What are some of the most memorable movies you watched in school? I recall the timeless tradition of randomly showing movies on half days or days before holidays because…I guess to kill time? I am quite sure I watched Fantastic Mr. Fox in three different classes my senior year because my classmate kept bringing it to school. I also watched quite a few episodes of The Office in my accounting class my freshman year…which I guess was kind of relevant. I even remember some girls in middle school bringing in High School Musical which was not really my jam.
But then you have films that are shown from the actual educational perspective. I could list off all the films from cinema class, but I feel like that would be cheating. Of course, there is the obligatory Romeo & Juliet class in English class. In my business law class, we watched a few which were really great with gems like A Time to Kill, A Civil Action, and Erin Brockovich.
But with all of the countless films from school I watched, one stands apart…Dead Poets Society.
Then you have an endless flow of (probably) historically incorrect flicks that populated my history classes.
The year was 2010 and it was the second half of my senior year advanced English class. I had missed three days that year because of a terrible sinus infection including the first day of watching this movie I had never heard of. Luckily, there was plenty of setup for that class period, so I only missed like 15-minutes of the class. But when I came back to school and started watching the film, I was blown away. High school Shane was before I became a true cinephile (college really helped with broadening my horizons). In high school, I mostly went for the genre films like science fiction and action/adventure where my imagination could run wild. I honestly did not spend much of my time watching straight dramas. Even now, I am very partial to genre flicks, but I love it when I find a real human drama that can impact me on such a personal level.
What is a great example of this experience? Dead Poets Society. But what makes this film so perfect?
The easy answer is SO much…but that would not make for an interesting article to read. The one most important ingredient to this impactful and affecting drama is Robin Williams.
Williams is one of the most beloved performers of all and personally holds a special place in cinephile life. He could do it all! Crazy over-the-top characters, hilarious comedic performances, and chilling roles that people did not expect. But the roles that really grabbed us…and the Academy…were his deeply dramatic turns.
One of his Oscar nominations came with his impressive performance as Mr. Keating. This teacher is the one we all wished we had. He was a visionary who pushed his students to learn and grow truly and deeply. His method was bold and outside the box, he scared his peers but inspired his students. Think! Feel! Grow! That is what Mr. Keating wanted for his students. We could all use a captain like him in our lives to truly bring the most out of us.
His iconic words “Carpe diem! Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary” hang high in my office. Those words inspire me every day and hopefully all of the students who stop by. You find Williams’ trademark energy distilled in this performance but some more mature and subdued as well. It will always be my favorite of his. I would stand tall on my desk to honor Mr. Keating.
Williams alone is worth the price of admission but what else raises Dead Poets Society above so many other films?
Peter Weir. This Australian director has made quite the name for himself over the years. Hitting out of the gate strong as he directed arguably the most important film in Australian cinema history with Gallipoli. He captured the world of the Amish culture in Witness. He took us into a strange and all too familiar world of The Truman Show. He even took audiences to the high seas in Master & Commander. But no matter the film, there was a level of beauty and atmosphere that is so uniquely Weir.
The dreamlike quality of the film is engrossing and compelling in such an emotional way. Weir’s tender hand creates an utterly unique experience.
I felt entranced in every moment of the film.
Especially during a climatic and emotionally devastating scene that captures smoke in the air like poetry in motion. I find it sad that the world of cinema did not see more work from Weir but what we do have is most impressive.
Dead Poets Society is raw and intimate as it pours out with texture and heart.
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For a film that is lacking in action and thrills, the pace is impressive. Throw in the keen eye of John Seale with his photography and the moving score from Maurice Jarre that pours over you and you have a unique cinematic experience.
For a film about a group of young students, you certainly need a well-acted and memorable ensemble, don’t you?
Well, Dead Poets Society can boast that as well. Long before gracing the small screen in House, Robert Sean Leonard led this group of rebellious and curious young men as Neil. Neil is the leader who aspires beyond the box his father wishes for him to stay in. But on a quick aside, Kurtwood Smith’s Mr. Perry is an intense and intimidating presence and who could blame Neil for fearing his will. But Neil sparks this connection to Mr. Keating and branches out as an artist. His performance within performance during A Midsummer’s Night Dream is filled with energy and charisma. Neil’s journey may be tragic, but this emotional journey must be experienced.
Gale Hansen is one of the most memorable and the most rebellious as Charlie. His bold choices and pranks are legendary for teens all over and may just inspire a few copycats. He pushes the group in new and exciting ways. Then we get to go on a love-struck venture with Josh Charles’ Knox.
But the biggest surprise is our audience proxy in the form of Todd Anderson. Todd is portrayed earnestly by a young and green Ethan Hawke. His talent is there as he shares some of the most important and meaningful scenes in the whole film with Williams. His poetry on the spot is so inspiring and leaves a lasting impression on me every time.
Has this article done enough to truly inspire you to seek out Dead Poets Society?
This beautiful and deeply affecting film will speak for itself. An experience that is formative in so many ways especially when seen at the right time. As a young man who never took risks and always stayed in his lane, this movie was revolutionary. I would never falsely accuse myself as a rogue, but this film inspired me to branch out and take risks more in my life for happiness.
When a film can deeply affect someone’s life in a lasting way, that is priceless. If you didn’t see this coming, my final words have to be…carpe diem, and watch this classic film today!
