Review of Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) by Bill C — 13 Oct 2008

Richard Dreyfuss, is a wonderful actor, who puts the best of his abilities in a role. He has a way of bringing a natural personality to his charcter's which of course is point proven here in Mr. Holland's Opus.

In an era, where movie's such as "Dangerous Minds", were those films where the teachers were these amazing people whoc ould change anyone's life, comes a movie, that does not do that. It does not portray Glen Holland as a teacher, but as a man with a dream, and not realizing what he's doing along the way of trying to achieve it.

Of course, Dreyfuss plays Glen Holland, he's a composer, who has a lifelong dream, of writing his own symphony. But he obviously needs to pay his bills as well. In 1965, we see Glen taking a job, that we can tell he doesen't want, as a music teacher.

He's married to Iris Holland (Glenne Headly, in a very nice role), and the two live in a small apartment. Glen's reluctance to take this job, is as frustrating as his first day, we can tell he's out of touch with these kids, and can't relate to them on any level.

He is befriended however by the school's Gym teacher, and football coach, Bill (Jay Thomas, in his best role). Now to try to relate to these kids, Glen finally has his chance, bringing rock n' roll to the classroom. Along the way however, he meets disapproval, from Principal Jacobs (Olympia Dukakis), and Vice Principal Gene Walters (William H. Macy). But in a scene where Glen explains what Jacobs should say if the parents question why he's teaching Rock N' Roll, the answer he gives, is the smartest one possible. And instead of the stereotypical scene where the Prinicpal stands there ground over the defiant teacher, she agrees it's a good answer, and all of the sudden has respect for him. That scene threw me for a loop quite honestly.

We notice too, that Glen is helping his students, there's a charming scene where he helps a struggling clarinet player (Alicia Witt), understand her insturment.

Also, a scene where his fellow teacher and friend, wants him to help teach a kid to play the drums, so he can be on the wrestling team. The kid's name is Lou Russ, and he is played by a very young Terrence Howard.

The movie deals with his family issues as well, he's thrown out of whack, when he finds out his wife is pregnant, and we see there relationship isn't perfect, but it is problems that would arise in realtiy, and not just some simplistic contrived fight to fit the plot. Like we saw in the Hilary Swank feeble attempt at Box Office success, "Freedom Writers" last year.

Glen however, is delighted to have a son, who was named Cole, after the legendary jazz artist, John Coltrane. However, when it's learned that Cole has a disabilty that'll hamper him the rest of his life. Glen is so consumed by the worst of it, he's not willing to make his relationship work in the right way.

He meets more students, in very intriguing storylines, one of which one of his students develops a crush on him. We see it's not some typical may/december crush, but she is actually in awe of his charm and intellegence.

His relationship with his son, is very well done, and it's around the time of his son entering his teen years, his inability to accept his sons limitations, start to put a strain on everything.

Yet despite all the years of teaching, Glen is still frustrated he can never get his symphony done, and we slowly see, that he realizes, it'll never come true.

It's not until the very last scene in the movie, and in some fantastic acting by Dreyfuss, that he has made an impact in the 30 years he's been a teacher, and when he realizes it, we see the expressiveness on his face, as well as his friends and loved ones, in one amazaing scene.

Dreyfuss doesen't even say a word in that whole scene.

I loved this movie because it placed an emphasis on every character. Movies like Dangerous Minds, or more modern ones such as "Take the Lead", or the previously mentioned "Freedom Writers", just threw the teacher who changed everyone, the principal who objects, characters we really can't get into, or aren't given enough time to. And there contrived personal relationship we don't learn anything about, or they're just predictable.

The emphasis on ever one of Glen's relationships, is what made this movie termendous. His family life in my opinion is the most interesting plotline of ANY teacher movie. His peers are truly real friends and not just there for background. The authority figures may object to his methods, but the reasons are legit, and they're not there to be antagonists in the movie, they're just doing there job. His family actually has traits we care about, and his students all have complexities about them.

Mr. Holland's Opus is a wonderful movie, about somehow realizing your dream, isn't always what you were meant to do. Glen Holland's dream was to make an impact with the artform that is music. And despite the fact it didn't go the way it planned...that's what happened.