Dead Poet Society 37 years later

 

     We all miss Robin Williams. Recently, I saw 'Dead Poet's Society' and thought about what has happened to the actors that were in the movie. Where are they now? Well...let's talk about this movie first.

   'O Captain, My Captain.' A line mostly said at the end of the movie when everyone says goodbye to their friend and mentor John Keeting (portrayed by the late Robin Williams) The story takes place in a private school for men. A lot of the male leads were in their mid to late twenties playing teens. 

    The story happens when, after meeting Keeting, they decide to start a club called 'Dead Poets Society' A club where they would read poems written by deceased poets. However, stuff happens that soon ends in tragedy for one of them.

       Neil Perry is one of the leads played by Robert Sean Leonard. HIs character, Neil, wants to be in plays and star in theater. His father (played by Kurtwood Smith) wants him to follow the family and become a doctor. Neil doesn't want that and decides to follow his heart.

    After starring in a play, his father pulls him out of school and Neil...commits suicide.

       The actor that portrays Neil will soon be a doctor in the show HOUSE which is one show I love. So... I guess he did follow the Perry family's footsteps after all.

    Ethan Hawke portrayed Todd Anderson. Ethan was eighteen when he was in the role. Might have been the only actor that was the teenage age...but then again...many of these actors could have been in their late teens.

   After the movie, Ethan went on to star in other movies such as 'Great Expectations', 'The Purge', 'Boyhood' and many more. HIs daughter, Maya, is also an actress and following her parents' footsteps. Ethan said that he was suffering from depression himself when starring in the movie.

   Josh Charles starred as Knox. Another student that wanted for a cheerleader to fall in love with. Although he seemed like a coward in the movie, Josh Charles is considered a hilarious actor. I started noticing him in more roles recently.

     One being in a show called 'Best Medicine.' Thankfully getting a second season, this show follows Charles as a doctor who only cares about patients and fears blood. 

  I remember Neil's father, portrayed by Kurtwood Smith, from a show called 'That 70's Show' where he portrayed Red. That show was funny.

   He even had a guest role in an episode of House where he reunited with Robert Sean Leonard. In his character in the movie, he's overbearing and wants his only son to follow in his father's footsteps. Finding out her disobeyed him pushed Neil over the edge to suicide.

 

   This movie was written by Tom Schulman who also wrote the screenplay for Honey I shrunk the kids' The film was even nominated for best picture but lost to Driving Miss Daisy. I think Dead Poets should have won, but Driving Miss Daisy is ok. 

   Best Director and Best Screenplay as well. It won for best screenplay but lost for director. 

     Robin, we will never forget you...and we miss you every day. 37 years later, and this movie is still worth seeing.

  Loved it from beginning to end. Sad about a death, but you can tell why one character wants to do something without upsetting his father...then again, he took the one way out which is the coward's way.

    This movie was great and it is worth seeing even after Robin is gone. One of the top 15 of the best Robin Williams Movie. I'd rank it at number 11. 'O Captain....My Captain'