いまを生きる [Blu-ray]
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フォーマット | ドルビー, DTS Stereo, 色, 字幕付き, 吹き替え, ワイドスクリーン |
コントリビュータ | ゲイル・ハンセン, イーサン・ホーク, ロバート・ショーン・レナード, ロビン・ウィリアムズ, ピーター・ウィアー, ジョッシュ・チャールズ |
言語 | 英語, 日本語 |
稼働時間 | 1 時間 48 分 |
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商品の説明
『いまを生きる』
<ストーリー>
1959年バーモントの秋。名門校ウェルトン・アカデミーに1人の新任教師がやって来た。同校のOBでもあるというジョン・キーティング(ロビン・ウィリアムズ)だ。伝統と規律に縛られた生活を送る生徒たちに、キーティングは型破りな授業を行う。「先入観にとらわれず自分の感性を信じ、自分自身の声を見つけろ」とキーティングは、若者たちに潜在する可能性を喚起する。風変わりな授業に最初はとまどっていた生徒たちも、次第に目を開かされ、キーティングへの関心は高まってゆく。中でも7人の生徒たちはキーティングの資料をもとに“死せる詩人の会"を結成し、深夜に寮を抜け出して洞窟に集まり、自らを自由に語り合うようになる。恋をする者、芝居に目覚める者…。皆がそれぞれの道を歩みはじめたかのようにみえた時、ある事件が起こった。そしてその事件をきっかけに、生徒たちは再び学校体制下に引き戻されそうになるのだが…。
<キャスト&スタッフ>
ジョン・キーティング: ロビン・ウィリアムズ / 堀勝之祐
ニール・ペリー: ロバート・ショーン・レナード / 古田信幸
トッド・アンダーソン: イーサン・ホーク / 松本保典
ノックス・オーバーストリート: ジョッシュ・チャールズ / 山寺宏一
チャーリー・ダルトン: ゲイル・ハンセン / 堀内賢雄
リチャード・キャメロン: ディラン・クスマン / 星野充昭
スティーブン・ミークス: アレロン・ルッジェロ / 小野健一
ジェラルド・ピッツ: ジェームス・ウォーターストン / 山口健
ノーラン校長: ノーマン・ロイド / 上田敏也
ペリー氏: カートウッド・スミス / 仁内建之
クリス: アレキサンドラ・パワーズ / 深実りか
監督: ピーター・ウィアー
製作: スティーブン・ハフト、ポール・ユンガー・ウィット、トニー・トーマス
脚本: トム・シュルマン
撮影: ジョン・シール(A.C.S.)
音楽: モーリス・ジャール
<ボーナス・コンテンツ>
●キャストが振り返る作品の魅力
●未公開シーン集
●サウンドの達人
●撮影監督の視点
●オリジナル劇場予告編
●音声解説
※商品情報は変更になる場合があります。
登録情報
- アスペクト比 : 1.78:1
- メーカーにより製造中止になりました : いいえ
- 言語 : 英語, 日本語
- 製品サイズ : 25 x 2.2 x 18 cm; 90.72 g
- EAN : 4959241713636
- 監督 : ピーター・ウィアー
- メディア形式 : ドルビー, DTS Stereo, 色, 字幕付き, 吹き替え, ワイドスクリーン
- 時間 : 1 時間 48 分
- 発売日 : 2012/7/4
- 出演 : ロビン・ウィリアムズ, ロバート・ショーン・レナード, イーサン・ホーク, ジョッシュ・チャールズ, ゲイル・ハンセン
- 字幕: : 英語, 日本語
- 言語 : 日本語 (Dolby Digital 5.1), 英語 (Dolby Digital 5.1)
- 販売元 : ウォルト・ディズニー・ジャパン株式会社
- ASIN : B007IPF7MQ
- 原産国 : 日本
- ディスク枚数 : 1
- Amazon 売れ筋ランキング: - 8,819位DVD (DVDの売れ筋ランキングを見る)
- - 47位外国の青春映画
- - 753位外国のドラマ映画
- - 1,235位ブルーレイ 外国映画
- カスタマーレビュー:
-
トップレビュー
上位レビュー、対象国: 日本
レビューのフィルタリング中に問題が発生しました。後でもう一度試してください。
今この時代だからこそ観て欲しいと思える内容でした。
とても素晴らしい映画だと思います。
まず、DEAD MAN SOCIETYをうたっているのに、詩の朗読がとても少ないことが気になりました。
キーティング先生の破天荒な授業に、生徒が惹き付け行くところ、
あと、キーティング先生が泣きそうになる所がうるっとしました。
あと、真夏の世の夢の劇!幻想的で最高でした。dialogすばらしい。今度、本か劇みてみます
ラストはキーティング先生はもちろん、ぼくもなんだか報われた。観てよかった。
観たいと思いつつも、数十年経過。
大人になった今だから観ようとPrimeにて視聴。
伝統ある由緒正しき名門進学校の(しかも全寮制)男子校での学生たちの心の変化を丁寧に描いた作品。
転校してきたトッドと同室で、生徒たちのリーダー格で信頼されているニールを中心に心の変化が分かります。ニールは大人しく馴染めないトッドを気にかけて、色々と声を掛けて仲間になれるようにしてあげています。
学校へ新しく赴任してきた教師がロビン・ウィリアムズ演じるジョン。
いつも規則に縛られている生徒たちにとって、破天荒な授業をするジョンの存在は、最初は戸惑いが大きかったものの徐々に心を開いていきます。
映画の随所に【今しかない時間を大切に。人と違って当たり前。自分らしく生きることが素晴らしい】という意味合いが込められていると感じました。
多感な時期であり、親や教師に反抗したくても結局はまだまだ子供。
規則、親の敷いたレールを走るしかない生徒たち。自分の心の中をさらけだしても良いのだ、ということもジョンから学んでいきます。
親に言いたい事も言えない、でも自分は大人になった気もちでいる中途半端な自分・・・
この年頃の我が身を見せられている気がしました。
反抗したところで、何が変わるわけでもなく何となく生きていた気がします。
ニールの強く熱い心の内を仲間たちに打ち明け、実行するものの厳格な親に反対され・・・・
ニールの心の叫び、悲しみ、そして自分自身を嘆いての行動。
友人たちにも影響を及ぼし、教師であるジョンも責任を取らされてしまいます。
が、最後の最後で、あの人見知りをしていて心をなかなか開かなかったトッドが変わったのです。
ジョンによって、そしてニールによって彼は今を一生懸命、自分なりに生きると決めて行動したのです。
人生で一度きりしかない年ごろの話。
こういう出会いが私にもあったら、私も変われたのかもしれないと涙を流しつつ視聴を終えました。
ロビン・ウィリアムズでなければ演じられなかったと思います。
(余談ですけど、ニールの父役がロボコップのあの悪役だったとは。
びっくり。)
ネタバレあり
ニールが親に進路を反対され絶望的になって自殺。
思春期にはありえることかも知れないけど、時代を感じます。あり得ないです。
仲間が裏切って密告をしなぜか先生のせいにする。
自殺をしたのは先生のせいではない、父親のせい。今で言えばパワハラ、虐待と同じ。
やっぱり古さを感じました。
途中校長の暴力行為もあり・・・あーそういう時代なんだ・・・。
最後のシーンは感動ではありません。音楽で感動に見せようとしていますが、自分たちの保身のために大好きな先生に罪を被せて退職に追いやったのに、良くできるなあ???
これは時代は関係なくおかしいと思いました。
もしも私なら合わす顔もありません。自責の念で顔もあげられません。なぜなら大嘘をつき善良な先生の人生を大きく狂わせたからです。
もしかしたら、先生だって退職後に悲観して自殺するかも知れませんね。
おおキャプテンだなんて言えません。
きれいごとと欺瞞に満ちたラストでした。
タイトルのいまを生きるってなんでしょうか??
大好きな友が自殺し、善良な先生を退職に追いやり、それでも胸を張ってこれからの自分の人生に輝きを持ち大切に生きて行けますか??
規則が厳しい全寮制の進学校の男子生徒たちに新任の教師が型に捉われず想像力や夢を持つことの大切さをカリスマ的に説く映画でした。生徒たちが夜中に抜け出して詩を朗読して楽しむ姿が生き生きとしていて印象的でした。前半の生き生きとしたワクワク感と後半になるにつれての夢と進路との現実感が対照的でした。
見終わるとチャーリーがいい意味で登場時と違った印象で好きな登場人物でした。
友人に勧められたので、当時BS放送されていた映画をVHS録画したのでした。
思春期真っただ中の私は非常に感動し、衝撃を受けました。
毎月のように繰り返し何度も見ました。セリフを全て覚えてしまうぐらい、本当に何度も見ました。「いまを生きる」これが自分の座右の銘になりました。何か悩んだり不安があったりしても、今を楽しんで今がよければいいじゃないかという精神で生きてきました。これもすべてこの映画の影響なのでした。
やがてDVD版も購入し、何度も見ました。悩んだり、凹んだりする度に繰り返し見ました。
そんな自分も今ではもうすっかり中年になりました。気づけばもう何年もこの映画を観ていません。それでも今でも座右の銘を聞かれれば「いまを生きる」です。今でも一番好きな映画はと聞かれれば「いまを生きる」です。
自分なりに、今できることを精一杯やって生きてきているつもりです。
この映画はいまの自分を形成したとても大事なファクターのひとつとなっています。
是非、この名作が永遠に語り継がれていくことを祈っています。
久しぶりに観よう。
他の国からのトップレビュー



Retour et remboursement demandés

"Was ist der Club der toten Dichter?" - "Ich bezweifle, dass unsere Schulleitung den heute gern sehen würde." - "Wieso nicht? Was war das?"
Mit Robin Williams (1951-2014, Nachts im Museum 1-3, Jumanji, Mrs. Doubtfire, Flubber, Hook, Popeye, 94 Folgen Mork vom Ork '78-82, Oscar-Gewinner '98 für Good Will Hunting, plus 3 weitere Nominierungen für Good Morning Vietnam, König der Fischer und seine Rolle hier) als Englischlehrer "Er ist ebenfalls ein Absolvent dieser Schule!" John Keating "O Captain! Mein Captain! Wer weiß, von wem das ist? Es ist aus einem Gedicht von Walt Whitman über Mr. Abraham Lincoln. Also, Sie sprechen mich entweder mit Mr. Keating an oder, wenn Sie etwas mutiger sind, sagen Sie: O Captain! Mein Captain!"
"Wieso stehe ich hier oben? Gerade wenn man glaubt, etwas zu wissen, muss man es aus einer anderen Perspektive betrachten, selbst wenn es einem albern vorkommt oder unnötig erscheint. Gentlemen, Sie müssen sich um eine eigene Perspektive bemühen! Haben Sie den Mut, Ihren eigenen Weg zu suchen!"
Robert Sean Leonard (Claudio in Shakespeares Viel Lärm um nichts, 174 Folgen Dr. House '04-12) als vom Vater unterdrückter "Puck" Neil Perry "Wir stellen hohe Erwartungen an Sie!" - "Danke, Sir." - "Er enttäuscht uns bestimmt nicht. Nicht, Neil?" - "Ich werde mein Bestes tun, Sir." ("Ich weiß es jetzt!" - "Was weißt du?" - "Ich weiß, was ich machen will. Was wirklich meiner Begabung entspricht. Ich will Schauspieler werden! Das Theater bedeutet mir ALLES!")
Ethan Hawke (4 Oscar-Nominierungen für Training Day, Boyhood und seine Drehbücher zu Before Sunset und Before Midnight) als schüchterner Todd Anderson "Mr. Anderson, Sie treten ein schweres Erbe an, junger Mann. Ihr Bruder war einer unserer Besten!" - "Examensbester, hat ein Stipendium gekriegt als bester Schüler!"
Gale Hansen (mit Rob Lowe in S.E.A.L.S.- Die härteste Elitetruppe der U.S. Marine) als aufmüpfiger, Saxophon spielender Charlie Dalton "Gentlemen, die vier Grundprinzipien: Travestie. Ekel. Dekadenz. Lethargie." ("Ich wollte noch sagen, dass ich im Namen der toten Dichter einen Artikel geschrieben habe, für die Schülerzeitung." - "Was?" - "Darin fordern wir, dass sie auch Mädchen aufnehmen in Welton!")
Allelon Ruggiero (mit Denzel Washington in Dämon: Trau keiner Seele) als sympathischer Streber Meeks "Meeks ist ein Ass in Latein!"
James Waterston (Sohn von Sam Waterston: Oscar-Nominierung '85 für The Killing Fields) als Bohnenstange mit Bürstenhaarschnitt Pitts
Dylan Kussman (X-Men 2, Jack Reacher, Die Mumie) als verklemmter, überkorrekter Cameron
"Die Sprache ist nur zu einem Zweck entwickelt worden und der ist?" - "Um zu kommunizieren?" - "Nein, um Frauen zu umwerben!"
Josh Charles (Einsam zweisam dreisam, S.W.A.T.- Die Spezialeinheit, 108 Folgen Good Wife '09-16) als verliebter Knox Overstreet "Heute Abend bin ich dem absolut schönsten Mädchen meines Lebens begegnet!" ("Ich kann sie nicht einfach vergessen! Carpe diem! Und wenn ich dabei draufgehe!")
Alexandra Powers (Tonya Harding in Die Eisprinzessin und das Biest) als Cheerleaderin Chris "Sie ist praktisch verlobt mit Chet Danburry!" ("Wie kann sich so ein hübsches Mädchen in so einen Spinner verknallen?")
Colin Irving (Gottes Werk und Teufels Beitrag) als Footballer und "Muskelprotz", Chris Freund Chet "Nächstes Mal mache ich dich alle, nur damit das klar ist!"
Kurtwood Smith (200 Folgen Die wilden Siebziger '98-06, RoboCop, Rambo III) als Neils Vater Mr. Perry "Ich habe gerade mit Mr. Nolan gesprochen. Ich denke, dass du dir zu viele Aktivitäten für dieses Schuljahr vorgenommen hast und habe deshalb beschlossen, dass du das Schuljahrbuch aufgibst." - "Vater, das kann ich nicht..." - "Jungs, würdet ihr uns einen Augenblick entschuldigen?" ("Wag es nie wieder, mir in der Öffentlichkeit zu widersprechen! Wenn du dein Medizinstudium beendet hast und auf eigenen Füßen stehst, kannst du tun und lassen, was du willst, aber bis dahin wirst du das tun, was ich dir sage! Ist das klar?")
Norman Lloyd (1914-2021, Alfred Hitchcocks Saboteure '42, Ich kämpfe um dich '45; wurde 106 Jahre alt!) als Schulleiter Mr. Nolan "Das Licht des Wissens!" ("Vor hundert Jahren, im Jahre 1859, haben hier 41 Jungen gesessen und man stellte ihnen dieselbe Frage mit der auch wir Sie heute zum Anfang des neuen Semesters begrüßen wollen: Gentlemen, wie lauten die vier Grundprinzipien?" - "TRADITION. EHRE. DISZIPLIN. LEISTUNG.")
"Ich wollte mit dieser Übung etwas veranschaulichen... Die Gefahren der Konformität..." - "John, der Lehrplan steht fest! Er hat sich bewährt und ist effektiv. Wenn Sie ihn in Frage stellen, könnten die Jungs dasselbe tun." - "Ich habe immer geglaubt, Erziehung hätte selbstständiges Denken zum Ziel?" - "Bei Jungen dieses Alters? Niemals! Tradition, John. Disziplin! Bereiten Sie sie aufs College vor, dann wird sich alles Andere auch einstellen!"
Regie führte im Jahr 1989 (Originaltitel: Dead Poets Society) mit einem Budget von 16,4 Mio. $ der 45-jährige Australier Peter Weir (5 Oscar-Nominierungen für Der einzige Zeuge, Der Club der toten Dichter, Die Truman Show, Master and Commander und das Drehbuch zu Green Card: Schein-Ehe mit Hindernissen). Der 39-jährige US-Amerikaner Tom Schulman (Was ist mit Bob?) schrieb das Oscar-prämierte Drehbuch. Die Kamera hielt der 47-jährige Australier John Seale (Oscar-Gewinner für Der englische Patient, plus 4 weitere Nominierungen für Der einzige Zeuge, Rain Man, Unterwegs nach Cold Mountain, Mad Max: Fury Road). Die Musik komponierte der 65-jährige Franzose Maurice Jarre (1924-2009, Oscar-Gewinner für Lawrence von Arabien, Doktor Schiwago und Reise nach Indien, plus 6 weitere Nominierungen, u.a. für Gorillas im Nebel und Ghost: Nachricht von Sam).
Auch die Synchronisation lässt sich hören: Robin Williams wird von seiner Standardstimme Peer Augustinski (1940-2014, Dschinni in Disneys Aladdin) gesprochen, Robert Sean Leonard von Benjamin Völz (Keanu Reeves, Charlie Sheen, James Spader, David Duchovny, Matthew McConaughey), Ethan Hawke von Andreas Fröhlich (Recherchen und Archiv Bob Andrews, John Cusack, Edward Norton, Gollum in Herr der Ringe), Charlie von Stefan Krause (Billy Boyd "Pippin" in Herr der Ringe, Paul Giamatti), Meeks von Sven Plate (Will Wheaton "Wesley Crusher" in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Bugs Bunny), Pitts von Torsten Sense (Val Kilmer), Cameron von Oliver Rohrbeck (Erster Detektiv Justus Jonas, Ben Stiller), Knox von Nicolas Böll (Tom Cruise in Ridley Scotts Legende, Nicholas Rowe "Sherlock Holmes" in Das Geheimnis des verborgenen Tempels, David Wenham "Faramir" in Herr der Ringe), Chris von Maud Ackermann (Jennifer Beals in Flashdance, Phoebe Cates in Gremlins), Mr. Perry von Randolf Kronberg (1942-2007, Eddie Murphy, William Hurt) und Direktor Nolan von Friedrich Schoenfelder (1916-2011, David Niven, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Michael Gough "Alfred Pennyworth" in Batman 1-4, Doc Hudson in Cars).
"Ich ging in die Wälder, denn ich wollte wohlüberlegt leben. Intensiv leben wollte ich, das Mark des Lebens in mich aufsaugen, um alles auszurotten, was nicht Leben wahr. Damit ich nicht in der Todesstunde innewürde, dass ich gar nicht gelebt hatte." – Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)
_Fazit: 129 Minuten Oscar-prämiertes* (Achtziger Jahre) Coming-of-Age- und Jugend-Drama mit Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard und Ethan Hawke. "Regisseur Peter Weir findet für die bewegende Story faszinierende Bilder. Ein in Thema und Machart gleichermaßen beachtlicher Film, in dem sich Humor, jugendliche Abenteuerlust, Tragik und revolutionärer Geist fast nach klassischem Maßstab die Waage halten" (Lexikon des internationalen Films). Ein Film, der in vielerlei Hinsicht mein Leben prägte (ich sah den Film damals mit 16, die Jungen im Film sind 17). "Bereits in der ersten Unterrichtsstunde wird den Schülern deutlich, dass Keating anders ist als alle anderen Lehrer" (Filmstarts). "Sie können doch gehen, wohin Sie wollen. Was hält Sie überhaupt hier?" - "Ich unterrichte aber gern. Ich möchte nirgendwo anders sein." Für mich wie immer subjektiv und reine Geschmackssache: 5/5***** Note 1
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EXTRAS (der Blu-ray): Der Club der toten Dichter: Ein Blick zurück 26:56, Zusätzliche Szenen 7:58, Sounddesigner Alan Splet 10:59, Kamera: Meisterklasse 14:48, Kinotrailer 2:46, ein Wendecover gibt es leider nicht.
Bildformat: 1.85:1 (16:9 High Definition 1080p), Sprache/Ton: Deutsch, Italienisch, Spanisch (Dolby Digital 5.1), Englisch (DTS-HD 5.1), Französisch (DTS-HD 5.0), Untertitel: Deutsch, Englisch, Französisch, Italienisch, Spanisch, Portugiesisch, Englisch für Hörgeschädigte
*Oscar-Gewinner für das beste Originaldrehbuch, plus 3 weitere Nominierungen in den Kategorien: bester Film, beste Regie, bester Hauptdarsteller (Robin Williams)
"Carpe diem, nutzet den Tag, Jungs! Macht etwas Außergewöhnliches aus eurem Leben!"

1997 Academy Award® winner Robin Williams for Best Supporting Actor delivers one of the most memorable performances in ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ and now digitally restored and presented for the first time ever in breath-taking Blu-ray High Definition.
For generations, Welton Academy student’s class of 1959 have been groomed to live their stuffy lives of conformity and tradition and until a new professor John Keating [Robin Williams] inspires them to think for themselves, live life to the fullest and “Carp Diem.” This unconventional approach awakens the spirits of the students, but draws the wrath of a disapproving faculty when an unexpected tragedy strikes the school. With unforgettable characters and beautiful cinematography, ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ will captivate and inspire you time and time again.
FILM FACT: Awards and Nominations: 1990 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Original Screenplay for Tom Schulman. Nominated: Best Actor in a Leading Role for Robin Williams. Nominated: Best Director for Peter Weir. Nominated: Best Picture for Producers Paul Junger Witt, Steven Haft and Tony Thomas. 1989 British Academy Film Awards: Win: Best Film. Win: Best Original Film Score for Maurice Jarre. Nominated: Best Actor in a Leading Role for Robin Williams. Nominated: Best Achievement in Direction for Peter Weir. Nominated: Best Editing for William Anderson. Nominated: Nominated: Best Original Screenplay for Tom Schulman. César Awards [France]: Win: Best Foreign Film. David di Donatello Awards [Italy]: Win: Best Foreign Film. Golden Globe® Awards: Nominated: Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture in a Drama for Robin Williams. Nominated: Best Director in a Motion Picture for Peter Weir. Nominated: Best Motion Picture in a Drama. Nominated: Best Screenplay in a Motion Picture for Tom Schulman. Writers Guild of America: Nominated: Best Original Screenplay for Tom Schulman. The script was written by Tom Schulman, based on his experiences at the Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, particularly with his inspirational teacher Samuel Pickering. A scene in the original script showing John Keating dying in a hospital was removed by film director Peter Weir, giving Todd Anderson's gesture of standing on his desk the meaning of standing for one's belief. Filming took place at St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Delaware, and at locations in New Castle, Delaware and in and nearby Wilmington, Delaware.
Cast: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles, Gale Hansen, Norman Lloyd, Kurtwood Smith, Dylan Kussman, James Waterston, Allelon Ruggiero, Leon Pownall, Alexandra Powers, Kevin Cooney, Welker White, Debra Mooney, George Martin, Newton Gilchrist, Joel Fogel (uncredited), Barry Godin (uncredited), Kate Kearney-Patch (uncredited), Jamie Kennedy (uncredited), Nancy Kirk (uncredited) and James R. Stoddard (uncredited)
Director: Peter Weir
Producers: Duncan Henderson, Paul Junger Witt, Steven Haft and Tony Thomas
Screenplay: Tom Schulman
Composer: Maurice Jarre
Cinematography: John Seale A.C.S.
Video Resolution: 1080p [Metrocolor]
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo and French: 5.0 Dolby Digital
Subtitles: English SDH and French
Running Time: 129 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Touchstone Pictures
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: For those of a certain generation, the mere mention of Dead Poets Society might bring comments such as, "O Captain, my captain," "Carpe diem" or "so good, I bawled my eyes out." It's a story that follows a small group of boys in a New England preparatory school in the 1950s. Most are in their last year and are on a path they have not chosen for themselves. With the New Year, a new teacher arrives, Mr. John Keating [Robin Williams], who encourages the boys to think differently and to "seize the day." Each boy interprets the sentiment in their own way and is forever changed.
Watching this 1989 Best Picture nominee, it's a look back in time at a cast of young actors in their first big film, who are now much more familiar. Among them are Ethan Hawke [‘Daybreakers,’ ‘Before the Devil Knows You're Dead’ and ‘Training Day’]. Josh Charles [‘S.W.A.T.’ and Will Gardner in the CBS TV series ‘The Good Wife’] and Robert Sean Leonard [Dr. James Wilson on Fox's ‘House M.D.’]. Of course there's also Robin Williams, who was nominated for another Best Actor Oscar.
Even though the film as marketed as a Robin Williams film, it's really about all the boys. This is a story about them, not their teacher. In watching the bonus feature, "Dead Poets Society: A Look Back," each of the boys helped shape the film by giving their feedback as to how they, as a boy, would respond to the situations in the scene. Director Peter Weir listened to them and by taking their suggestions; the film has an honest and vulnerable tone.
So inspired are the students to “seize the day,” that they reformed “The Dead Poets Society,” an ultra-private group dating back to Keating days as a student. Together, while exploring their love for poetry, the young men form a strong bond. Neil Perry [Robert Sean Leonard] has a passion for acting despite his controlling father’s [Kurtwood Smith] demand that he go to medical school; Todd Anderson [Ethan Hawke] has big shoes to fill, as his brother was a star pupil at the school; Rich boy Charlie Dalton [Gale Hansen] seems to feel strangled by the school system, and just wants to escape; Knox Overstreet [Josh Charles] has fallen hard for a public high school student named Chris [Alexandra Powers], much to the displeasure of her macho boyfriend, Chet [Colin Irving].
Director Peter Weir [‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ and ‘The Truman Show’] helped Robin Williams deliver one of the best performances of his career. While Robin Williams does jump on desks and the like, his performance is brought down several notches from something like ‘Good Morning, Vietnam.’ Robin Williams’s performance won him a Golden Globe® Awards and deservedly so. It should be noted that the young actors performances are top notch and totally believable.
The acting in the film is absolutely superb, especially considering that for most of the young actors, this was their first big gig. Robin Williams steals the show, however, as the eccentric Mr. Keating, a man so passionate about teaching that he'd do just about anything to get his point across, including having the students read lines of poetry while kicking soccer balls, and relating Shakespeare to Brando. This of course means that despite the serious tone of the film, we still get to see a little bit of the madcap Williams during the height of his comedic career, and what good is a dash of humour if it doesn't help us cope with the more depressing events in the story.
Tom Schulman's heartfelt script takes the main character's relationships with Keating above and beyond the usual student-teacher connection. For many, Mr. Keating functions as a secondary father figure to the boys, both intelligent and strong, but without the more overbearing qualities, while still playing the role of the friend. And in the end, this is what makes the film so unique. It's a real shame that our current education system habitually looks down upon teachers such as these, pegging them as scapegoats to a much bigger problem, when all they're really trying to do is broaden the minds of their students. ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ is a great example of this, but not one that should be taken too seriously over time.
Blu-ray Video Quality – With this 2015 Touchstone Pictures of a 1989 release, ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ looks totally vibrant and clear and filmic term on this UK release Blu-ray disc. Exterior scenes and shots of the school, as well as the surrounding town and countryside, are nice and colourful and especially vibrant. Twilight images reflected off the pond and fall trees next to green pastures are totally delightful. The interior shots of the school feature a more controlled colour scheme, which gives the film its period and nostalgic feel just right. Skin tones are warm, and very natural. Black levels are crisp, though when you see a shadow there is nothing really hiding in it. Film grain fans of this film will rejoice, as this presentation looks very once again is a very filmic presentation and there doesn't appear to be any noise reduction or edge enhancement. Lastly, the Blu-ray's source material is in very good shape and I didn’t see any dirt or damage. While there is much to be admired, there is some occasional softness, especially during the opening title sequence, although that is quite common for many films with optically created titles. Also, the overall feel of the film is slightly flat looking, but again, this was quite common for 1980s film stock and beyond the daytime exteriors, never displays vast amounts of texture or fine detail.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – With this 2015 Touchstone Pictures they have brought you a very pleasing 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround soundtrack, as it was originally mixed for stereo only, and feel free to choose the stereo mix to compare the audio presentation, especially with the surround soundtrack expanded use of surrounds for things like musical score and the occasional sound effect. Since this is soundtrack of the 1989 era, ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ has a number of strengths, like the crystal clear dialogue, the nice dynamic range for the musical score and period songs used. A decent amount of stereo panning in the front sound speaker, which is not explosive, still holds up nicely, with especially supporting a low and mid-range music, vocal tones, and sound effects.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Dead Poets: A Look Back [2006] [480i] [1.33:1] [26:55] This is mostly a collection of interviews talking and praising the wonderful director Peter Weir and how he works with the actors, but sadly there is no sign of Robin Williams and his comments on working on the film ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY.’ But what we do get is some nice contributions from people like Melora Walters [Gloria]; Ethan Hawke [Todd Anderson]; Norman Lloyd [Mr. Nolan]; Robert Sean Leonard [Neil Perry]; Kurtwood Smith [Mr. Perry]; Dylan Kussman [Richard Cameron] and Allelon Ruggiero [Steven Meeks].
Special Feature: Raw Takes [1989] [480i] [1.33:1] [7:56] With this special feature we get the following unedited take that was shot as part of a sequence deleted from the final finished film, which was to be intercut with Neil’s suicide after the performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream;” where Mr. Keating [Robin Williams] visits the boys cave and then leads them to a frozen waterfall in the woods. The final shot illustrates Peter Weir’s use of music during shooting to motivate the actors. After viewing the deleted film sequences, you can understand why Peter Weir decided those particular scenes were not appropriate to be included into the final finished film.
Special Feature: Master of Sound: Alan Splet [1989] [480i] [1.33:1] [11:00] A very nice tribute to the film's supervising sound editor Alan Splet. With this special tribute bonus feature, here with director Peter Weir, who first came into contact with his on his film ‘Mosquito Coast’ and David Lynch also speaks about his experiences with the brilliant sound designer/editor Alan Splet, especially how knowledgably he was with classical music and was also a very accomplished classical musician and you get to see why they both respected Alan Splet 100%, as he was a totally dedicated professional sound designer, as he would only record natural organic outside sounds, instead of generating the sounds with electronic equipment. David Lynch also praises Alan Splet and says he was a joy to work with and also the best experience he had ever had with Alan Splet.
Special Feature: KODAK Cinematography Master Class [1993] [480i] [15:00] This KODAK Cinematography Master Class Series is of Australian John Seale A.C.S., and this follows him in the construction and lighting technique of “Creative Camera Techniques” similar to one of the dormitory bedroom sets in the ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ film to illustrate how specific choices are made to create different lighting atmospheres. What is also fascinating is how cinematographer John Seale prepared the scenes in the dormitory bedroom of Todd Anderson and Neil Perry. There are lots of technical words and concepts, but overall, anyone with any interest in film will find it immensely enjoyable and eye-opening look into how to light a film set. Narrated by Gabrielle Adkins. This was all shot in the studios of the Australian Film Television & Radio School. This program was sponsored by The KODAK World Wide Student Program.
Theatrical Trailer [1989] [480i] [1.33:1] [2:45] This is the original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY.’ What a shame they could not get hold of trailer with the 1.85:1 aspect ratio.
Audio Commentary: Commentary with Director Peter Weir, Cinematographer John Seale, and Academy Award-Winning Writer Thomas Schulman: This is the same audio commentary that as was featured on the inferior 2006 DVD release, where director Peter Weir, screenwriter Tom Schulman, and cinematographer John Seale A.S.C. is quiet laid-back, but occasionally dry, and packed with great insights and anecdotes. Director Peter Weir starts by saying he is fascinated by certain locations and buildings and would wonder how they would be in a film he directed. But when Peter Weir visited the St. Andrew's School in Middletown in Delaware, where he filmed ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ film and the different rooms he visited really stimulated him, so when you see at the start of the film, with the banners being displayed by the students and the candles being carried, Peter Weir thought it was a brilliant way to start the film. Screenwriter Tom Schulman talks about his early days in school and where tradition was drilled into him as a young person and really hated all the restriction he had to endure and was forced on him. Director Peter Weir also hated hi days in school and he got a lot of the same punishment you see in the film and the most detested thing he hated was having Latin forced down his throat and could not wait to leave school, but of course with his punishment he endured, he wanted this reflected in the film. Screenwriter Tom Schulman says that they decided not to present evil teachers versus good students, instead they wanted to show most teachers are just trying to do their best with their teaching methods, especially in the tradition of teaching in the film and throughout the ages. When Peter Weir was again at school he fell in love with poems, but when a particular poem he loved and was read out in the class by the teacher and where the teacher condemned the poem for bad structure, Peter Weir from that point hated poems and vowed not to read anymore poems, but with the film he directed, Peter started again to get interested and stimulated in poems. Screenwriter Tom Schulman tells us about his early days in school and where he used to sneak out at night and did rebel things like visiting bars that were forbidden and that is why he wanted scenes in the film where the students would rebel. When peter Weir was 12 years of age in Australia, all they had for entertainment is a big radiogram and was obsessed with listening to radio programmes, especially like plays because of the sound effects, but the most popular radio programme was the BBC “The Goon Show,” and the best place to listen was right under the radiogram where the Long Playing Records would be stored, as it was a great sound box, as it gave great sound effects, and that is why Peter Weir loves good audio sound in the films soundtrack. When you get to the point in the film where the boys in the snow after hearing the news about Neil’s suicide, they originally did that scene in a bathroom, but Peter Weir felt it didn’t work, so with a small film crew decided to do that scene again in the snow, they made sure there was no footprints in the snow with certain shots, but of course when they did different shots, they had to move 10 feet forward, but of course when Ethan Hawke’s ran off into the distance to the lake, they didn’t mind seeing the footprints. I would say hearing every time Peter Weir talks he is one of the most fascinating director filmmakers to spend time with as he just oozes with so much knowledge and is so passionate, and he never comes off as stuffy or self-adoring. Although containing some large gaps, each of the collaborators relays both technical and anecdotal information about the production; and from a completely unique perspective. But what I would say is the whenever John Seale A.S.C. the cinematographer speaks, John talks in such technical terms and thoughts on how he shot each scene, and tended to go over my head and did not interest me one bit and it was not the best commentary on this disc, but as to the audio commentary from Peter Weir and Tom Schulman was totally fascinating and the part in the audio commentary that was totally fascinating and easily kept my interest for the whole of the 129 minutes duration and is a totally brilliant track for those who are ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ film fans, like me and top marks for them to include this on the 2015 remastered Blu-ray disc.
Finally, ‘DEAD POETS SOCIETY’ is a very well made film with a cast of young up-and-coming stars. It looks back, with nostalgia and honesty combined, on a simple time where individualism wasn't expected of these bright young men. Robin Williams is less of a main character than I remembered, but this is one of his best and most memorable performances. As a Blu-ray, it's definitely a step up in terms of video quality over the inferior DVD, with many vibrant shots of the school and surrounding countryside. Fans who love this film, like I do, should be very happy with this 2015 remastered Blu-ray disc, as it boast the aforementioned image quality and retains the special features from the previous inferior DVD release. For newcomers, this isn't a demo disc by any means, but there are lots to appreciate in terms of performances, filmmaking, themes and especially seeing the genius of Robin Williams, who can do no wrong in my eyes. We should all be so lucky as to have someone that inspires us at a young age but the one of the next best things it is a film that does so. The film can be enjoyed by any generation as it deals with universal themes and will continue to inspire the young and old for many years to come. But one important thing I must mention and that is at the end of the film when the students stand on the desk to respect John Keating [Robin Williams] being sacked, I think this is the most powerful dramatic part in the film and if you don’t have a tear in your eyes in watching this scene, then you have no soul and there is no justice in appreciating this really brilliant powerful fantastic Peter Weir film. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom