School Ties (1992)
72%RT Audience Score: 68%
Awards & Nominations: 3 nominations
School Ties” attempts to tackle the issue of anti-Semitism in a prep school setting, but unfortunately falls short of its potential. While the performances of the young cast are commendable, the script lacks the depth and nuance necessary to truly explore the complexities of the subject matter. Director Robert Mandel’s heavy-handed approach to the material only serves to highlight the film’s contrivances and lack of subtlety. Despite its good intentions, “School Ties” ultimately fails to leave a lasting impact and is unlikely to be remembered as anything more than a launching pad for the careers of its talented young actors, including Brandon Frazer, Chris O’Donnell, and Matt Damon.
School Ties” is a movie that tries to tackle a serious issue, but unfortunately falls short. Critics have pointed out the predictable plot and lack of depth in the script, but let’s not forget the perfectly coiffed hairdos that just scream “prep school.” The film may have introduced us to some future Hollywood stars, but it’s unlikely to capture the same audience as “Dead Poets Society.” Overall, it’s a well-intentioned message picture that just didn’t quite hit the mark.
Production Company(ies)
T A T Communications, Company,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Leominster, Massachusetts, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG-13 for language
Year of Release
1992
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 47m
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Language(s):English, Hebrew, French
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 18, 1992 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 19, 2009
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, Chris O’Donnell, Randall Batinkoff, Andrew Lowery, Cole Hauser, directed by Robert Mandel, written by Dick Wolf, Darryl Ponicsan, drama, PG-13, box office performance, $12.5M, reviewed by Peter Rainer, Los Angeles Times, Sherry Lansing, Stanley R Jaffe, Dolby, Surround, football scholarship, prestigious prep school, 1950s, Jewish, anti-Semitic, big man on campus, violent threats, public ridicule, Catholic school, Harvard, racism, religious discrimination, cheating, Ben Affleck, Chris O’Donnell, Cole Hauser, best Brendan Fraser movie, hate against Jews
Worldwide gross: $14,715,067
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $31,497,977
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,528
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 3,434,894
US/Canada gross: $14,715,067
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $31,497,977
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,260
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,020,071
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $6,464,539
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,051
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $18,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $38,529,460
Production budget ranking: 985
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $20,748,114
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$27,779,597
ROI to date (est.): -47%
ROI ranking: 1,668
Matt Damon – Charlie Dillon
Chris O’Donnell – Chris Reece
Randall Batinkoff – Rip Van Kelt
Andrew Lowery – McGivern
Cole Hauser – Jack Connors
Director – Robert Mandel
Producers – Sherry Lansing, Stanley R. Jaffe
Writers – Dick Wolf, Darryl Ponicsan
Director(s)
Robert Mandel
Writer(s)
Dick Wolf, Darryl Ponicsan
Producer(s)
Sherry Lansing, Stanley R. Jaffe
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (40) | Top Critics (12) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (16)
Well-meaning and earnest, “School Ties” (citywide) moves through its measured paces with dogged predictability.
August 21, 2019
Peter Rainer
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
The boys put in fine performances but sadly the script lacks the depth of what could have been a challenging story.
October 15, 2007 | Rating: 3/5
Matt Mueller
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This is a bewildering mixture of fairly accomplished storytelling, awkward contrivances in the script, and lies in the overall conception so egregious they undercut any pretensions the film might have to social seriousness.
October 15, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
School Ties has a leafy, genteel look that is somehow less than convincing, perhaps because the hairdos are too tidy and the resemblances to other prep-school stories too clear.
May 20, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5
Janet Maslin
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
December 5, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
Good intentions go for naught as director Robert Mandel (F/X) pounds home every contrivance in the script by Darryl Ponicsan (Taps).
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
“School Ties” seems unlikely to capture the audience that made a hit of “Dead Poets Society.”
August 21, 2019
Malcolm Johnson
Hartford Courant
But why did the filmmakers relegate their story to the 1950s, as if such attitudes weren’t still alive and dangerous?
August 21, 2019
David Sterritt
Christian Science Monitor
Sure, it has a serious message, but it is put over with a grasp of reality that gives it a better-than-average chance of getting through
August 21, 2019 | Rating: 3/5
David Parkinson
Radio Times
Stirring movie may be too heavy for some tweens.
January 2, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Randy White
Common Sense Media
Though well-intentioned as a message picture, the film is too schematic and predictable, and ultimately may be more significant in featuring a new cohort of actors, including Brandon Frazer, Chris O’Donnell, Matt Damon, and others.
October 1, 2006 | Rating: B-
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
July 11, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Susan Granger
www.susangranger.com…
Plot
David Greene is brought into a prestigious 1950s school to help their football team to beat the school’s old rivals. David, however, is from a working class background, so he isn’t really “one of them”, but he’s very successful at making friends. David is a Jew, and has to keep this a secret from his friends for fear of being rejected.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The cast of School Ties includes a young Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in minor roles.
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