Inspirational ensemble piece about a New England prep school in the 1950s. Robin Williams gives a charming performance as Mr Keating, the English teacher with unconventional teaching methods, imbuing his pupils with a zest for life and a will to independent thought. (He reminds me of my own Mr Williams at Merchiston Castle School.) A strong cast includes Ethan Hawke as Todd Anderson, a shy boy of great potential, who blossoms under Keating's tutelage; Robert Sean Leonard as his father-pecked roommate; Kurtwood Smith as the father; and Josh Charles, amongst a whole classful of vivid characters.
This is a feelgood film and a potential tear-jerker; but was a little more twee than I remembered from previous viewings. The Dead Poets Society (surely that needs a plural apostrophe?) is a clandestine reading group revived by Keating's pupils, following in his own tradition as an alumni of their school.
Nugget: Williams's most endearing performance?
No comments:
Post a Comment