Fine, touching but predictable

Rating: 7/10 (10 January 2007)

I liked the movie. I liked Richard Dreyfuss as a main hero, Mr. Holland, a Music Appreciation Class teacher. The movie is very true to the point when it speaks about teacher / class relations. I am a University teacher myself, and I surely do know what it is like to get a tight connection to the students' hearts, without losing either your integrity or your authority. I felt what Holland felt, I understood what he did wrong and what he did best. All his ups and downs, all his misgivings, wrong ideas for the class, bad relations with his hearing-impaired son, tough relations with the local educational authorities - everything is shown admirably well. Also, and it should be pointed out, the movie is especially good at the scope. The 30 years of the US history are shown briefly but very vividly and really well. What is really weak is the sheer predictability. Many Hollywood films are made this way - Good/Bad, Up/Down, White/Black. I mean, I could easily foretell when in the next scene Holland will have a problem or its graceful solution. Also, the grand finale is too sweet. I understand, Hollywood dictates the rules, so the serious film must have a refreshing, sweet final. But it was all too much. Too sweetish, too bombastic. Notwithstanding all that, in general, the movie is one of the few that really shows what teaching job is.