DEAD POETS SOCIETY (1989) (***1/2)

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This Best Picture Oscar nominee falls into that popular subgenre of inspirational films — the great teacher movie. Set in 1959 at a conservative prep school, Peter Weir's film is about learning for sure, but it's mainly about carpe diem — Latin for seize the day. Through poetry, a teacher tries to teach his students to think, which in a conformist's world can be very dangerous.

This inspiring teacher is John Keating (Robin Williams, GOOD WILL HUNTING), an unorthodox English teacher who wants his students to become extraordinary. Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke, BEFORE SUNRISE) is new to the school, but expectations are high due to the previous success of his older brother at St. Andrew's. His roommate Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard, TV's HOUSE) is a joiner who likes to try new things and goes out of his way to include the shy Todd. However, he also feels trapped in a life not of his own choosing, planned out precisely for years to come by his father (Kurtwood Smith, TV's THAT '70S SHOW). Knox Overstreet (Josh Charles, FOUR BROTHERS) is a lovelorn young man who falls for the pretty Chris Noel (Alexandra Powers, RISING SUN), who unfortunately is dating the local high school's football star. Charlie Dalton (Gale Hansen, SHAKING THE TREE) is a free spirit who takes to Mr. Keating with passion.

Keating was once a student at the school and the young men discover that he was a member of a group called the Dead Poets Society, which embraced "sucking the marrow out of life." Neil decides to reform the Society. Meetings are held in an old Indian cave at night after hours. Weir films the first meeting in such a way that it makes sneaking out to read poetry in the woods romantic and daring. The key students are Todd, Neil and Knox — each of their stories revealing the various positive aspects of Keating's teachings. But Tom Schulman's Oscar-winning script doesn't shy away from some negative influences, watching as Charlie acts out and tries to get expelled. Still the story comes back to how Keating handles the boys when his call for free thinking spurs misbehavior.

Williams gained an Oscar nomination for his measured performance. While Keating's methods are flashy, Williams plays the character with a quiet passion. At the time the young no-name actors were an amazing bit of casting. Many have gone on to have solid careers. Hawke and Leonard particular stand out because they are such opposites. Hawke is wonderful as a painfully shy young man who learns to express himself and take a stand for what he believes is right. Leonard's Neil has an inspiring personality — kind and full of energy. But could that exuberance be a front that covers up a well of hurt fueled by his father's controlling ways?

DEAD POETS SOCIETY is a romantic film in that it idealizes youthful passion. Keating is a great teacher not necessarily because of how he teaches or what he teaches, but because he cares. He sees that an oral assignment scares the hell out Todd and finds a way to help the young man overcome his fears. He knows the strict rule of Neil's father, guiding Neil in ways to talk to his father. When Charlie gets in trouble for a prank, he reprimands him in a way that teaches and gives good reason for why following some rules might be a good idea. Students have many teachers in their lives, but few mentors. In the rigid environment of the 1950s prep school, Keating encourages these students to live every day like it is their last — a simple message that we all need to be reminded of from time to time.

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