May Dead Poets Live On!

Rating: 10/10 (15 February 2003)

When "The Simpsons" comments on this movie destroying the profession of education, it made me want to watch it. This movie is good for ten reasons...
1) Peter Weir directs with a haunting hand and certain scenes show it very well. 2) Robin Williams blew me away as John Keating. It made me wonder why he didn't win the Oscar for Best Actor. 3) The story and plotting were exceptional. I didn't expect the suicide scene near the conclusion. 4) Ethan Hawke showed his early star power here as the silent student who wants to be a poet. 5) Robert Sean Leonard pulled in an excellent performance as the student wanting to do things his way. 6) All the supporting performances were well-done and not overacted. 7) The cinematography was crisp and clear. The scene with the bike going down the hill is the best example I can offer there. 8) This was a movie about a teacher inspiring students and I have a soft spot for films like this. 9) There is a good warning in film about actions having unexpected and very unintentional consequences. 10) The last five minutes are unbelieveable. If I were in a theater, I would have given a standing ovation.
With those reasons, this film gets 10 out of 10! "The Dead Poets Society" rules and may it live on. Here ends my rant!