Dead Poets Society (1989)

The tragedy of the rigorous and mindless enforcement of conformity

This is one of the most inspiring and saddest movies ever made. Robin Williams stars as John Keating, an inspirational and unconventional English teacher in an atmosphere of strict conformity. The school is one that rigid, simplistic parents send their young men to, and they expect the education to be formal, complete and without deviation from the prescribed path.
Williams arrives at the school and teaches the boys the joy of breaking with the mass lockstep and thinking for themselves. A group re-forms the Dead Poets Society, where they sneak out of their dorm rooms and meet in an Indian cave and read classical poetry. It is a club like those formed by young men since they first existed, a chance for them to rebel against their restrictions and branch out into new and forbidden areas.
However, when one of the boys chooses to act in violation of his father's edicts, the father responds with an ultimatum. When the boy chooses suicide over giving up acting, a scapegoat must be found and Keating is the "logical" choice. The boys are forced to sign statements blaming Keating for the death of their friend, with some being completely shameless about it. In a touching scene at the end, the most rebellious of the boys stands on his desk and says to Keating, "Oh Captain! My Captain!", from a poem of the same name penned by Walt Whitman and dedicated to the memory of the assassinated Abraham Lincoln. Others follow his lead and only the most heartless of us can watch that scene and not generate a teardrop.
In my opinion, this is the best movie Williams has ever done; his character is forceful, imaginative, and creative and pays dearly for his excellence. As an educator operating at the college level, I know that situations like this happen more often than non-educators realize.
June 12, 2008

Stays with you.

Dead Poets Society is a heartbreaking but memorable film. Robin Williams is perfection in his role as a literary professor looking to inspire his wayward students. The ending is sad but profound. Robert Sean Leonard and a young Ethan Hawke also star. I highly recommend it! April 27, 2008

READING, WRITING AND DEATH

Some of you may remember John Houseman's portrayal as the legendary Professor Kingsfield in "The Paper Chase". It's said that Arthur Miller of "Miller's Court" was a copy of this stern teacher who taught effectively using the Socratic method of instruction for 40 plus years. In the present film, English teacher Williams uses completely different modes of instruction to help turn his students' intellectual "mush" into true lovers of poetry. He urges his students to reach for higher vistas; to learn to make their own decisions about their future plans and vocations. Enter an irate parent who has his son's life planned for him. Father and son squabble, son decides to declare his independence, father withdraws son and enrolls son in a military school, son commits suiicide, Williams is blamed as the "fall guy" and is fired. Williams leaves campus to a rousing ovation from his students. For those interested in such things, play Kingsfield's game on this movie-Who hires, the role of tuition, student rights/teacher rights/parental control. What is truth and justice/ school reputation. Who fires? You may go on and on; just as Kingsfield would have wanted.
February 11, 2008

Caption my Caption

This is a awsome movie. one of the est ones that Robin williams made in his early years. January 12, 2008

FANTASTIC MOVIE

My education professor showed this movie in class in bits and pieces. Once the movie was over, we were asked to answer certain questions regarding the film, such as "Do you think Mr. Keating (played by Robin Williams) was an effective teacher". This is a must see film for all future teachers. December 18, 2007

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