Synopsis - Mr.Holland's opus

lucy_zq2002UID: 177408

Drama
Richard Dreyfus stars as an aspiring composer who becomes a terrific music teacher in spite of himself. The story chronicles thirty years in the inspirational life of a man who, through his sheer love of music, leaves an unexpected, indelible mark on the lives of his students. Academy Award Nominations: Best Actor--Richard Dreyfuss.


Film Review

If you enjoy movies about teachers who make a difference in students' lives, then I would recommend Mr. Holland's Opus.
In this film, an aspiring composer (Richard Dreyfuss) takes on a job as a music teacher to pay his bills until he can "make it big" with his compositions. After initially having trouble connecting with the students, Mr. Holland slowly discovers that he has a gift for teaching the kids an appreciation of music. He often has to battle the school administrators who don't approve of his using rock-and-roll as a teaching tool, and who threaten to cut the music program in order to reduce costs.

There is an interesting subplot concerning Mr. Holland's son, Cole, who is deaf. Mr. Holland can't seem to connect with his son because he feels there is no way that Cole could ever share his love for music. It takes the death of a popular musician to bring the father and son together. Mr. Holland then looks for ways to reach out musically to the deaf students in the community by adding visual aids to his performances.
I do have some reservations when recommending this film. Firstly, there is some brief dialog between husband and wife about "marital relations". There is also a subplot where Mr. Holland is inappropriately attracted to a female student. In one scene, Cole angrily gestures to Mr. Holland who is informed by his wife that it is sign language for an obscene word. Lastly, as the movie is showing how the students change during the 30+ year span that the story covers, there is a brief image of two male students holding hands.

Mr. Holland's Opus is a heartwarming story that will bring both laughter and tears, and certainly one of the best films of 1995.

lucy_zq2002UID: 177408

1.我是非常的会哭,:$所以当初我随意拿起这部片子,平凡无奇的海报.实在没想到看过后就哭了.特别是最后大家在礼堂集会的那些人,那些话.

2.我尽力找了不同网站的影评.以区别我做的各个影评的风格不同.上面的影评非常浅显,不过它也提出了自己的保留意见,不错!

3.片中有两处我回头重复看了一遍.一处是开始不久,holland对教师这个职业不太习惯,女的教导主任对他阐述(也许是shout:))了她对教师的理解,我做了记录:a teacher is two jobs,fill young minds with knowledges ,but more important ,give those minds a compass,so that those knowledge doesm't go to waste.因为这个让我想到了雅思四月的作文题,关于老师的讨论(学生是否可以批评老师etc.)Echo707,你看到了嘛?:)

还有一处就是偏后面,新的教导主任由于经费问题(所谓budget)要裁掉music programe,holland先生和他公然对峙,甚至把问题反映到了教育局的一些领导,开会讨论.这里我没做记录,但非常的受震撼!当初妻子批评他对家庭付出不够的那句the best is still not enough被他脱口而出!满有味道的!提起这个场景是它又让我想起了雅思作文题--教育是否该包括音乐课?也许这部片子这个可以作为好的引证吧!

4.值得一提的是随着主角变老,时间推移,导演穿插了不少重大的历史政治事件的珍贵画面,可能导演也想玩一把怀旧吧:D

5.热爱,执着,奉献-是这个片子带给我的感受.也许真的事业和家庭要做的非常出色,总会有冲突.最后,老师,那种桃李满天下的感觉应该是很好的吧!这里我也希望bqiana老师能够在这个秋天有更多的丰收,并且年年如此:hug:

[ Last edited by lucy_zq2002 on 2005-5-7 at 14:43 ]