No amount of last-minute desk standing is going to save the career and reputation of the best thing to ever happen to both Welton Academy and the young men who all seem to hate it there. It truly felt as though when the biggest test to their lessons presented itself, they all failed epically. Keating’s termination due to pressure and fear. But you have to understand, how on Pete’s green Earth could a movie about nonconformity end with 1.) the main character committing suicide because he sees no way out of his father’s control and expectations and 2.) all of the Dead Poets Society members (minus the expelled “Nuwanda”) signing Mr. Is it common to go from one end of the emotional spectrum to a much more medium position. Keating To Stand Or Not To Stand: A Failed First Attemptįirst, let’s discuss the issues of this film. Twas always thus, and always thus will be. “Show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams, and I’ll show you a happy man.” But only in their dreams can men be truly free. Dead Poets Society isn’t fun, it isn’t action-packed, and the romance is pretty sketchy - but it’s probably the greatest film of all time when it comes to dismantling society, encouraging free thinkers, and sticking it to the man. Once you have the slow plot and awkward acting under your belt, one can actually tune in and appreciate the bigger picture, the grander messaging. Once frustrated with the IMDb reviews gushing over how it’s one of the greatest films ever, or how it completely changed their lives, or even how the film inspired them to become a teacher, I now felt… less frustrated? Maybe even able to relate? Dare I say, moved? This time I knew what I was getting myself into, and this time, I was able to appreciate the extraordinary magic that is carpe diem. So director Peter Weir and I had another showdown as I cued up Hulu one last time, several weeks later, to hate-watch the film for this very piece.īut, not-so-unfortunately, the dust had settled, and the hype of a never-before-seen classic had dissipated. Even I felt compelled to “suck out all of the marrow” i from this obnoxiously stale storyline. She was inspired to make the most of her life, to make it extraordinary. Yet, as people hastily pointed out on YouTube, “Fake Monica” is actually living the very essence of the film: carpe diem. Season 1, Episode 21: “The One with the Fake Monica.” 1994-2004. I, too, wanted those two hours of my life back.įriends. The “new” Monica is spontaneous with a thirst for life - and another adamant hater of Dead Poets Society (along with the much-esteemed Roger Ebert). I had very similar feelings to those of “Monica Geller” in the episode of Friends, where her identity gets stolen. In fact, one morning, I was watching re-runs of Friends on TBS, and I laughed out loud at the perfect coincidence unfolding before me. As the kids stood on their desks, I clutched tighter to my phone to avoid chucking it at the screen. Keating’s (Robin Williams) work go down the drain along with my understanding of cinematic masterpieces. It should also be noted that, at the end, it physically pained me to see all of Mr. It was difficult to connect with (or even care about) the characters, and it seemed as though Neil Perry’s suicide was just serving as a plot device to make the audience feel something. I paused way too many times throughout the agonizing two hours of Dead Poets Society because I needed a light at the end of the tunnel. “I Sound My Barbaric YAWP Over The Rooftops Of The World!” Honestly, I was not too fond of this film - similar to my loathing of the middle part for my face shape - but like all 90s trends in a world obsessed with vintage and reboots, these young men and an inspiring teacher wore me down. Expectations, hype, and raves are a cruel game of smoke and mirrors, and this movie did not live up to them during the first viewing. I suppose you could think of my journey through Dead Poets Society like any trend to ever exist: after all of the build-up, you simply stare at the mirror hating your new middle part.
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