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Watch This: Davis Guggenheim's Waiting for Superman Trailer

by Alex Billington
May 8, 2010
Source: Apple

Paramount has debuted the first trailer for Davis Guggenheim's documentary Waiting for Superman, which was the first big film to be acquired at Sundance this year (by Paramount) before the fest even began. Guggenheim's doc explores our "crappy" public education system in the US and how it is failing to educate our children. On criticWIRE, this received an average rating of B+ at Sundance, which is quite impressive and proof that this is one of the best docs of the year. It looks like a powerful and striking documentary that I hope will bring about some changes. If you're interested, then check out this fantastic new trailer below.

Watch the official trailer for Davis Guggenheim's Waiting for Superman:

You can also watch the Waiting for Superman trailer in High Definition on Apple

Waiting for Superman is directed by Oscar winning documentarian & filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, of An Inconvenient Truth, It Might Get Loud and The First Year as well as feature films like Gracie and Gossip. The screenplay for the doc was also written by Guggenheim and Billy Kimball, who currently writes for "The Simpsons." This first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where Paramount Vantage bought the film in the first big sale of the fest. Paramount will be bringing Waiting for Superman to theaters sometime this fall (but an exact date hasn't been set). Pledge to see this at: WaitingforSuperman.com.

Explore tags: Indies, To Watch, Trailers

The movie man

Looks interesting. Looking forward to hearing more about this film.
beavis

i like docs anyway, but this looks very interesting.
ocp

Made me want to check this out
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2408/blackbabyjesus.gif Crapola

Keep it dumb, it's much more fun. I worked in a school where 60% of 12 year olds could not read or write properly, sad when children are shot dead for trying to get educated, that some can't learn the basics. The teachers told me it was easier and easier to slip through the system if you weren't keeping up. Dumber people are easier to keep under control. They keep Michael bay in the film industry too.
American Idiot

It's funny. Most of the western world considers Americans to be really dumb, yet they lead the way in so many fields. But ask the average American where Australia is, and they'll point out Cuba on a map. Some will just shrug. Others will think you're talking about Britain or New Zealand. It's all the same - if you're a foreigner to them. Most Americans I've met in my travels over the years are so ignorant (not necessarily by choice) about the rest of the world - and other cultures. Most don't know what's happening in other countries because to them, America is the centre of the universe. Everything revolves around America. Many think being number one is some sort of birth right. But any Americans who are rich enough or lucky enough to travel outside their borders, soon realize their country is pretty average compared to the modern cities of Asia and Europe. Even the Middle East leads the way on better public education. I guess what I'm trying to say is America is NOT the greatest country on earth anymore. In fact, it's almost become a banana republic. Oh, yeah, watch this film. It looks good. Maybe you Americans will learn something.
http://www.facebook.com/ jeffrey

I'm not sure what the hell that lottery thing was in the trailer. I am pretty sure everyone has a chance to go to school in America. I think I'm just going to have to see this documentary.
Ray

Thats why im trying get my kids into private school! Right now they get 15 minutes for recess and 10 minutes to eat lunch. And at lunch they arent allowed to talk. What kinda shit is that?
tra la la la la di da

I want to see this to see how true it is. I've been to 13 public schools and now I've subbed and been to many many more. I've been on both sides and have volunteered and was married to a teacher. I have friends and family who work in the school system so I think I have a clue... Some of this seemed like BS already though. Yes, school systems are rough and bad but honestly, I want to see how much they blame the parents because they are the root of the problem. I'm in Florida in was majorly against the SB6 bill which you can look up. I'm sorry but half these kids don't want to be in school yet for some reason they still are and they only take away from the kids that do. There's so much more to it than a bad government system. I'm really looking forward to this though because they can blame the government, the teachers, and schools all they want. If a kid behaves or performs badly, it's the parent's job or the kid, if they're responsible enough, to see they need to do better and reinforce the rules of behavior and how to succeed in life. Not everywhere is like that. Florida is pretty bad where they just raised the bar to where Virginia had their standard graduating terms. My cousin's Valedictorian (and I've found out from other high school's) GPA is 4.3. Mine Valedictorian was 4.8 and almost 3/4 of the graduation class of 560 students graduated with honors and that was common. I see they picked DC and NYC as their targets so, like most docs, they never cover the whole story, but I'm curious. It was a nice insightful trailer unlike most docs.
josef

This movie looks like it will not be tackling the teachers unions at all. Nor does it look like it will tackle the economics of the situation. Looks and sounds like this is a plea for more money for schools. Hopefully the movie points out that the man for change himself, good'ol Barry, shutdown the school voucher program in DC. I'll still see it. A few other documentaries on the educational system in the U.S.: http://www.thecartelmovie.com/ http://www.rubberroommovie.com/ @tra la la la di da - "I'm sorry but half these kids don't want to be in school yet for some reason they still are and they only take away from the kids that do." Some have laws requiring students to be in school until they are a certain age. They can either get their parents in trouble or go to school. If they did not attend school, the children would not be allowed to work either.
Sharlto

Ron Paul was right, we need to build up the private schooling industry Anyway I went to a public school and most of my peers are in college now and leading "intelligent" lives. The ones that are not are doing that by their own choosing, most of them had retarded parents so they just followed their path. #5 I know what you mean. But a lot of us are more grounded than that.
Chris H.

#5. It's funny. Most of the western world benefits from advances that American minds have developed over the last century, and not just in technology. I'm sure you have different standards of brilliance, but I'm always impressed by the research done by some of leading universities in this country. Judging from the sweeping generalizations that you've made about a population of 300 million people, I'd say that you are pretty ignorant yourself. You make the same assumptions about the American mindset that I'd expect from somebody who knew virtually nothing about America. I hear it a lot in my travels and I always shake my head at how stereotypes perpetuate so freely without consideration of context. These same people, like yourself, think they are well versed in all the happenings of the world. THAT is what I call arrogance, because hearing a bbc broadcast doesn't even come close to knowing everything that goes on in this world... or understanding it. Let me provide context. I spent $700 on a round-trip ticket to Birmingham, England. When that's simply getting to and from my region of travel, it adds up to a few thousand very quickly over the course of the trip... and that's just exploring Britain. While I was there I found a variety of cheap airlines. I was able to fly into France and Germany for only $60. Context? I live in New Jersey. It cost me $325 just to fly to Ohio. It costs me $275 to get to Maine. And just trying to get to Toronto for my interview last weekend it would have costed me $385. I decided just to drive the 16 hour round trip to Toronto instead to save money. Look at a map if you don't know where these areas are in relation to New Jersey, you'll see how ludicrous the prices are. Travelling is a once a year (if you're rich or lucky) thing. Travelling abroad is something that can be done every few years or so. I often get asked why Americans never leave the country to roam Europe, it's because their life savings is more important in a crappy economy than spending it on 1 week in Europe. I'm still in debt from my Europe travels and my few weeks in Asia. I've been trying to pay off this debt for 5 years. Travelling is not as easy as those in Europe think it is. Those in Europe are spoiled by relatively cheap travel. I wish every day that we'd have an Easy Jet airline, just so I can see more of my own country. Proximity is another issue. We hear a lot about Mexico, turmoil in South America, the devastation in Haiti, the rants of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, and a bit of news from Canada. Europe is closely packed enough that a European Union exists! Why wouldn't you hear about your neighbors? For us, it's thousands of miles and dollars away from anything that comes close to having an effect on us. Having been in Japan and will be living there for awhile pretty soon to teach, they have a very similar feel to the United States. There are certainly those who know a great deal about issues on the other side of the globe that have no effect on their daily lives, but many don't care. It's rare that you see much global issues on their television except for things that do affect them. Yet, Japan's education is second to NONE. They take education very seriously, knowing their lives depend on it. If Japan and America both give off a sense of disinterest about every little event in far away corners of the world, then what's the issue? So then clearly the education system is not the issue for your anti-American agenda, #5.
movie mike

I just got into a a great lottery school (because of overcrowding) but it's a complete bullshit system. Luck alone should not define edu. Even though my school did have a waiting list
tra la la la la di da

#9 I know...but it's ridiculous for them to be there especially when bills are trying to be passed that base a teacher's worthiness on a child's grade...a child or half the class that don't want to be there and do nothing. Worse is that they know and some kids considered doing bad to get their teacher fired.
Ricardo

#11 Is absolutely right. #5 that was a very childish remark. Where are you from by the way? And yes, you're right about the overpriced flights. And it's funny because I too think americans should travel more to open their mindsets to new cultures and i rarely think about the actual price of the trip. It sucks. I'm not in a position where i can judge the american school system. But I'm not sure if it is as bad as it translates on the Media. Is it? This doc sure doesn't seem to help. From what i do know, going to a good college there seems incredibly hard and stressful, and expensive too! Over here the best Universities are public, so we only have to pay around 1000 Euros/year. And going to college is the next natural step to take after high school for most kids. Just one repair to your comment, yes, huge achievements are made at the top american universities, but those research teams are made of people from the 4 corners of the world, not just americans by any means. They have the equipment, will and money to use on those investigations that most places in Europe don't.
DoomCanoe

#11, you said everything i could have and more... thank you I'd love to see this flick.
Frank N. Stein

Amen. This is what liberalization of the school system gets us. When the school system concentrated on teaching the basics rather than trying to indoctrinate our kids into thinking like sheep, we were a world leader. We can be again, but we have to collectively cry out that this will not stand.
Xerxex

I agree that are education system has failed, teachers need to take the initiative to teach and some do, but the student has to be willing to learn, I had some amazing teachers and some downright terrible teachers (the one's that make you wonder why the hell are you teaching if you hate kids?). My AP U.S. History teacher was wonderful and he was the cross-country coach, he cared while others did not. I'm taught myself how to read, and when I was a Sophomore we had a class reading of Night and it was painful to hear kids attempt to read and fail. Both students and teachers need to take charge and make sure they get the education they need, but today teacher have lost a lot of authority over students and students have lost respect for teachers. Hopefully the education system will be repaired, and fast. The trailer was fantastic and I'll be sure to check this out.
hoffin

#11 Chris, You sir are a true American. We are a melting pot of ideologies and cultures. I have had the chance to live on both sides of the states and some things are night and day in differences. #5 sweeping comment of our vast country is truly ludicrous. We need a generation of youth's that want to learn first and foremost. The education system can only be a tool for children who want to learn, not a system to force them too. Our problems do stem from the older generation who is allowing the youth to fall through the gaps specifically parents who allow there children to do poorly. There is no answer to these problem other than each individual taking the time to better themselves. America will always provide the opportunities to those that want to work for it.
JimD

As an American who went to college I can tell you most foreign students cannot take the MTV beach party lifestyle for granted. While most American kids in college are partying and living it up, the libraries and the engineering/computer science dept is loaded to bear with foreign students. Years ago when I was in college, I knew over time we would see the repercussion of a brain drain in the states. We care more about being hip and confident then anythign else. Its not suprising that most people in America are more concerend about the daily lives of celebrities or their sports. There is no incentive anymore to want to "achieve" because we are fortunate enough that a decent lifestyle is the norm. Most people even if you live on the lower end of the middle class can buy or rent decent housing, own a car etc. Well guess what, thats going to slowly change. In the future you better manage your credit, you better get an education etc. The spread between the wealthy and the poor in America is going to increase while the middle class shrinks. This is sad because a strong economy is founded on a strong middle class. A strong middle class can only be resurrected with a better educated populace and more domestic jobs. I dont see that trend continuing. I hope I'm proven wrong.
Kevin

HA! #16 has me cracking up. "Teaching the basics" is exactly what is wrong with our education system in the first place.
Ben

Looks like a good doco... I hope it sees release in Australia.
Moviegimp

Looks like an interesting film. Hopefully they take on the Dept. of Education. That's where most of the problems with schools start. Unfunded mandates cause schools to focus on the wrong things. #20 How is teaching the basics what is wrong with schools in the first place? Perhaps you don't understand what the basics are. Reading, Writing, Math and Science if you don't know those you won't know anything else. History is important too but there is state, American and world history so it's a bit broad. You can learn a lot about history on your own. If you have the basics. The biggest problem with American schools is they teach for the test. The government requires tests to determine if the students are being taught. Therefore teachers teach for the test. Students learn what they need for the test then quickly forget it. They need to be taught to remember and retain the knowledge.
Mark Spurlin

#6, not sure if anybody said anything about it, but the 'lottery' is for a school in the Harlem area. Basically, your number comes up, that school will make sure you go to college. The school even has incentives like, "For every month you get good grades, we'll give you $100." 60 minutes interviewed the founder of the school sometime last year, pretty interesting concept.
CoConutman

America has the most NUKES so we win!!!1 so just do a 360 and walk away motherfuckers!
james

#24 A 360 degree turn would have you back to where you started, idiot
james

also, russia actually has the most nukes http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2009/sep/06/nuclear-weapons-world-us-north-korea-russia-iran
Time

#26- Hahaha - This documentary is about how we failed #24.
lego

24's comment is failblog worthy
Xerxex

#24 has got to be a troll, there is no way someone and write something has insane as that!
http://voice123.com/trailer-voice-over.html Voice123 - Trailer Voice Over

A very important and interesting topic that concerns us all, a look at a system that many believe to inhibit, rather than encourage, academic growth.
Stephen

#5 Some other people have answered this more fully, but I'd like to suggest something a little random here: Americans are very different from Europeans, not just in our history, but in the way our geography affects us. We are an extremely large country, separated by water from all but two other countries. There's only half a dozen other countries in the world as big as we are who can relate to us in that respect. I think many Europeans don't really realize what size and separation does to a country. Because we are so separated from everywhere else, the vast majority of Americans either never travel outside the country or only go a couple times in their lives. We don't speak other languages because we have little contact with people who do. Or rather, we only have contact with immigrants and tourists who are learning to speak English, and we never have any need or incentive to learn another language. We have a hard time learning all the states in our country--after all there are 50 of them, they each have their own capital, and their own history. I doubt many British could name all the counties in their country. Europeans get a sense that they're living next to other countries and cultures all the time in a way that we don't, they are free to travel through other countries in a way we are not, they can drive across their country in a few hours or a day in a way we cannot, and they have incentives to learn geography and languages that we do not. (Plus they don't seem to realize the advantage in running a social democracy to have a small, homogeneous population that is not threatened by enemies. I don't think social democracy works all that great in general, but it definitely won't work in a continent-sized country of 300 million racially/culturally/religiously diverse people that has large military threats and commitments.) I'm not saying it's alright not to know where all the major countries are on a map or that it isn't a good and useful skill to learn a foreign language. Our schools really are failing us right now, and that's a problem. But I think Europeans often push their preconceptions and geographical/cultural experiences on to us (just as much as we do onto them) when analyzing our system.
stan

Well, education being 'learning something to be able to apply it professionally', seems we are falling a bit short. Pretty easy acid test. You can do it or you can't. Teachers have to be able to get the guy to understand it so he can apply it. Some people have mentioned "the kids don't want to learn" Part of the skill of teaching would be being able to get the kids to want to learn, eh? That will take some skill. Fortunately, it does exist and can be learned and taught and kids can be moved into environment where they can become enthused about learning things. Unfortunately, this methodology is not being taught in colleges to the teachers, who are basicly 'studying to pass the test." A shoddy substitute for learning. I hope this doc points out the failings and can raise the awareness so we get that better definition of education as the norm as opposed to the children just being forcefed information that don't mean diddly.