Try Demian, Potter or Vietnam instead

Rating: 4/10 (10 April 2003)

Well I'd heard great things about this movie, but it didn't really cut the mustard for me.
There are potentially great issues up for debate here, but they are not properly dealt with in this movie: - does the traditional, disciplined style of education work? - should parents strongly direct their children's career paths? - are teenagers easily influenced by parents, teachers etc. or not? - is it possible to pull by making an idiot of yourself?
I went to a public school (message to non UK readers - "public" means "private, elitist" in the UK) albeit not as a border and nowhere near as grand a place as that depicted in the film. I recognised some of the boys angst. I recognised some of the teacher types - even Keating seemed like only a slightly exaggerated form of one or two teachers I knew.
But the film didn't work. It seemed manipulative to me. It didn't grapple with the issues where it mattered. It was sanctimonious. It was predictable. No school that stuffy would have hired such a notorious alumnus to teach.
If you want great stuff on influences on young people and their educational angst, try reading Demian and/or The Glass Bead Game by Herman Hesse. If elitist schools is your bag, read or see the Harry Potter stuff. If Robin Williams being the maverick takes your fancy, try Good Morning, Vietnam.
Life is short, so when "gathering ye rosebuds while ye may", I suggest you gather some other stuff and give the dead poets a miss.