing was 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.

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Goofs

Early in the film, Remy says it is 1995. Campus fliers for "Peace Fest" give a date of Saturday, November 15. That date was a Saturday in 1986 and 1997.

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Quotes

Malik: As a black man in America, my stress comes from everywhere. Recognize. Take a look around you. Look at this, Columbus, it disgusts me. Fool wasn't nothin' but a thief, mass murder. He done slaughtered millions of native Americans, and we done got a holiday and university named after his honor.

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Crazy Credits

Unlearn [appears in movie's closing shot, instead of "The End"]

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Connections

Referenced in All Eyez on Me (2017)

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Soundtracks

Eye
Written by Michael Kotch and Vitamin C (as Colleen Fitzpatrick)
Produced by Ted Niceley
Performed by Eve's Plum
Courtesy of 550 Music / Epic Records

User Reviews

Well-Rounded View of Extreme Points of View

The film's design seems to be the alpha and omega of some of the major issues in this country (U.S.). We see relationships all over at the university setting for the film. Befittingly, the obvious of student v.s. teacher is present. But what the film adds to its value is its other relationships: male v.s. female, white v.s. black, and the individual v.s. society. But most important of all and in direct relation to all of the other relationships is the individual v.s. himself.

I was amazed at how bilateral a point of view the director gave to showing the race relations on campus. Most films typically show the injustices of one side while showing the suffering of the other. This film showed the injustices and suffering of both sides. It did not attempt to show how either was right, although I would say the skin heads were shown a much crueler and vindictive (quite obvious towards the end). The film also discusses sex and rape. It is ironically this injustice that in some ways brings the two races together, for a time. Lawrence Fishburne does an over-the-top performance as the sagacious Profesor Phipps. He crumbles the idea of race favortism and instead shows the parallelism of the lazy and down-trodden with the industrious and positive. Other stars that make this film are Omar Epps, Ice Cube, and Jennifer Connelly. Michael Rapaport gives an excellent portrayal of a confused youth with misplaced anger who is looking for acceptance. Tyra Banks make her film debut and proves supermodels can act.

Higher Learning gets its name in showing college as more than going to class and getting a piece of paper. In fact, I would say the film is almost a satire in showing students interactions with each other, rather than some dry book, as the real education at a university. It is a life-learning process, not a textual one. I think you'll find "Higher Learning" is apropos to the important issues at many universities and even life in general. 8/10

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 January 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Higher Learning

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,276,662, 16 January 1995

Gross USA:

$38,290,723

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$38,290,723

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, New Deal Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1