The History Boys (2006)

Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

So much average

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The History Boys had inspiring goals in their lives, which they were intensely dedicated to achieving. The role models that was involved in their lives had an impacting effect on each of their lives, both good and bad. I think this movie does it's part in carrying out life's encounters, though some might be expected and some unexpected, whatever the situation might be, it enables us to grow as a person and helps us develop into stronger minded people, who can deal with anything life throws at them. Morals were taught in this movie which made it a good movie, but not a recommended movie for children younger than 15 years, as it requires an audience that's mentally mature, to understand what happens in the movie and why it happens.

It's 1983 Yorkshire. A group of smart boys at Cutlers' Grammar School are being prepared by their eager headmaster to go to Oxford or Cambridge. He brings in new teacher Irwin to achieve that goal. Irwin teaches them to think the opposite and game the exam system. History teacher Mrs Lintott is more traditional. Friendly enthusiastic teacher Hector don't teach to exams and is pushed by the headmaster for early retirement after some homosexual tendencies with one of the boys. David Posner is a Jewish student struggling with his own homosexuality. Stuart Dakin is the hot guy that he pines for.It's very British and I find the whole world a little odd. The class work is different. The guys are not chasing girls and that has nothing to do with the homosexuality. Hector is the flashy character but I actually find Irwin the more compelling character. Posner is the star character among the kids but Samuel Barnett is not that charismatic. This material is great but some of the humor eludes me.

It seems many reviews of this film accuse it of "glorifying paedophilia", featuring "random vaudeville tunes sung by half-naked students" and said students groped by a teacher they "worship". None of those are true. Nor is it true that this film is a "sick pervert's fantasy". This is a fine film, in which one of many broad themes (along with self-betterment; human history; morality; the importance of education; the importance of fun and the importance of acceptance) is reactions to a teacher groping students and how the victim's mind-set affects it. Many discussions by the characters in the film run parallels to this, and in one of the more explicit mentions of it, one student asks another; "Are we victims?", clearly dismissive of the idea. The film makes no move to excuse it, and it is not, as some suggest, only the 'villains' of the piece who are shocked. The teacher also hits his one of his students with a book at one point, not truly hurting him, and the student laughs it off. This is also arguably a parallel to said student's molestation. If you think this film "disgusting" or "sick" or even just "boring", please re-watch it, and try to understand it this time.

This is a very touching and very funny little film. I am surprised more people have not seen it and do not know about it. When I saw it I wasn't sure what to expect, I had heard a lot about the play but have never seen it myself (haven't ever had a chance as so far as I know it has not ever been on here). My expectations were pretty low because even though I heard great things about the play usually plays put on the big screen (except some exceptions and usually they are musicals) they are not nearly as good. But this was a great movie, the actors are all fantastic so whoever did the casting did a great job. It is funny and very real (seems like a real school class would be back then with some excellent moments of real life humor), and like I said also touching at many instances in a very human way. Don't want to give anything away but this movie is well worth watching I can't see very many people not liking it.