there be a scene early in dead poet society wherein robin williams and a a new literature teacher at an upscale boy prep school and tell his class that he want them to learn to think for themselves . to this end and he order them to tear out of their text book page which feature commentary by the book editor . think he seem to be say and but first and let me censor this book . free think through censorship . i can only assume the say literature book include orwell 1984. in orwellian fashion and hypocrisy be the order of the day in dead poet society . it give a rousing and inspirational sermon ( seize the day . be the teacher motto . ) and yet the story itself mock the film suppose intention . dead poet society be about failure and but it would not admit it while bad and it seem to believe it own inspirational pr . the film serve up a tack on and utterly false moment of triumph at the end and but everything that proceed that be a lesson in failure . williams fail to teach the student to show moral courage . one student commit suicide rather than fight for his belief . when williams be wrongly accuse of something and his supposedly adore student turn on him like a pack of weasel . the one student who stand up for his ideal be expel from the school and forget by the film . a father fail his son . the school fail it student . and the film fail it audience . yet and for some inexplicable reason and people remember the film for it inspirational message represent seize the day . carpe diem . fine word and but at no time be they support by the empty pessimism that the film display . the character who do take chance be immediately and soundly punish . those who knuckle under showy and petty act of deviance aside plod along . williams be okay a the teacher and but all credibility be lose when he stop to toss in imitation of marlon brando and john wayne . robert sean leonard come off best a the doomed student and though his suicide seem remarkably undermotivated . kurtwood smith offer up a wholly unconvincing stereotype a the doomed student martinet father . thanks to peter weir efficient direction and some nice cinematography and dead poet society have a facade of class while but only if you do not pay too close attention to tom schulman dreadful ( though oscar win ) script . the irony be that a film that beg you to think be best enjoyed if you do not .