DEAD POETS SOCIETY [1989]

Director Peter Weir manages to squeeze out an early straight-faced performance from Robin Williams in the period drama Dead Poets Society.
Williams is impeccable as an unconventional English teacher, in a stuffy all-boys prep school, that takes it upon himself to teach his wide-eyed class about seizing the day and boldly take a free-thinking approach to the life that they want to lead.
It makes no attempt to subtly lay down it's message with many an emotionally manipulative moment that almost insults the viewer.  The heart overpowers it's intelligence, which it's lack of is hidden beneath strong performances, gorgeous cinematography and richly realized tone and atmosphere.  It's got it's heart in the right place but fails to find much of a free-thinking brain to equal it.

3 phone calls from God out of 5

THE WAY BACK [2010]

Director Peter Weir is no stranger to large scale epic dramas that manage to still pack a strong feeling of intimacy. The Way Back is no exception.
Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan and Colin Farrell turn in some beautiful and believable performances that could have easily gone over the top but these fine artists keep it grounded. The photography is absolutely gorgeous as the viewer is taken over 4000 miles of deserted land.
Unfortunately the film never lifts off the ground to reach the same type of quality that Weir's previous films have all done so well at.
The pacing is a little slow and doesn't quite have the emotional impact a story like this should hold. Never the less, it's still a good film compared to a lot of the other films these days being passed off as "epic".

3 ½ tree bark drawings out of 5