| Running Time: 128 mins
Rated: PG
So, you're interested in seeing a movie with some good looking young adults, maybe with a decent acting performance and perhaps a decent story and plot tacked on for good measure. Good. However, you are sick and tired of the lame retreads and the hip, glossy horror flicks with their endless sequels. Also good. Or maybe you just want to watch a decent movie for a change. Well, have I got a flick for you - Dead Poets Society.
Set in the 'Best Prep School in the Country,' circa 1959, Dead Poets Society takes a long, hard look at how we treated, raised and trained our children back in the glorious days of black and white TV.
The flick starts off by introducing us to John Keating (wonderfully played by Robin Williams), an alumnus of the institution who has returned to teach English to fresh young minds. We are also quickly introduced to the fresh young minds in question - Neil (Robert Sean Leonard in a stunning turn); Todd (a very young Ethan Hawke); Knox (Josh Charles); Charles (an amazing turn by Gale Hansen); Meeks (Allelon Ruggeiro) and Pitts (James Waterston). We are also shown quickly that Mr. Keating is not you average English teacher (demonstrated by having his student's rip out an offending chapter in the textbook), and that he will actually challenge the students, force them to think for themselves, force them to make decisions on their own.
Naturally, this outlook on teaching is frowned upon at conservative Welton Academy, and soon we see that Mr. Keating's teachings are coming under fire. The Headmaster, Mr. Nolan (well done by Norman Lloyd), discourages Keating from pushing such "impressionable young minds," while Neil's father (a terrific job by one of my favourites, Kurtwood Smith), a right bastard, will not allow his child to even breathe for himself, let alone make a decision based on what Neil wants to do, as opposed to the parent's wishes.
When the boys discover that Keating had run a club called 'The Dead Poets Society' when he was at Welton, they press him for details and find out that the Society was a band of students who met secretly to read and recite poetry, delivering messages of such power that "women swooned." Of course, the boys decide to resurrect the Society, and thus we have the crux of story.
Of course, the forces of the establishment and "opression" are destined to crash headlong into the forces of young, indestructible men who want to do what they want, and while much of the story is obvious from about the halfway point, the journey to the end of the tale is so richly made that you will want to savour every moment, especially the acting.
Robin Williams was simply a comic before he made this flick, and it helped to establish him as a serious actor instead of just being a comedian. His performance is excellent, a forebearer of greatness to come. However, Robert Sean Leonard all but steals the show with every scene that he's in. The juxtaposition of the strong, strong willed young man respected by his peers and his teachers, who is willing to take chances to make himself happy, suddenly crashing into his father's iron will (shown with amazing determination and panache by Smith) shows just how talented this young actor can be. Look also for a good turn by Ethan Hawke, who starts off a little weak, but gains steam as the movie moves on, until at the end, he is the symbol of hope for the future. In my mind, though, of all the boys, the performance from Gale Hansen shows that this actor should eventually get lead acting parts.
When you have a film loaded with great performances, it can be easy to overlook the efforts of those behind the scenes, but that would be a tragedy here. Director Peter Weir has a steady and sure hand on the camera, and the way that he constructs some scenes (especially at the end - watch for it) are achingly stunning. Perhaps the best work behind the scenes is done by Cinematographer John Seale, who's soft look and feel of the old, hallowed halls of academia are sharply at odds with the dramatic changes taking place inside, and this, again, adds to the power of the film.
Take it how you like it, but just take it. This is a sterling film that deserves a place in every video library, and may just be the best film you could ever show to a teen. Not only does it teach that thinking for yourself is a good thing, it also shows that sometimes, your dreams and reality may never jibe, but that you should take the shot. Uplifting and upsetting all at the same time. A wicked film. |
