A Nice Movie About the Importance of the Arts in Schools

Rating: 8/10 (7 January 2017)

I like the intent behind this film. Having been a teacher for well over forty years, I know that there is a serious connection between success in school and life and arts education. This is a story of a dedicated teacher (although he is dedicated to the exclusion of just about anything else, including his family). He is played by Richard Dreyfuss and he does quite well, although Dreyfuss seems to play the exact same personality in just about everyone of his films. He touched on classical music before as a young pianist in "The Competition" with Amy Irving. Of course, his superhuman portrayal is almost a bit beyond the efforts of the most dedicated teachers. The one thing I do have trouble with is his close relationship with a couple female students. I know that even in the time of this film, Mr. Holland may not have an opus; he would have had another number in front of his picture. He was playing with fire. But all that aside, it portrays an excited, dedicated person who touched the lives of others.