Dead Poets Society (1989)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:45
Fresh:38
Rotten:7
Average Rating:7.2/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 9 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: An unconventional New England prep school teacher inspires his students with poetry and encourages them to embrace life. Academy Award Nominations: 4, including Best Picture, Best Actor--Robin... [More]
Starring: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles
Director: Peter Weir
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Reviews for Dead Poets Society
| Tomatometer | Critic | Review | Category |
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 B- |
A bundle of growing pain blues, flamboyant declarations of self, and doomsday faculty foul-ups, and it cooks when delivered in big batches of adolescent passion. Full Review |
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9/10 |
Watch "Dead Poets Society" and you'll see the efforts of a filmmaker who has his own loving style in making movies. Full Review |
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B+ |
Though sentimental and contrived, this valentine to charismatic, dedicated teachers is extremely well acted (even by Robin Williams) and it does make you feel good about loving literature and poetry when most of your classmates detested these subjects. Full Review |
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4/5 |
Above average drama that put Robin Williams on dramatic actor map.
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3/5 |
Robin Williams at his tolerable best.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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3/4 |
The role of Keating is a plum assignment for the talented Williams, who largely steers clear of schtick under Peter Weir's direction. Nicely shot with a good youthful cast. Full Review |
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Story sings whenever Williams is onscreen. Screen belongs just as often to Leonard, who as Neil has a quality of darting confidence mixed with hesitancy. Hawke, as the painfully shy Todd, gives a haunting performance. Full Review |
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The moral divisions set up between characters are childishly overdrawn; and, worst of all, the behavior shown by the boys and adults frequently reeks of falsity and contrivance. Full Review |
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4.5/5 |
Part of what makes Dead Poet's Society so great is that it challenges you to think. It can inspire you to be more than a simple cog in a wheel. Full Review |
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Weir infuses the film with his customary mysticism, but more importantly, draws sensitive performances from his largely inexperienced cast. Full Review |
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3/4 |
As consistent and nearly as understated a performance as Robin Williams would give later in Good Will Hunting. Full Review |
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4/5 |
For all its formula, it sure does feel like Dead Poets Society comes from a sincere place. Full Review |
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 5/10 |
Dead Poets Society adds little to the genre that hasn't been said before and aims, instead, at familiar stereotypes and overly obvious tugs at the heartstrings. Full Review |
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3/5 |
It's best left as a fond memory, never to be held up to the light of day.
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3/5 |
No review available.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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2/5 |
Generally fairly tedious and predictable, without being especially believable.
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CommentLatest News for Dead Poets Society
August 30, 2006:
Anna Faris is a Centerfold!
We've been waiting for funny-gal Anna Faris to get a lead role to suit her comedic skills for quite some time now -- and I'm not talking about the "Scary Movie"... More...
December 20, 2005:
Willis to Climb Schulman's "Summit"
From the writer of "Dead Poet's Society" and "What About Bob?" comes "Morgan's Summit," a drama/thriller that looks like it will star Bruce Willis... More...
December 02, 2005:
Depp, Weir & Roth to Visit "Shantaram"
Variety brings news of a cinematic pairing that should thrill most of the hardcore movie geeks out there. How about Peter Weir directing Johnny Depp? Yup, thought that'd get... More...
May 19, 2005:
Universal Gets Into a "Worst Case" Scenario
Veteran screenwriters Tom Schulman and Rafael Yglesias have sold their first collaborative effort, "Worst Case," to Universal Pictures following a rather heated... More...
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