Robin Williams Tribute Month: Dead Poets Society (1989)

As John Keating says whilst perched upon his desk, "We must constantly look at things in a different way", quite a suitable turn of phrase from a film that could transform even the most sceptical person into a lover of literature and poetry. But that is not the only accomplishment of Peter Weir's Dead Poets Society, for it remains one of the most touching films I have ever seen.

The film follows a group of seniors at an elite preparatory school, Welton Academy. Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard) who struggles to overcome his Father's controlling attitudes, Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke), a new student whose introversion becomes his constant stumbling block, and Knox Overstreet (Josh Charles) who falls in love with the daughter of his parents' friends, are just three of the rich ensemble that graces this film. However it is Robin Williams who takes centre-stage here as the boys' new English teacher, John Keating, whose eccentric teaching methods have a profound effect on the lives of his students.

From ripping out useless textbook pages, to marching, to kicking soccer balls whilst reciting poetry, Keating's style doesn't simply keep the boys interested, it enriches them with the beauty of phrase, teaching them to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life. But it's his past life as a Welton Boy that inspires the troupe to reinstate Keating's old secret body, the Dead Poets Society. Meeting every few evenings in a damp cave off school grounds, the boys explore poetry in the hope that they will gain further understanding about the joys of life.

Revisiting this film for the first time in years, it's astonishing to see how talented these young actors were. Robert Sean Leonard is fantastic as Neil, perfectly enthusiastic whilst unable to justify his desires to an authoritative father, yet it is Ethan Hawke that really shines here for me. Even at nineteen, the talented actor who seems to be in every new release at the moment, brings to life the toils of a reclusive young male amongst a group of such lively, free-spirited boys, almost the polar opposite of his character in Boyhood.

Once again, Robin Williams proves his proficiency as a dramatic actor here. John Keating is one of the most memorable characters ever preserved on celluloid, partly because Tom Schulman is a fantastic scriptwriter, but largely because Williams is able to deliver such energy and humanity in his performance. Keating could have so easily become yet another character lost to the depths of pretension, yet the sincerity of Williams presence on screen makes him come across as a man driven by a passion to teach and an authentic love of poetry.

Dead Poets Society is an all time classic. It's one of Robin Williams' best films, and he's supported by an array of  talented young actors. If there was one underlying message to the film, it would be that we must strive to find our own voices in this world, and if you can't take that away from your viewing, then at least you'll gain plenty of fantastic quotes.