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Katherine Hanley
A. Duran
English 1010
December 19, 2016
Movie ReviewMr. Hollands Opus AND Dead Poets Society
What could a music teacher and an English teacher have in common? Mr. Hollands
Opus, a PG rated movie made in 1995, and Dead Poets Society, a PG rated movie made in 1989,
both share a similar starting point. They both are centered around a teacher, whether it be Mr.
Holland in Mr. Hollands Opus or Mr. Keating in Dead Poets Society. Although they share this
familiar idea, the movies separate into different paths.
Mr. Hollands Opus features Richard Dreyfuss as Mr. Holland. This movie opens up with,
what sounds to be, a symphony playing and we soon learn that Mr. Holland has dreams to
become a famous conductor and composer. He then gets ready for his first day his new job, a
high school music teacher. The first day didnt go well and Mr. Holland left the school in anger
towards the students unwillingness to work. Soon he finds his footing and begins to enjoy
teaching as well as raising his new born child, Coletrane played by multiple actors as the child
grows. He and his wife come to find out Cole has 90% hearing loss. Throughout the movie you
see Richard Dreyfuss grow and mold into an amazing teacher and father. The movie has a
heartwarming feeling and movie critic Janet Maslin proves this when she says Mr. Dreyfuss
gives a warm and really touching performance.
Dead Poets Society is a PG rated, drama filled but overall touching movie. It stars Robin
Williams as Mr. Keating, an unpractical English teacher. The movie opens up on a graduation or

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orientation, it is hard to understand what is going on, in which the principal and other colleagues
stand in front of the room talking about school, the principal also introduces Mr. Keating as the
new English teacher. Then, all of the sudden, there are tons of boys in a small dorm area with
two to a room. Ethan Hawke who plays Todd Anderson, is new to the school. He is roomed with
Robert Sean Leonard who plays Neil Perry. Todd and Neil and Neils group of friends are all in
Mr. Keatings class, they looked through an old year book and found Mr. Keating had belonged
to a club called the Dead Poets Society. Throughout the movie the scenes change and the stories
are hard to follow. Neil eventually kills himself and the school wants to pin it on him. I agree
with movie critic, Roger Egbert said the societies meetings have been badly written and are
dramatically shapeless.
Mr. Holland is a music teacher who starts out with a horrible attitude towards the job,
eventually he learns to love teaching but becomes detached from his family. Although, Mr.
Hollands character seems to develop the most over the plot. Throughout the story he goes on,
what looks to be, an emotional roller coaster but in the end he is joyous. Similarly, Mr. Keating
in Dead Poets Society is an English teacher. Although Mr. Keating is the star of the film, Todd
Anderson develops the most over the plot. He came to the private school shy and closed off.
Over time he begins to open up and try new things and by the end he is the one to stand out of
the crowd.
The opening scene for Mr. Hollands Opus is cheerful and bright. The entire movie is
accented with music to differentiate tone over the time of the movie. Music is the main focus of
the movie and Mr. Holland has obvious aspirations as movie critic Janet Maslin says nothing
major will happen to Mr. Holland without the presence of a crowd. The special effects in the
movie are limited to music montages and fading in and out of a scene.

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Contradictory to Mr. Hollands Opus, Dead Poets Society opens with a darker scene. The
conflict in this movie is the uptight school board and the rebellious, young teenage boys. Still,
without any apathy, the teenagers deliberately disobey the school board when they leave at night
to have meetings with the Dead Poets Society. The meetings with the Dead Poets Society were
hard to follow, as Roger Ebert said I squirmed through the meetings of the Dead Poets
Society.
Personally, I would say that everyone can and should watch Mr. Hollands Opus. The plot
is slow, but inviting and seems to keep you wanting to watch more. The movie is rated PG, but in
my opinion children under the age of 13 wouldnt be able to follow the movie well. Mr.
Hollands Opus also has a risqu section in which there is feeling of student/teacher
relationship going on. This might deter some people from watching, but overall I believe the
movie was excellent.
Dead Poets Society is confusing and hard to follow throughout the majority of the movie.
Robin Williams was the main reason I continued watching, without his amazing acting skills I
would have stopped watching a lot sooner. The plot is, as Roger Ebert says an artificial
jigsaw puzzle. The main focus is on Neil Perry wanting to be an actor, but his disapproving
father says otherwise, but then has many small side stories that would confuse most of the
meaning of the movie. I wouldnt recommend this movie to anyone.

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Works Cited
Dead Poets Society. Dir. Peter Weir. Perf. Robin Williams and Ethan Hawke. Touchstone
Pictures, 1989. DVD.
Ebert, Roger. Dead Poets Society Movie Review (1989) | Roger Ebert. All Content. Steven
Haft, 09 June 1989. Web. 20 Dec. 2016.
Maslin, Janet. FILM REVIEW; A Teacher Who Once Had Dreams. Nytimes.com. N.p., 19 Jan.
1996. Web. 20 Dec. 2016.
Mr. Holland's Opus. Dir. Stephen Herek. Perf. Richard Dreyfuss and Glenne Headly. Hollywood
Pictures, 1995. DVD.