Rating: 
Summary: The Oscar-Deserving Mr. Holland's Opus
Review: I think Mr. Holland's Opus portrays the excellent gift of music. Mr. Holland (R. Dreyfus) plays Mr. Holland, a young man whose dream is to write the All-American Symphony. While doing so, he obtains a teaching job at a local high school. It turns out, he enjoys teaching music more then he does writing it. He also has to cope with his son, Cole, who is almost deaf, and can't enjoy the gift of music as much as his students do. When the board of education decides to end the music program, all of his students throw him a commemorating surprise. Overall Mr. Holland's Opus is an inspirational film portraying one man's dedication to helping others understand the great gift of music in an unforgettable way.
Rating: 
Summary: Would you like pancakes with all that sap?
Review: I remember seeing Mr. Holland's Opus on its premiere night. Richard Dreyfuss was, as usual, believable and wore the role with great ease. It was obvious that he needed to learn some fundamentals of conducting in order to play the role of a high school music teacher. The movie, however, was just a huge, overblown, cinematic question mark. At the end, I felt like I had been pushed around like a three-wheeled shopping cart: where did I go? Nowhere, just in circles. All of the conflicts and their respective resolutions are pretty dry and formulaic, which is not a surprise in this day and age. But the real cheap shot that makes me not want to see this again is the fact that the director, producer, and writer all worked together in getting you to feel deep emotions about things that are of no consequence to the story. In other word, they are trying to get you to cry so they can score some points with the academy and not get a serious point across. The ending is about as cliche as you can get: all of the students congregate on Mr. Holland's retirement day to play his glorious symphony for him! And he will conduct it! And just when you think it's bad enough that the music sounds like a generic John Williams rip-off, in come all of the corny jokes (one guy empties his spit valve on a girl's foot accidentall) and electric guitars. Oh, spare me of the guitars! They do not belong! Take them out! And as jilted as the story is (a brief would-be affair with an attractive student contributes nothing) there is something equally as ambiguous and unsettling about the ending: the music program within the school system is getting its funding slashed. Mr. Holland protests to the board. He is unsuccessful in getting them to change their minds. So, at the story's end, the music program has been hollowed out. It's nearly gone. The end. And performing his lame symphony makes everything okay anyway. What kind of conclusion is that? Overall, I couldn't feel the love when I saw this movie. Dreyfuss, although turning in another flawless performance, was playing a character I had a difficult time sympathizing with. His ego was inflated, very self-absorbed, constantly put his family on the back burner, and looked down his nose at anyone who didn't appreciate music the same way he did. All things considered, not worth a second watch.
Rating:
Summary: If you are intrigued by just how [boring] a film can get...
Review: ... When it came out, it was supposed to be like, the Saving Private Ryan of films portraying inspirational teachers. Maybe it's today's idea of what does and doesn't touch the heart that has made Mr. Holland's Opus, [what] it is today. [It] begins with the first scene, when we overhear news of the JFK assassination, which so obviously sets the time in which the film begins. [It] continues when we see various 60's newsfootage montages intertwinded with the series of young lives Mr. Holland has touched with music including a reluctant clarinetest who grows up to be governor, and the big dumb jock, who joins the band and is later killed in Vietnam, not for the purpose of moving the story forward, but simply to steal a tear from [the] viewer... the film addresses one real issue, when we see Dreyfus' character become distanced from his son, when it turns out he's deaf, and will never hear the music that is his father's world... Everything about this movie is like, the idea that a screenwriter had, but decided not to use because it was just too contrived, but decided to use it anyway for whatever reason. The edited for television version looses the only real human parts of the film, the ...teacher/student crush that garners a kiss, and the deaf swear from his son... The whole film ends with a climax ...when Mr. Holland's job ends as his "Opus" is finally played, by ex school band members who love him, and we see, that despite the love, he still will be jobless...
Rating:
Summary: The Great Sacrifice
Review: This is such a poignant story. The story involves a musician whose greatest dream is to compose, and see performed, a classical work of musical expression. But as with many in life, the demands of reality force him to put aside his dream and take a job as a teacher. He faces frustrations and disappointment in his career, family, and his music and does it with courage. As he struggles for 30 years, with the many conflicts in his life, he is still able to share his appreciation for the art while clinging to his dream. He touches many hearts with music, defining it's significance in our lives. But, this isn't just about a teacher, it's about everyone, and the sacrifices made for the important things in life. Each of us can identify ourselves in some way. We see how one man learns to accomplish it all, while giving back a part of himself. And finally there is the realization of how far his talent can reach, when amazingly it is revealed who he has touched most. It is heroism at it's most fundamental state. This movie is about everyone who holds on to their dreams, never giving up. This movie gives hope to all who chance to dream, and encouragement to those struggling to find a dream to hang on to.
Rating:
Summary: Important things first and the meaning of success in life
Review: This is one of my most loved movies. It tackles two important issues. One is "first things first". Mr Holland had a dream: to write his own symphony. He kept postponing it, in order to deal with the most pressing but small problems of life, that were never ending and in the end his dream drifted away. He gave advice to Rowena, but he did not have the courage to follow this advice himself. The second is the real meaning of success in life. Mr Holland did not become famous as a musician, but he became a great teacher and managed to be a good husband and father. What is more important? I am still not sure, but I tend to believe one should just follow his heart; or at least try.
Rating:
Summary: A Lot of Realism Here!!
Review: As a teacher myself, I tend to love those teacher movies where the teacher motivates his young charges to fulfill their dreams ("Dead Poets Society", etc.). Part of the fun of watching this movie is spotting the doses of reality that might be recognizable just to us teachers. For example, at one point, Glenn's wife tells him to "go ahead and write your music" when he has missed a meeting with his son's teachers. Glenn of course isn't writing his OWN music, but doing something for school. Everyone who has ever taught can relate to this moment, since teachers work some insane hours (most work more in 9 months than others work in an entire year), yet often aren't recognized for this. The parts with Rowena and dealing with clueless administrators are also very realistic. The only thing I don't like is the schmaltzy ending, which made me want to gag. It would be next to impossible to gather all those past students together to perform his ridiculous music. Other than the ending, this film is one I will continue to enjoy for years to come.
Rating: 
Summary: defective
Review: We have tried to play the DVD and find that the picture is distorted for a minute and then clears and we watched it through the first 10 minutes of the movie and it never cleared for longer than a few seconds before the distortions came back so it must have been recorded from a faulty video -- please advise how we may get it replaced with a good DVD or get a refund.
Thank you
Have sent this message to ALL of the emails provided on our customer service reply and all came back as unopened and deleted or undeliverable.
Mr and Mrs. C Thompson
Rating:
Summary: Not worth my time
Review: I do not like this movie. It is stupid, sappy, and predictible. The main character is a jerk. He is ugly. I dislike his glasses. He almost cheats on his very faithful and beautiful wife with a random pretty student. That is just wrong. He never writes music, ignores his son, and hates you in particular. You should not see this movie. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you angry inside. I am glad he lost his job. I would've made him lose more than that, the maniac. Poor son. He should strike off and do his own movie about his evil childhood with a negligent father. Okay. I'm done.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies of the decade
Review: This film always tugs at my heartstrings; I think it best shows the love and dedication our public school teachers have for our children. Tying together the emotion produced from music, and interpersonal relationships. Richard Dreyfuss has an amazing character, which reminds me of one of my history teachers in high school. I feel for the dilemma educators have when deciding what they should expose kids to with limited budgets, this film demonstrates that not all which is important to life can be found in the three R's (though the inaccuracy of that phrase still gets be today, but then I suppose that RWA doesn't have the same ring to it.) At any rate, those who love music and life will love this film.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting "Over the top" tear jerking formula
Review: How many "teachers save our youth" movies can you watch? "To Sir with Love", "Blackboard Jungle", "Saving Forester", and so on and so on. Since you ask, At least one more time. Mr. Holland wants to write music and believes that teaching will give him the free time to compose. Slowly he gets sucked into the teaching environment and eventually this becomes his focus to the exclusion of his deaf son. Will he see what he is doing? Will he care? Or maybe skip town with a talented singer (Rowena)?
This well paced film that does not save hooligans but enriches an otherwise droll school experience and encourages more than just the basics. A twist on the standard formula is the emphasis from the beginning on Holland more than a student or two. We see how he learns from the school environment and incorporates his life into the life of the school. Richard Dreyfuss being the main character may over shadow good acting by Olympia Dukakis and William H. Macy among others. There are several inspiring moments and some sobering moments.
In all it is worth the time and you will want to watch it again.
|
