DEAD POET SOCIETY!

Robin Williams returns for another appearance on "Friday Movie Suggestion Night" for a nice way to close out the waning days of Summer, 2008. William's genius for me is the sheer scope of his remarkable acting ability in both Comedy and Drama. Moreover his genuine warmth is beloved by millions. If there exists an Actor with a sharper God-given wit for either genre', he or she remains sadly undiscovered. In this regard, Robin Williams is, in fact a gift to all of us who love film. In this role, he is at once a devoted, mischievous professor at a New England prep school in 1959. The school is run by stiff necked administrators. However, Director Peter Weir cleverly combines a respect for the school's history and tradition while fearlessly creating in William's character of Keating a vulnerable person. Still, he's not afraid to enlist unorthodox methods to bring the boys in his class out of solemnly accepting whatever is blindly thrown to them without thinking for themselves. It is here where he dares students--seven boys in all--to "Carpe diem, seize the day!" They form the "Dead Poets Society". This is a secret club whose members read their own and others' verse in a spooky, dark cave (I ask you. Could a cave be described any other way?). Of course, going against the grain of the school administrators established Metropolitan Club Members of Tomorrow creates a lot of tension. But there is a message about life here. And that message is the need for each of us to create something truly extraordinary with our own lives. Tom Schulman's screenplay in 1989 was observed upon by many at the time as addressing the compliance of '80s kids. However, the film avoids becoming preachy and takes us on a wonderful journey of dreams that all too many have abandoned. Keating is the catalyst who encourages us to pick them up and dust them off again for another run at life!

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The tremendous supporting cast here includes Robert Sean Leonard as the victim of a domineering father who wants him to be a doctor. We have Ethan Hawke as his roommate, a second son who suffers from parental neglect and a lack of self-worth. Gale Hansen is a rebellious poet who endures a beating from the headmaster but refuses to trade his principles for expedience (a breath of fresh air!). Josh Charles is a curious kiddo who uses poetry and courage to win the girl of his dreams.


If the horizon seem limitless, you can thank Cinematographer John Seale.

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The Cast: Robin Williams is John Keating; Robert Sean Leonard is Neil Perry; Ethan Hawke plays Todd Anderson; Josh Charles is Knox Overstreet; Gale Hansen is Charlie Dalton; Dylan Kussman is Richard Cameron; Allelon Ruggiero is Steven Meeks; and James Waterston is Gerard Pitts. 1990 Academy Awards Oscar WINNER "Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen": Tom Schulman; NOMINATED "Oscar Best Actor in a Leading Role": Robin Williams; "Best Director": Peter Weir; "Best Picture": Steven Haft, Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas.

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I feel you'll enjoy this one! We'll close out Sunday with one final memory that is very important to me from these Past 3 years (and 4 seasons) of "Friday Movie Suggestion Night", -----"the little BLOG feature that could!"

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