FIRST TIME WATCHING: Dead Poets Society (1989) REACTION (Movie Commentary)

[@markbartoszek8585]

Not enough people talk about Robert Sean Leonard in this film. He was incredible!

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

He really was. I saw this around the time it was released & I totally thought he was going to be a star. Even though he wasn’t in many things, I was so happy to see him get a solid role in the series, House. Of course he did a fantastic job in that as well.

[@tamarleigh]

He was also wonderful in Swing Kids.

[@answ7211]

He's an excellent actor!!!!!

[@patriciaalvareztostado8170]

He was brilliant became obsess with him, follow his career, I love him too in Too much about nothing and also a very good movie of Germany in the Second war, long before he went to be Wilson in Dr. House

[@patriciaalvareztostado8170]

@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 I think the same, but in this movie Ethan Hawk was the one to became more popular, but I like Robert a lot, had a solid career

[@jeannieschmidt2217]

Todd was played by a very young Ethan Hawke. Ethan did an interview saying that his own son didn't even recognize him in it. They watched the entire movie and his son had to ask which character he played. Todd certainly evolved the most - coming out of his shell and STANDING UP for what he truly believed in. Fabulous movie with a fabulous cast! Cheers from Canada :)

[@IkeReeder]

The response to your statement, "I feel like every English teacher has seen this. It's like the English teacher handbook" is "Yes. It is." I saw this in the theater when I was in 10th grade and became an English teacher for almost 20 years, from the late 90s to the early teens. 😆

[@caralayne503]

“O Captain, My Captain” is one of the most highly regarded, & well known phrases of GenX. Great reaction!!

[@antonstbar4994]

Charlie Dalton (nuwanda) didn’t sign the document at the end. He was the only one expelled

[@kwashingtonl]

You get a little hint about Neil when he tells Mr. Keating that he feels “trapped”. I love this movie so much, but Neil’s death hurts a lot.

[@ianjohns9398]

and he wasn't suicidal and only took his life when he finally realized how trapped he was in his father's grip on his own life which shows how often suicide can be spontaneous, acted out on moments of emotional desperation

[@christinahilt2978]

Neil (Robert Sean Leonard) much like Ethan Hawke’s Todd character was living a life of quiet desperation. The difference was Todd was externally quiet and Neil’s was a more internalized struggle.

[@frogofbrass382]

Norman Lloyd played the heartless headmaster Dr. Nolan. Lloyd had an amazing career that started in 1923 at aged 9 and concluded in 2020 at age 105. He was a charter member of the legendary Mercury Theater company that was started by Orson Welles. He went to Hollywood with Welles but did not stay to work on Citizen Kane, which Lloyd deeply regretted. He worked with Alfred Hitchcock and Jean Renoir. He was briefly a victim of the blacklist in the 1950s, though Hitchcock saved his career. In 1982 (at age 68) he started a 6 year run on the tv series St. Elsewhere, which included the then unknown actors Ed Begley Jr, David Morse, Howie Mandel, and some guy named Denzel Washington. He was married to the same woman for 75 years, until his wife’s death. He attended both game one of the 1926 World Series and game two of the 2017 World Series. I first became familiar with his work on St. Elsewhere, where he played a kindly, wise Chief of Services at the hospital, so it was a huge shock to see him play such an awful person in Dead Poet’s Society.

[@gippywhite]

I really liked him in the movie In Her Shoes. I always liked to think that the character from that movie was what Dr. Nolan would’ve been had the Captain (Robin) changed his life in this movie.

[@Carl.Henriksson]

I was introduced to him in Hitchcock's Saboteur, and then the Southerner, then in A Walk in the Sun. 2 out of 3 of those movies, he was villainous, so it seems to me that was his type casting.

[@Osprey850]

The year after this came out, Robin Williams starred (alongside Robert De Niro) in another dramatic Best Picture nominee called Awakenings. You might check that out some time if you'd like to see more serious acting from Robin Williams.

[@adampare8088]

Yes! Awakenings was tremendous. And based on a true story.

[@kwashingtonl]

Love that movie. Robin is incredible in it.

[@caralayne503]

This. Movie. Broke. Me.

[@taztaztaz]

tremendous film.. based on a true story

[@1A4atheist]

Oh captain my captain. This movie has been making me cry for over 30 years.

[@StephenRansom47]

This film should be required viewing for every human being on Earth. Gets me every time 😭

[@johnchrysostomon6284]

Harrison Ford was known for adventure films, but the actor wanted to expand his acting skills. He got Australian director Peter Weir to direct him in “Witness.”

Robin Williams was known for comedy. He wanted to be seen as a serious actor (he’d studied at The Juilliard School). And seeing the success with Peter Weir got him to direct him in “Dead Poet’s Society”. Jim Carrey, also wanting to be known for more serious roles and following on the previously mentioned, got Peter Weir to direct him in “The Truman Show.” All felt that this Australian director could bring out the serious actor in them.

[@Sweetish_Jeff_]

I’m so glad you enjoyed this. One of my favorites. Like you, I was also into poetry in high school. In fact, I still write poetry. Fun fact: I plagiarized a poem my freshman year because I couldn’t think of a poem and I was too shy to read it in front of the class. I still did, but it wasn’t mine. I’ll never forget this one girl looking at me lovingly and going, “Oh, that was so beautiful!” Guilt soon set in and I vowed never to plagiarize a poem again. My sophomore year I discovered American poetry in English class and I fell in love with it. Pretty soon I was writing my own poems. This movie came out towards the end of my junior year and it’s one of my favorites. It’s really sad now watching considering that Robin Williams committed suicide. I once heard Jonathan Winters describe Robin as like someone who has read every book in the library and if you ask him about any of the books, he’s not only going to describe the book, he’s going to act out every character in the book.

[@swamianandtesla2347]

There is a subtle hint in the first minutes, when Keating shows them the photos, and when talking about death right at that moment the camera focuses on Neil

[@d.-_-.b]

You may know Robert Sean Leonard (Neil) from the TV series House alongside Hugh Laurie.

[@Weebs82589]

Oh Captain, My Captain. RIP Robin Williams!

[@StacyLym]

Robin Williams was such a brilliant actor and this movie is so underrated.

[@randallshaw9609]

"It wasn't a dream, man." No, it was the end of dreams.

[@tinanickerson1006]

You have to put into context the time period this movie is set. It was the late 50's early 60's a time of great conformaty. What seems so trivial today was once considered rebellious and even scandalous in those days. That is the point of the film ..finding your true voice even if its against the norms set by society.

[@debbyemerson3877]

I've probably seen every Robin movie, or close. This role feels like it's the closest to his true character. Carpe diem

[@djgrant8761]

Elements of this film were based on the school I was educated at. In 1994 our school performed this film on the stage.

[@Kth4life]

Doctor "James Wilson" was great in this.

[@CosmicVagabondPixie]

WOW i just subbed i have so much i want to say but i wont would be waaaay too long but just WoW yea i **Luvd** EVERYthing you said luv the whole reaction to such a truly inspirational important movies & like ya said not like force feeding anything to you just **Beautiful** to me in every way & course very tragic as well (which when i first saw it i was shocked as well) & you are so right no one ever can truly know what is going on with another deep inside for whatever reason i guess we were not designed for that except empaths who come very close anyway just wanted to say Thank YOU! this is one of my most fav movies!

[@TheAbashta]

I was the last person my school spanked. They had already made it something parents could exempt you from. My mom was the only parent to sign giving them permission. After that year, they did away w it altogether. That was around '90-'91

[@stevieb3077]

Sad story, but it also made me chuckle. Your moms was hard core.

[@DelightLovesMovies]

That's one of the best films ever made that's gets better when you watch it again. I know I'm not the only one who misses Robin Williams.

[@Cindrbell]

Robin Williams. The World According to Garp. Totally worth the view. John Lithgow and Glenn Close

[@DianaJG8]

Loved watching your reactions and ensights into this film! You have a very deep soul, intuition and wonderful interpretations! ❤ - Diana

[@NOLAgenX]

This is my favorite Robin Williams role of all time. Nothing has changed my mind since I went to see it in the theater at release time. I had an inspirational English teacher like him for several years. He was a huge positive influence in my life.

[@JugglernautNr9]

The fact that Knox got the girl (Chris Noel) who was with the football guy is not that unusual and makes sense. He showed bravery by showing up in that classroom with the flowers and the poem. He wasn't afraid of getting laughed at and he showed real interest in her in a way that she was not used to. Also she surely thought since he is going to a very elite prep school that he would be successfull and making a lot of money in the future while the football guy would very likely get injured or drop out of school.

[@coccolinasvedese]

Other fantastic movies with Robin Williams serious acting is Patch Addams, What dreams may come, The world according to Garp, and of course Good morning Vietnam! You should give them a try!

[@coccolinasvedese]

Oh and the Awakening and Jacob the liar... also fantastic! Robin Williams was an amazing actor both humour and drama! And if you see One hour photo you get to see him as a creepy psychopath also!

[@reneeg9406]

10:02 😌Ah, the days before internet, and everyone carrying electronic devices 😌 It was a joyous time for the mind. The things you came up with to entertain yourself led to the imagination of what became the future. Now it's not as much creativity as it is ingenuity of "improvement " Which is why the arts are so important. True ART will always be about creating 😌 Music, theater, sculpture, painting, poetry... art creates. Technology expands on creation

[@charlier711]

Well done, sir. I knew you would get it. The only point you didn't allude to is that life is brief - "gather ye rosebuds while ye may." When this movie came out in 1989 every graduation cap had "Carpe Diem" written on it. It was so inspiring and Robin became a truly respected actor in addition to being a brilliant comic.

[@rebeccahanson6941]

It wasn’t so much signs from Neil himself although you could tell he was struggling with wanting to be his true self but consistently being squished into a box. It’s all the external pressure he was under. He knew he didn’t have the strength to stand up to his father and he felt trapped as he told Mr Keating.

[@robertmorris8997]

Neil's dad was bad guy in Robocop and Total Recall.

[@geoffreyfreebern9037]

and if you don't watch out, he'll put a foot up your a$$ (as he is also the dad on That 70's Show....where he is much more likeable 🙃)

[@jamesnorthup7717]

Not to mention Red Foreman!!

[@Blaize24]

Military school in the 1950s would be dreadful for a sensitive kid who wants to act (and may be gay).

[@StoryMing]

22:58 -- Gah! HOW many reactors fail to pick up on the fact that _Neil is _*_lying??_*

[@libertyjustice1620]

Yes. This is totally incomprehensible to me as well.

[@robpyoung]

Another solid prep school movie with a great cast from that era is School Ties. That’d be one to add to your list if you haven’t seen it.

[@WolvenDogma]

I'll always be grateful to my High School English teacher for having us watch this, such a classic

[@Sweetish_Jeff_]

Same.

[@darkjedi447]

I really think this is one of the most over-looked movies that could be considered a 10/10. Just so glad this movie even exists for people to see. I've seen it so many times now since it first came out in the theater, and it still inspires me till this day! Thanks for the movie review and glad you liked it also. Keep smiling👍🙂

[@dalevintage]

This film informed my generation. It was a revelation for so many of us. You should check out the 90s movie Pump Up The Volume!

[@AliciaNyblade]

As of 2023, I'm 35. I first saw this film in my high school English class and it confirmed for me that, "Yep--I want to be a writer," and I went on to double major in Creative Writing and Theatre in college. This film is still a classic and is still one of my favorites. The only element that didn't age well watching it as an adult is Knox's story. Chris gave no indication at all that she was interested in him, to the point where she already had a boyfriend and could've been perfectly happy with him for all we knew, but the script had Knox eventually win her over because "Carpe diem". I wish his plot had been used to show how that sentiment can be taken to a bad extreme rather than Charlie's "phone call from God" stunt. Mr. Keating could've used Knox's obviously one-sided feelings for Chris as a way to show that "'Carpe diem' doesn't mean objectifying others and ignoring their wishes for your own."

[@TheJrr71]

A Robin Williams movie which is hardly ever mentioned: Jacob The Liar. It's brilliant.

[@danielsonlaruso2893]

This movie is so great and reaches so deep. A Father of charisma, power, rage. Still managing scars and striving to be good enough. I'm a hot mess lol.

[@russzolti6825]

This is the only one film I cryed at the end.

[@surferles589]

The only time he called him his son and showed any affection was after he was dead - sad and pathetic.

[@chrisgobeil4751]

School Ties should be on your list as well.

[@jamesguglielmucci2001]

Great movie, Awesome movie 🎥!!! R.I.P. Robin Williams, your Legend lives on!!!

[@reanimated]

I think if you rewatch the movie, you start to notice more of Neil being a liiiiitle (or a lot) unstable, some manic episodes to go with the moments of depression, but you're right, you're not expected to see it so obviously. Charlie runs with the idea of "we can never understand these things," even, but I presume it's just one more thing he's hiding and putting a mask over. Acting, indeed.

[@jonwmeyer11]

One of my all time favs

[@jillk368]

Great reaction. Really sharp commentary. Interesting thoughts. Thanks for reacting to this.

[@Jason_Van_Stone]

Fact: Norman Lloyd (Mr. Nolan), died in 2021 at the age of 106. He looked old af already in this movie lmao

[@thomasgrimm1664]

Maybe they play that song because it's the only one you'd recognize? Or it's just super popular for some reason.

[@tristramcoffin926]

28:05 The movie is literally named Dead Poets Society...

[@andersgranstrom7128]

One of the best, ever! A lot to learn - to take in, realize.

[@surlyGir]

I can't believe I've never seen this before now.

[@Will008]

Ethan Hawk should be just as highly spoken of as Leonardo DiCaprio.

[@coloradochris3952]

Men fall in love with what they see. Women fall in love with what they here.

[@kervinmckellar2684]

Haven’t watch this myself yet but kinda got a feast at midnight vibes or I might be remembering that wrong

[@robertmorris8997]

Just saw this myself for the first time last night,

[@claireallen4017]

What will your verse be?

[@timriehl1500]

Watch Mona Lisa Smile with Julia Roberts; kinda like Dead Poets Society, but with women.

[@VoluntaryistJapan]

Great reaction as always man.

[@JangTheKim]

I grew up with this movie. It was my favorite or second favorite. Robin Williams's performance in this movie rivals his Good Will Hunting's performance (IMO). Such a powerful performance from everyone. The young man going after Chris is very cringe though. It is the only part of the movie that I do not like. Thank you for reacting to this movie.

[@joeypotter6051]

Yeah the storyline with Chris hasn't aged well.

[@007sMoneyPenny]

Carpe Diem. .. and watching a Caped Informer video.. why not?! 😅

[@archangelgabriel5316]

Gotta watch Scent of a Woman.

[@Sweetish_Jeff_]

Yes!

[@ΓΙΩΡΓΙΟΣΒΑΣΙΛΑΚΗΣΣ]

watch tape (2001) ETHAN HAWKE AND BOBBY LEONARD TOGETHER

[@meganlutz7150]

Excellent reaction !

[@emilylovelace2231]

If you love this movie you should check out Mona Lisa Smile.

[@jillk368]

Have you seen Stranger Things? (If you haven't, you should - - it would make a great reaction series, too!!) Anyway, Ethan Hawke's daughter is in it. She plays a character named Robin who starts in S3.

[@robertmorris8997]

Ethan Hawke, Training Day, Explorers

[@handsomestik]

It's strange but Robin was more interesting than some of the roles he played.

[@alexanderross9881]

Movies you should maybe watch Olympus has fallen FaceOff Prisoners Flight plan Primal fear

[@bethscott4330]

Great job.

[@AaronAlexanderOfficial]

Carpe Diem. A credo to live by.

[@beckymellon8135]

❤❤❤

[@santacruz7455]

💚

[@positivelynegative9149]

👍

[@Cindrbell]

Carpe Diem. 🧡

[@robbyascher9090]

Bro really? Someone has to pay for those books, is your reaction to the moving passionate truth? But what about the cost of the books?!?? Really???

[@maybachyard]

You should watch Finding Forrester starring Rob Brown and Sean Connery.