Wolfgang Bodison

Reese Witherspoon stars as a delinquent abducted by a sadistic killer (Kiefer Sutherland). Arrested and jailed for nearly killing him, she escapes to prove her innocence. Produced by Oliver Stone, music by Danny Elfman

Eleven-year-old Akeelah Anderson is determined to spell her way out of South Los Angeles and make it to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), from south Los Angeles, has a talent for words. In spite of the objections of her mother Wanda (Angela Bassett), Keke enters a spelling contest. Her gift takes her to compete in the National Spelling Bee, the most famous competition of its kind in the world. On the way, she is helped by a forthright, mysterious teacher, Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne) and a cast of colorful characters from the community.

A young girl from South Los Angeles tries to make it to the National Spelling Bee.