Dead Poets Society (1989 – PG)

Originally posted on October 7, 2003

Story

Robin Williams plays a literature teacher at a premiere prep school during the 1950s in Dead Poets Society. He inspires his students to reach new heights of personal courage and intellectual expansion ultimately leading to the suicide of a promising student and his subsequent dismissal for “causing” the suicide. Educational bureaucracy, stifling parental control, the angst of growing up, the drive to experience new things, and ultimately loyalty are all themes analyzed in this Peter Weir cinematic masterpiece.

Story = 20

Cast

Robin Williams flourishes and displays his vast thespian skill while Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, and Alexandra Powers count their blessings for being involved in such a great film. Norman Lloyd is perfect as the headmaster, and Kurtwood Smith is even better as a controlling father. It is amazing that he can be so funny in That 70s Show after seeing him be such a jerk in The Dead Poets Society. Laura Flynn Boyle also makes a brief appearance which is barely seen in the original release, but is given the light of day in the extended scenes shown on its network debut. That is one of the few negatives about this movie… the DVD stinks as those scenes are not present in any form, and no extra material is included.

Cast = 20

Soundtrack/Score

Between classic masterpieces from Beethoven and Handel, and a few 50s rock songs, the soundtrack would be pretty good as is. However, the greatest elements of the score are from the moving and perfectly used Jarre compositions. One of the best scenes in this movie is the suicide scene of Leonard’s character. The music is chilling, and the cinematography perfect. I can think of only one film that makes better use of original composition, and that is John Williams’ Schindler’s List.

Soundtrack/Score = 20

Quote/Catch Phrase

“Carpe Diem, seize the day.” What makes this line even better, is that Williams pays tribute to it in Mrs. Doubtfire by saying, “Carpe Dentum, seize the teeth.”

Quote/Catch Phrase = 18

Rewatchability

The premiere prep school movie. Kevin Kline’s The Emperor’s Club is a nauseating attempt to capture the magic that is The Dead Poets Society. Combine the fact that other movies are trying to model themselves after it, the great acting performance, the magical score, and the great line that is now frequently used in television and screen, and you get a high mystique score.

Rewatchability = 16

Total Score = 94