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Actors: Matt Damon, Chris O'Donnell, Brendan Fraser
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about School Ties |
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For an elite prep school in the fifties, these rich kids certainly push and shove each other a lot. And that's before they learn their new quarterback is Jewish. In a twist on the “only way out of this grimy town” theme, David Green (Fraser) is recruited from Scranton High School as a senior to beat the dreaded St. Lukes. In return, a championship will nearly assure him an Alumni Scholarship to Harvard. David keeps a low profile while readily winning friends and football games, even on Rosh Hashanah. Then, he “steals” the girlfriend of his “friend” Gray Dillon (Damon), a would-be fifth-generation Ivy Leaguer who must improve his French, his history, and his blocking. Desperate to succeed, Gray cheats on a midterm and blames David. Thus the school's cherished Honor Tribunal must decide whom to expel – the popular scion, or the outsider who concealed his religion and appeared from nowhere to take a scholarship. Still, despite overt anti-Semitism, most of those in judgment must admit that David is indeed the first Jew they've ever met “close up.”
--Angry Jim Magin, Resident Scholar
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Great movie with a great moral. Very good for putting the message across about prejudice. Lots of actors got well-known because of their roles in this movie.
--Diane, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of School Ties |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Kids growing up/acting up?
Yes
Ethnic/Regional/Gender story?
Yes
Main Char. ethnic: (if not US Caucasian)
- Jew, regular
Age group
- trouble in high school
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- student
- athlete
Age:
- a teen
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
- (man) short/standard wavey
Body type
- (man) muscular
Unclothed?
- Chest
Events of movie makes character more...
- sensitive
- irritated
- happy
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
- Jewish
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
- blonde
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn straight
Body type
- (man) muscular
- (woman) very skinny
How much in movie?
- 40%
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
- an entire race
Age:
- a teen
Profession/status:
- student
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
- 90%-100%
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) skinny
unclothed?
- chest and buttocks
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- very athletic
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Midwest
City?
Yes
City:
- Boston
Misc setting
- school
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- thoughtful
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
Any profanity?
- None
- Occasional swearing
If this is a kid's movie...
- Ages 10-15
If soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Classic/oldies rock
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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