"THE HISTORY BOYS"
DVD Review
by Rachel Buccicone
| MOVIE: *** (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: *** (out of 5 stars) STARRING Steven Campbell Moore as IRWIN Richard Griffiths as HECTOR Dominic Cooper as DAKIN Samuel Barnett as POSNER Rated R Studio: 20th Century Fox Directed by: Nicholas Hytner Back to DVD Review Home |  |
Alan Bennett’s stage play “The History Boys” came to the big screen in this independent, British film that won’t likely find favor in the average audience.
It is 1983, and we are introduced to the intellectual elite of Cutler’s Grammar School as the boys clamor to discover the multiple A’s they have earned for the term. The boys will spend the next term studying for their entrance exams to the best schools in England: Cambridge and Oxford.
The students have a particular fondness for their culture teacher Mr. Hector (Richard Griffiths), who incidentally likes to fondle the boys as well. A new History teacher from Oxford is taken on to prepare the boys for their exams, and this Mr. Irwin (Steven Campbell Moore) gains the interest of the students as a challenging instructor.
The youngest of the boys, Posner (Samuel Barnett), struggles with his homosexual instincts while harboring a well-known crush on the class hunk, Dakin (Dominic Cooper), to whom Irwin pays particular attention.
While the students are well aware of Hector’s homosexuality and his desire to grope them, the headmaster is not particularly pleased when he learns of the situation.
What surprises me the most about “The History Boys” is that none of these boys flinches at the idea of homosexuality; whereas it is always presented with some form of aversion in American films. Posner nonchalantly talks of his gay “phase” and how he doesn’t necessarily want to move on from it.
The film “The History Boys” was written by the author of the stage version, Alan Bennett. The writing is fairly high-brow, filled with historic and literature references, complex metaphors for reality, and an entire scene in French (that goes un-subtitled). The plot doesn’t contain a direct storyline and comes to a rather abrupt end.
I have no complaints on the acting in “The History Boys”. Dominic Cooper (“Band of Brothers”) in the role of Dakin plays a suave, confident young man and stands out as a particular gem in this cast.
The DVD offers a few bonuses. First, the film can be viewed with commentary by the director and writer. Next, you can check out the tour diaries of the stage play, and lastly, a featurette about putting “The History Boys” on the big screen.
“The History Boys” could be seen as a brilliant film by those who can relate to the characters—the intellectual elite. The plot lacks a clear protagonist, conflict and climax which leaves the viewer with an unsatisfied feeling in the end. It might be worth renting by those who think of themselves as smart, but I wouldn’t recommend buying “The History Boys” without seeing it first.
Specifications: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Widescreen (1.85:1). English and Spanish Language Track. English, Spanish and French Subtitles.
