Dead Poet's Society

Movie Title--  Dead Poets Society

Release Year--  1989

Running Time--  2 Hours and 8 Minutes

Director--  Tom Schulman

Cast--  Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, Gale Hansen, Dylan Kussman, James Waterson Kurtwood Smith

John Keating, a young English teacher at Welton Academy preparatory school, helps the students learn to love poetry and seize the day.

A group of Welton Academy seniors, Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard), Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke), Knox Overstreet (Josh Charles), Charlie Dalton (Gale Hansen), Richard Cameron (Dylan Kussman), Steve Meeks (Allelon Ruggiero) and Gerald Pitts (James Waterson) are ready to finish up their last year and move on to the next thing.  They are very quickly thrown for a loop when their new English teacher, Mr. John Keating (Robin Williams) strides into his first class whistling the 1812 Overture.  

Mr. Keating then asks the class to follow him.  He teaches the boys to carpe diem by showing him the pictures of the senior classes of the past and encouraged them to live for the day.  He even urges them, if they were brave enough, to refer to him as "O' Captain my Captain".  The boys find Mr. Keating's senior annual and discover that he was a member of the "Dead Poet's Society".  

When they question Mr. Keating about it, he tells them that the "Dead Poet's Society" was a secret club they formed to go and share the works of the great poets.  The boys decide to revive the club and meet in the same cave just off the school grounds that the orginal group had met in.  Through the club and Mr. Keating, the boys grow and truly learn to carpe diem.

I am sorry that the synopsis of this film is incredibly short but I think this film is absolutely brilliant and that everyone should experience.  This is a film that has to be watched.  You will never know how great a film this is by just reading the synopsis.  The group of boys consist of seven is just great to watch but the true crown jewel of this film has to be Robin Williams.  This is one of his more serious films and it is refreshing.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Robin Williams the funny man but it is good to see he had a serious side every once in a while.

There really is nothing bad to say about this film.  It does get tragically sad close to the end of the film, which as sad as it, it goes to show how big of an impact Mr. Keating has had on these boy's lives.  Mr. Keating is the teacher that every student wishes to get; he is engaging, he is interested and most importantly he cares if the students are learning.  

I picked this film because it  is perfect for fall; school is starting and the leaves are changing, it makes watching this film at this time of year that much more engaging.  Sit down with your friends and cozy up to this one but Don't Forget the Popcorn!