Director: Peter Weir
Starring: Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles
‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’
Few actors in Hollywood have had a career as tragic as Robin Williams. Ever since his rise to stardom during the 1980’s, Williams appeared to be an actor with a bright future in the industry. A celebrated comedian, Williams became an inspiring icon in the film industry. With a sharp sense of humour, larger-than-life presence and compassionate personality, the actor gained a huge fan following. However, in 2014 Williams’ career was cut tragically short when he died in a suicide. Williams’ devastating death came as a painful loss for the film industry. It was hard for people to believe that an actor that had often made people laugh had died leading the world to grieve. Nevertheless, Williams’ devastating death did lead towards newfound interest in his movies which remain treasured today. Several years after his heartbreaking passing, Williams has become an iconic movie-star in Hollywood whose timeless films are definitely worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Robin Williams and adore all the movies he has made throughout his illustrious career. However, “Dead Poet’s Society” is my favourite film. Released in 1989, Peter Weir’s movie told the story of a motivational professor inspiring his students to seize the day. Packed with powerful production-design, spellbinding storytelling and exceptional performances, it’s one of the best films ever made. At the centre of it all is an extraordinary performance from Robin Williams, who embodies an inspirational teacher which motivates his students to seize the day. Ultimately, the movie delivers a strong message which would resonate with everyone forming bonds with teachers at an early age. A mesmerizing masterpiece about inspirational teachers, there are many strong reasons why “Dead Poet’s Society” is a movie that’s worth watching.
Set in a New England boarding school, “Dead Poet’s Society” tells a story of students whose lives are forever changed by an inspirational teacher. Robin Williams plays John Keating, an English teacher with a love for poetry. John is a poetic professor that inspires his students to seize the day by behaving in a rebellious way. The students are instantly captivated by a teacher that has unusual ways of teaching students valuable life lessons. However, John Keating’s unusual approach of teaching is ruined when it attracts attention of the school’s strict headmaster. Facing stress, Keating begins to question whether he could ever be a teacher inspiring students to achieve success. As his life goes astray, Keating begins to question whether he can inspire students to seize the day.
Peter Weir is a newcomer towards the stories of teachers. Before he had directed “Dead Poet’s Society”, Weir had never made a movie about teachers before. It was the director’s first ever attempt to capture the lives of teachers which inspire students to seize the day, but he pulled it off expertly. Using stunning cinematography, Weir captures a teacher’s journey inspiring his students to achieve prosperity. Weir uses montages to capture the strong bond between teachers and students which love poetry. For instance, montages enhance the poetry class lesson scene. During this unforgettable scene, Keating inspires students through delivering a meaningful speech about the power of poetry. One admires montages capturing the powerful bond of teachers and students. Through montages, Weir captures teachers that inspire students to make their dreams come true. Montages are tricky techniques to use in films. As demonstrated by Gus Van Sant’s “Good Will Hunting”, montages elevate coming-of-age films. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Using breathtaking visuals, Weir captures lives of professors that are inspiring.
Another admirable aspect of “Dead Poet’s Society” is the production-design. From a technical perspective, you won’t see a film that’s as impressive. Weir effectively uses the set-design of classrooms to capture the rebellious behaviours of students inspire to follow teachers. One of the central motifs in the film is the standing of teachers on desks. Throughout the film, Keating teaches students about the importance of standing on desks as a form of rebellion. For instance, this motif is beautifully used in the final ending scene. During this strong scene, Keating’s students stand atop desks as a way to salute their teacher. One admires the production of classrooms capturing rebellious behaviours of students. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Maurice Jarre’s score captures the joyous atmosphere of teachers inspiring students to achieve goals that are precious. Through gorgeous production-design, Weir captures the strong bonds between teachers and students that shine.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Dead Poet’s Society” is a movie that’s entertaining. The film is beautifully written, and effectively uses dramatic monologues to capture bonds between teachers and students. Weir’s screenwriting strength is capturing the positive impact teachers have on students through dramatic monologues. For instance, dramatic monologues elevate the poetry scene. During this powerful scene, John Keating teaches a shy student in his class Todd about the importance of raising his voice in class. One admires dramatic monologues capturing the positive roles that teachers play in the lives of students today. It reminded me of my strong bond with a teacher whose guidance in life shaped my identity. Monologues aren’t easy techniques to use in movies. Monologues are typically used in Shakespeare adaptations. As Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” suggested, dramatic monologues elevate medieval epics about Ancient Rome. Nevertheless, monologues worked extremely well in this movie. Through an engaging screenplay, Weir captures teachers that play a commendable role in inspiring students to seize the day.
One admires astonishing performances.
Robin Williams delivers one of his best career performances as John Keating. Williams first earned appreciation for playing Vietnam War analysts. With “Dead Poet’s Society”, however, he took on his first teacher role. It isn’t simply to embody the personality of a teacher which inspires his students to achieve goals, but he succeeds tremendously. It’s a role which gives Williams an opportunity to showcase his natural charisma as an actor. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures the angst, sharp sense of humour and rebellious presence of a professor that inspires his students to seize the day. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the world’s greatest movie-stars who is tragically no longer with us today.
The supporting cast is spectacular and also worthy of recognition. Ethan Hawke is terrific, capturing the shy personality of a student that’s afraid of speaking up in class for fear of being judged negatively. Robert Sean Leonard is remarkable, capturing the dilemma of a student whose dream of becoming a stage actor clashes with the traditional expectations of his father. Lastly, Josh Charles deserves appreciation. As a rebellious student, he brings tension to the movie.
Finally, “Dead Poet’s Society” would earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing roles teachers play in sharping students’ identity. Unlike most movies made during the 1980’s, the film tackles universal themes everyone would relate to. It discusses strong themes of identity, friendship and professors that would definitely resonate with everyone. As someone sharing a strong bond with my school professors, I identified deeply with the movie. Therefore, “Dead Poet’s Society” is one of those rare poetic films everyone would adore.
Fans of Robin Williams will appreciate “Dead Poet’s Society” and so will movie-goers which seek meaningful entertainment. A captivating classic about inspiring teachers, it celebrates an actor whose memorable movies are definitely worth watching.
Nearly 40 years following the release of a classic film about poetic professors that play a role in lives of students inspired to seize the day, it’s a powerful reminder of a legendary actor that blew audiences away by his ability to portray larger-than-life characters standing atop chairs in movies with enthusiasm until the day that he tragically passed away whose timeless movies definitely without a doubt deserve to be celebrated today.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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