Perspectives

Reception and criticism

The film Dead Poets Society directed by Peter Weir came out in 1989. It was successful at the box office, ranking fifth highest for 1989, and the highest for dramas. The audience reviews are generally favorable, with several praising it as inspirational. The film is rated 8.1/10 on the Internet Movie Database, and the audience rating summary by Google users is 4.9.

Reviews by film critics are mixed. The film’s approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes is 84% which is considered high. The Washington Post and The New York Times have praised both the acting and the screenplay. Others, such as film historian Leonard Malton, have praised the acting and cinematography, but criticized the screenplay for being too simple and melodramatic. Film critic Roger Ebert criticized both Robin Williams’ performance as John Keating as “occasionally veering into his onstage comedian’s persona” and the screenplay for being a “often poorly constructed collection of platitudes.”

Other criticisms of the film state that it focuses too much on secondary characters at the expense of the main characters, and that it presents disobedience towards parents and school guardians in a favorable light, promoting immorality. 

The movie was nominated for several award...