Watch The Substitute

The Substitute is a 1996 action-thriller movie that stars Tom Berenger, Raymond Cruz, and William Forsythe. Directed by Robert Mandel, the film follows a former Marine Corps Recon Captain, Jonathan Shale (played by Tom Berenger), who is hired as a substitute teacher at a high school in Miami. Unbeknownst to the faculty and staff, Shale is on a mission to infiltrate the school and uncover a drug ring that is operating within the school's walls. The gang leader, Juan Carlos Rivera (played by Raymond Cruz), is a former student of the school and is using his connections to the students to further his illegal drug business.

The plot of the movie revolves around Shale's efforts to expose the drug ring and bring the criminals to justice. To do this, he enlists the help of a group of students who have also been victimized by the drug dealers. With their help, Shale is able to gather evidence against the gang and bring them to justice.

The Substitute is a fast-paced action movie that incorporates elements of thriller and suspense. The film's extensive use of hand-to-hand combat and expertly choreographed fight scenes set it apart from other movies in the genre. Additionally, the film takes a deeper look at the problems of urban schools and the challenges faced by teachers who are trying to make a difference in these difficult environments.

Tom Berenger delivers a powerful performance as the lead character, Jonathan Shale. With his calm and collected demeanor, he is able to blend in with the school's faculty and gain the trust of his fellow teachers. However, when necessary, he is also able to switch to his Marine Corps training and take on the drug dealers in violent and thrilling confrontations.

Raymond Cruz is equally impressive as Juan Carlos Rivera, the leader of the drug gang. He exudes confidence and fearlessness, knowing that he holds all the cards when it comes to controlling the school's drug trade. However, he underestimates the resolve of Shale and the students he has recruited, leading to his eventual downfall.

The film's supporting cast is also excellent, with William Forsythe playing an important role as the chief of police who is initially skeptical of Shale's motives. Despite their initial differences, however, the two men eventually come to respect each other as they work together to take down the drug ring.

In addition to its strong performances, The Substitute is also notable for its thoughtful exploration of the issue of urban schools and the problems that plague them. Throughout the film, we see the poverty and violence that many of the students face on a daily basis, which serves to underscore the importance of the work being done by Shale and his fellow teachers.

Overall, The Substitute is an excellent action-thriller that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. With strong performances from its cast and exciting action sequences, it is a movie that is sure to please fans of the genre. However, it also serves as a reminder of the problems faced by urban schools and the need to support efforts to improve education in these challenging environments.

The Substitute is a 1996 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.0 and a MetaScore of 41.