This is by no means a new DVD, and even the movie itself is 12 years old by now. But it's still one worth discussion and recommendation. Multiple Oscar and other award nominations and wins.
This one's fairly high on my list of favorite movies. For those who haven't seen it, Richard Dreyfuss plays Mr. Holland, a young and talented music composer in the 1960's. As a young married man, he takes a job teaching high school music, to pay the bills and allow him to compose his music. The movie shows the progession of his life over decades, somewhat in the manner of "Forrest Gump", tying in some historical events that impact the characters' lives.
Along with "Stand and Deliver", "Dead Poets Society", and others, this is one of my favorite teaching movies that inspires me. One of my favorite movie teaching scenes occurs when a boy Mr. Holland is teaching to drive runs off the road and ends up straddling a curb. Dreyfuss pauses, turns to the boy, and says, "Okay... what have we learned here today?"
Minor, well done roles showcase Olympia Dukakis, William H. Macy, Alicia Witt, Terrence Howard, Damon Witaker, and Jean Louisa Kelly. One of my few complaints about the movie is a section showing a developing tempation with an attractive female student. While it shows Holland's life like the rest of the plot, the subject is a bit uneasy and could have been deleted.
Some OUTSTANDING music in the film, both in historic period music from the decades, and composed music by Michael Kamen. This starts from the very opening scene, showing Drefuss tinkering on a piano as he composes, then morphs into a full symphony in his head that is yearning to come out and be finished. My jaw hit the floor with the beautiful magnificence of the music more than once in the film.
Highly recommended for any audience, especially for us A/V geeks, as we also tend to appreciate good music--if you haven't seen it, give it a try. When I first saw it in the theater, I was a single college guy freshly removed from organized band, and loved it. Watching it again now as a working-class married father of one, I enjoy it just as much, but have a different appreciation from other perspectives. Specifically, the sub-plot of Dreyfuss and his son's relationship over the years really affected me this time.
Not a perfect movie, but I give it a full :5: out of :5:
This one's fairly high on my list of favorite movies. For those who haven't seen it, Richard Dreyfuss plays Mr. Holland, a young and talented music composer in the 1960's. As a young married man, he takes a job teaching high school music, to pay the bills and allow him to compose his music. The movie shows the progession of his life over decades, somewhat in the manner of "Forrest Gump", tying in some historical events that impact the characters' lives.
Along with "Stand and Deliver", "Dead Poets Society", and others, this is one of my favorite teaching movies that inspires me. One of my favorite movie teaching scenes occurs when a boy Mr. Holland is teaching to drive runs off the road and ends up straddling a curb. Dreyfuss pauses, turns to the boy, and says, "Okay... what have we learned here today?"
Minor, well done roles showcase Olympia Dukakis, William H. Macy, Alicia Witt, Terrence Howard, Damon Witaker, and Jean Louisa Kelly. One of my few complaints about the movie is a section showing a developing tempation with an attractive female student. While it shows Holland's life like the rest of the plot, the subject is a bit uneasy and could have been deleted.
Some OUTSTANDING music in the film, both in historic period music from the decades, and composed music by Michael Kamen. This starts from the very opening scene, showing Drefuss tinkering on a piano as he composes, then morphs into a full symphony in his head that is yearning to come out and be finished. My jaw hit the floor with the beautiful magnificence of the music more than once in the film.
Highly recommended for any audience, especially for us A/V geeks, as we also tend to appreciate good music--if you haven't seen it, give it a try. When I first saw it in the theater, I was a single college guy freshly removed from organized band, and loved it. Watching it again now as a working-class married father of one, I enjoy it just as much, but have a different appreciation from other perspectives. Specifically, the sub-plot of Dreyfuss and his son's relationship over the years really affected me this time.
Not a perfect movie, but I give it a full :5: out of :5:
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