The director of masterpieces such as Election and Nebraska is unfortunately relying on a very clichee formula story and bombarding us with beautiful warm winter images with a lot of sentimental music because probably deep down, he's very aware that story -if there's one- is quite shallow and relying on a very old formula with having no other dimension. I was really looking forward to Alexander Payne's next movie -even after Downsizing was less than satisfactory- but unfortunately we see here many cardboard characters.
It could be argued that these three main characters each represent another positive side of American experience with teacher being the historical roots reaching back to Romans and Carthages, the boy being the rebellious youth moving forward and the lady being...well the diversity. Maybe this formula works for American audiences who will surely embrace this film during their festive period but from where I look, experience was rather dull and an unfortunate copy of Dead Poets Society.
It could be argued that these three main characters each represent another positive side of American experience with teacher being the historical roots reaching back to Romans and Carthages, the boy being the rebellious youth moving forward and the lady being...well the diversity. Maybe this formula works for American audiences who will surely embrace this film during their festive period but from where I look, experience was rather dull and an unfortunate copy of Dead Poets Society.