Yay! Responses! Including my first-ever Blogger response from baby brother (who is way cool and has a band that has a MySpace, hey Mr. Bassman, want me to post a link here?)
Ahem. The movie review (Otakon news--and pictures--are coming soon)
The History Boys, based on a play by Alan Bennett
Basic storyline: It's 1983 and eight bright but rough-around-the edges (the headmaster says "crass") Yorkshire schoolboys are studying to get into Oxford or Cambridge to "read" (that's British for "major in") history. They're working with their two longterm teachers, Dorothy-I-forget-her-last-name-because-the-boys-call-her-Miss) and Mr. Hector the beloved unconventional old teacher who, well, that would be giving it away. Then the headmaster brings in a new young man, Irwin, to give the boys "polish."
The rest is, well, what it's really about. History, getting into a prestigious university, homosexuality, life, sex in general, love, life, lots about life. And humor, an abundance of adolescent male humor (one of the best kinds in the world IMHO.)
The movie's not perfect. Some of the characters are stereotyped: the Snotty Vinegary Headmaster, the Handsome Popular Smartmouthed Ringleader (neither Ken nor I like Dakin at all), and Posner who is just so stereotypically gay that my saying so isn't even a spoiler (though I must say I love him dearly!)
Others, however are not stock characters: Rudge comes to mind. And there's that humor,amazingly true things said about history and education (and truth) and the boys' "endings" and and oh, the music. Samuel Barnett, who plays Posner, has a fine voice and sings with beautiful expression. His rendition of the Rodgers and Hart tune "Bewitched" just absolutely makes me die every time. ::siiiiiggghhh::
I can't compare this to any allegedly-similar movie, such as Dead Poets Society, because it just isn't, except for the setting and the overall maverick-teacher(s) theme. It's its own thing.
Highly recommended. (unless homosexuality, liberal use of the F word, or British accents bother you.)
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