The best movie about prep school to date.

Rating: 10/10 (4 April 2001)

A lot has changed since the 1950s when this film takes place, but the movie captures the essence of prep school perfectly. There great, innovative teachers like Mr. Keating and very traditional instructors who would slap you on the wrist if you made a mistake. More importantly the attitude of the boys is right on in Peter Weir's film. I go to a New England prep school and the way the kids act is dead on, from their pranks to exhibiting their intelligence in other ways such as quoting Whitman as their own stuff to impress some not so smart girls from the town. "Dead Poets" also nails down the fact that prep school kids work their butts off at school, and the amounts of pressure put on some kids is astronomical. Technically, Peter Weir's direction is excellent and the cinematography complements him well, but the real treasure of this movie is the acting from all the students especially Ethan Hawke. And oh yeah Robin Williams gives the best performance of his career, hands down.