Robin Williams Produces Fine Performance

Rating: Null/10 (6 March 2002)

Dead Poets Society provides a performance that surely rates among the best acting that Robin Williams has produced during his career. This film seeks to celebrate the discovery of life, during adolescence. Robin Williams character, English professor John Keating, inspires his students to live life to the fullest and "Seize the day". Their lives are indeed brightened and sharpened as they awaken their minds to beautiful poetry, while their eyes are opened to a myriad of new sensations around them. Whereas their parents have high academic hopes for these boys, the young men themselves are discovering that there is more to life than following parental ambition. But, this conflict leads to tragedy as these two desires collide. The expression upon the face of Mr Keating following this tragedy and the inner turmoil that he displays touches one deep inside. The school though acts in the interests of ruthless self preservation, while Mr Keating's boys show their solidarity behind the teacher that has awoken their hungry minds. It is certainly a shame that Robin Williams does not use his performance in this film as a touchstone for other performances. Whereas he is measured in his acting in Dead Poets Society, other films betray a tendency to overact and ere in the side of sickly sweet sentimentality.