Comments on: 10 Best Films About Academia http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/29/10-best-films-about-academia/ Daily coverage of what is truly interesting in the film world Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:31:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Lara Osborne http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/29/10-best-films-about-academia/#comment-135312 Lara Osborne Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:41:32 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=9696#comment-135312 Educating Rita was absolutely brilliant, and dealt with a working class adult student and an archetypal drunk, self-indulgent, self-loathing yet charismatic professor. This film really looked at the costs and consequences of social mobility--the losses as well as the gains to higher education. As Rita becomes more sophisticated, she also becomes alienated from her family, community and roots. Her professor, Michael Caine, deteriorates as she needs him less intellectually. I say it deserves to be in the top three on this list. What about a Beautiful Mind? Prep school films don't count, unless you are going to include all high school films. That leaves Jean Brodie and Dead Poets out of the running. I also thought The Last Supper, a film from the 90s about a group of left-wing graduate students who murder right-wing fanatics, was hilarious. And who could forget Flubber? Educating Rita was absolutely brilliant, and dealt with a working class adult student and an archetypal drunk, self-indulgent, self-loathing yet charismatic professor. This film really looked at the costs and consequences of social mobility–the losses as well as the gains to higher education. As Rita becomes more sophisticated, she also becomes alienated from her family, community and roots. Her professor, Michael Caine, deteriorates as she needs him less intellectually. I say it deserves to be in the top three on this list.

What about a Beautiful Mind?

Prep school films don’t count, unless you are going to include all high school films. That leaves Jean Brodie and Dead Poets out of the running.

I also thought The Last Supper, a film from the 90s about a group of left-wing graduate students who murder right-wing fanatics, was hilarious.

And who could forget Flubber?

]]> By: Joseph http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/29/10-best-films-about-academia/#comment-133587 Joseph Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:59:27 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=9696#comment-133587 I think the article is dealing with college academia, not secondary (or high school) academia, thus the lack of inclusion for Goodbye, Mr. Chips; The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie; and Dead Poets' Society. I might have considered The Way We Were, but that film's college section is about the students, not the faculty. I think the article is dealing with college academia, not secondary (or high school) academia, thus the lack of inclusion for Goodbye, Mr. Chips; The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie; and Dead Poets’ Society. I might have considered The Way We Were, but that film’s college section is about the students, not the faculty.

]]> By: Ross http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/29/10-best-films-about-academia/#comment-132864 Ross Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:32:26 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=9696#comment-132864 Agree with Joem, but overall great list! Agree with Joem, but overall great list!

]]> By: bloooood12 http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/29/10-best-films-about-academia/#comment-121230 bloooood12 Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:06:47 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=9696#comment-121230 fuck you. dead poets society is not only one of the best films based on academia, but also one of the finest films ever made, in general. for shame! fuck you. dead poets society is not only one of the best films based on academia, but also one of the finest films ever made, in general. for shame!

]]> By: cpilg http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/29/10-best-films-about-academia/#comment-120677 cpilg Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:04:28 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=9696#comment-120677 The typo likely came from this awful font that makes it almost impossible to scan for typos. The typo likely came from this awful font that makes it almost impossible to scan for typos.

]]> By: Craig http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/29/10-best-films-about-academia/#comment-120232 Craig Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:19:31 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=9696#comment-120232 I'll ignore the rather bizarre though subjective suggestion to make the main character in "Wonder Boys" a film teacher and stick to fact: It's Curtis Hanson. I'm as guilty of typos as anyone, but where did "Curstin" come from? I’ll ignore the rather bizarre though subjective suggestion to make the main character in “Wonder Boys” a film teacher and stick to fact: It’s Curtis Hanson. I’m as guilty of typos as anyone, but where did “Curstin” come from?

]]> By: Christopher Campbell http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/29/10-best-films-about-academia/#comment-120195 Christopher Campbell Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:27:32 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=9696#comment-120195 True, Grant. I overlooked it, and it would perfectly fit this list. True, Grant. I overlooked it, and it would perfectly fit this list.

]]> By: Grant http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/29/10-best-films-about-academia/#comment-120172 Grant Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:31:41 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=9696#comment-120172 What about Squid and the Whale? I know it is more about divorcing parents and a family being torn apart but it is also a pretty scathing look at academics and professors. What about Squid and the Whale? I know it is more about divorcing parents and a family being torn apart but it is also a pretty scathing look at academics and professors.

]]> By: joem18b http://blog.spout.com/2009/01/29/10-best-films-about-academia/#comment-120159 joem18b Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:19:51 +0000 http://blog.spout.com/?p=9696#comment-120159 Hard to imagine a list of best school movies without a couple of the classic UK films on it, such as Goodbye Mr. Chips, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, or Brideshead Revisited. And then there are the Pulitzer winners, Doubt and Proof. Hard to imagine a list of best school movies without a couple of the classic UK films on it, such as Goodbye Mr. Chips, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, or Brideshead Revisited. And then there are the Pulitzer winners, Doubt and Proof.

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