The History Boys
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Movie Reviews of The History Boys
Movie Review: Theatrical but Funny and Lively Enough to Entertain.
Summary: 4 Stars
"The History Boys" is based on the popular play by Alan Bennett. Filmed between the British run of the play and its world tour, the film features the same cast and director as the stage production. The story is set among the students and teachers at a boys' grammar (state) school in Yorkshire in 1983. The school's headmaster (Clive Merrison) in intent on seeing that his eight best 6th term students (seniors) get into the prestigious Oxford or Cambridge universities. He brings in a new teacher, Mr. Irwin (Steven Campbell Moore), to coach the boys for their exams. Between Irwin's provocative approach, Mr. Hector's (Richard Griffiths) unorthodox classroom, and Miss Lintott's (Frances de la Tour) traditional instruction, the boys get a few lessons on the real world along with their history.
"The History Boys" covers the personal and academic challenges of 12 people -8 students and 4 instructors- as the young men race to prepare for tests that might determine their future. The movie contains some material that isn't in the play, but it has also removed a lot to make the film shorter and tighter. It's theatrical and talky, with characters that are more representative of types than realistic. But it's very funny at times, and that's the basis on which I recommend "The History Boys". The humor is balanced by a somewhat awkward drama that I expect will have no shortage of detractors. The theme of competing educational styles runs throughout: Irwin teaches to tests, Lintott teaches traditional curricula, and Hector provides an eclectic, inspirational window on life and art. This is another one of those schoolboy tales in the vein of "Dead Poets Society". The depth is found in the teachers more than the students, but the boys' unapologetic humor won me over.
The DVD (20th Century Fox 2007): There are 2 featurettes and an audio commentary. "History Boys Around the World: Tour Diaries" (14 min) follows the cast to Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, and US during the play's world tour. "Pass It On: History Boys on Screen" (12 min) compares the stage versus screen, the film's themes, and the actors talk about their characters and preparation for the play. The audio commentary with writer Alan Bennett and director Nicholas Hynter is informative and without lulls. They discuss differences between the play and movie, Bennett's inspirations for the characters and story, the debate over different styles of teaching, themes, characters, and the men comment on their own school experiences. Subtitles for the film are available in English, Spanish, French. Dubbing available in Spanish.
Movie Review: "History? It's just one f****** thing after another."
Summary: 4 Stars
I don't know if Alan Bennett thinks it's impossible to be gay and happy or it's impossible for anyone to be happy. This movie (while it does have witty dialogue and an interesting story) is full of the "sad homosexual" character from another era - - in movies like The Children's Hour, The Detective, Advise & Consent.
It's believable that Hector (in his fifties or sixties in the 1980s, when this movie takes place) would have made a loveless marriage long ago and now gropes seventeen-year-olds on his motorbike, but Irwin, the new teacher just out of university, can find lots of gay adult men. It's England in the eighties! Ever hear of Boy George? Elton John? The Notting Hill parades every year? Gay clubs? Personal ads?
Irwin doesn't need Hector's speech about "innoculating" himself against the torment of falling in love with the boys. Not to mention, this perpetuates the idea that grown gay men want boys. (One of the episodes of the Inspector Lynley Mysteries dealt with a gay teacher in a much more believable way.)
The last scene, which brings the boys' lives up to date (presumably to around the year 2000), is even more annoying. One of the boys (also gay) has become a teacher himself. He is apparently unmarried (to anyone of either sex) and has inherited Hector's aura of tragic self-pity along with his erudtion.
It may have been a mistake for Alan Bennett to write a story that must have been inspired by his own school experience, but setting it decades later.
The soundtrack uses eighties music, but not the original versions of the songs. A Muzak version of The Clash - - what's the point? The movie Billy Elliot used period music much better. (Now that I think aboout it, Billy Elliot dealt with several of the same themes - - getting out of an impoverished environment, appreciating art for its own sake, and dealing with someone else's love when you can't return it in the same way.)
Another quibble: a couple of the actors might have been able to pass for "boys" on stage, but they were a little too old for the screen. In one scene it looks like one of the boys is standing next to his father.
But Frances de la Tour's performance alone makes the movie worth watching. Especially her angry speech when she gets fed up with the boys she's tutoring. (Didn't they let women into Oxford and Cambridge in the 1980s?)
Movie Review: Although DVD is no subsitute for live theatre, this is still a gem
Summary: 4 Stars
There are a few things potential viewers, particularly American viewers, need to know about this movie. It focuses on a class of young men who are trying to get into some of the finest British schools. I note this only because there are key differences between British and American schools as well as teaching methods and this may be confusing to some viewers.
I would suggest focusing on the themes of this movie as you watch it, particularly various teaching styles, the role of history in education and, specifically, what a "good education" is. Among other things, the film grapples with issues of
what the students produce, both in their written work and in their classroom discussions. Should an original paper, which is full of cleverness but not much depth, be rewarded more than a solid paper which rehashes conventional wisdom? Those are the types of dilemnas that come up, among others.
If this review hasn't led you to the conclusion that this movie is thought -provoking and geared to making one think about the role of education and styles of learning and teaching, I apologize - because that is what this film does.
Having said that, I think this film suffers from not being presented live, on stage.Often film enhances a Broadway play but I didn't find that the case here. Some of the "students" seemed to be too old and a certain intensity and spontaneity was lost. I would strongly suggest getting a copy of the play in book form and doing a comparison. Better yet, see a live performance.
Still, I think this is worth seeing on DVD, especially since it has extra commentary by Nicholas Hytner and Alan Bennett. There are a couple of featurettes about making the movie and the History Boys around the World.
I can't give a top flight rating to this because it fell short of what I'd experienced of this play before....but it shows effort, is far above the typical fluff shown in theatres and is certainly timely, focusing on education and its role in one's entire life. It is also an excellent introduction to comparing one educational system (British) with other systems, changes and all. The History Boys: A Play
Movie Review: Alan Bennett deflates the dons
Summary: 4 Stars
I enjoyed the premise, and totally got all of the jokes and the poking fun at the Oxbridge candidates. What did not work for me was the new teacher, who was sooo unbearable and superior that you knew he had to be a liar about his credentials, and yet as smart as he is supposed to be, gets lured into a 'date' by the lad everyone adores.
I was also sad that Richard Griffiths got sidelined in the movie, not just the play, because the boor is so omnipresent with his smug yet deer in the headlamps look that he was distracting!
The French lesson at the start was priceless. The boys together were great. It was only when they got split off for more in-depth analysis we sort of lost them, ironically.
The end is sad, but what else can you do!? The headmaster was appropriately awful generally, but in this day and age, I am afraid that all the teacher's actions given the situation did not ring true. Compare Notes on a Scandal, for example, there it is an older woman, younger man, but still, major explosions, not oh well, he was being appreciative.
Alan Bennett has some cracking lines, but they are from the arrogant lad-great job Dominic Cooper--whom we don't like, the sad old plump teacher, and the gay chap pining for love from either one of them! So rather uneven but still very entertaining if you can suspend your disbelief or ignore that subtext all together-the suspense as to whether they get in is the main thing!
Movie Review: Oddly Illuminating
Summary: 4 Stars
'The History Boys' is both a story and a study. Grasping the lives of eight prep school boys, we discover what makes a successful Oxford or Cambridge applicant and are able to ponder why education is important in anyone's life. The boy aspirants couldn't be more different. When they put their heads together, they're stunning. All seem so affable to one another and chime in like solo parts to a Greek chorus.
The real debate comes over education. Enter test expert Mr. Irwin (Stephen Campbell Moore) whose tart, acerbic leadership would make him a fine host for The Weakest Link. In contrast there's the prep school teacher, Mr. Hector (Richard Griffiths) who is a living celebration of literature. ("All literature is consolation," he wisely says.) He has them enact drama scenes and recite poetry with passion. His great Achilles heel, however, is having a propensity to touch his male students, revealing a dark side to the education system and tarnishing his educational touch.
Much of the rest of the faculty offer a different venue, especially Mrs. Linott (Frances de la Tour) who has the necessary sobriety to tell Mr. Hector his actions are "not The Annunciation," and the students that history is "Masculine ineptitude." Even the headmaster (Clive Merriweather) is complicit for a situation that needs some reigning in. Colorful and offbeat, 'The History Boys' is an alternate course in cinematic viewing.