Watch School Ties
- PG-13
- 1992
- 1 hr 46 min
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6.9 (27,791)
School Ties is a coming-of-age drama film set in the 1950s that explores themes of identity, class, and prejudice. The film is directed by Robert Mandel and features an ensemble cast led by then-up-and-coming actors Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, and Chris O'Donnell. David Greene (Fraser) is a working-class Jewish student who earns a scholarship to attend the prestigious St. Matthew's School, a Catholic preparatory school in New England. David is excited to attend the school and hopes to prove himself academically and athletically, but he soon discovers that his Jewish identity may be an obstacle in the close-knit and insular community.
David quickly becomes one of the school's star athletes and earns the admiration of his peers, including quarterback Charlie Dillon (Damon) and the wealthy Chestnut Hill resident Rip Van Kelt (O'Donnell). However, David struggles to reconcile his Jewish identity with the values and traditions of the school, which are heavily influenced by the Catholic Church. He also faces overt anti-Semitism from some of his classmates, who reject David based on his religion.
Despite these challenges, David finds support from some unexpected sources, including his roommate Chris Reece (Randall Batinkoff), who sees David as a true friend and ally. He also finds a mentor in the school's liberal-minded English teacher, Mr. Cleary (Kevin Tighe), who encourages David to think critically about his identity and the world around him.
As the story unfolds, David becomes embroiled in a cheating scandal that threatens to ruin his reputation and his chances of being admitted to an Ivy League university. He must decide whether to sacrifice his integrity and conform to the expectations of the school's administration or stick to his principles and risk alienating himself further.
School Ties is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film that examines the complex dynamics of social class, religion, and identity in a high-pressure academic environment. The performances by the young cast are uniformly strong, with Fraser delivering a particularly nuanced portrayal of a young man struggling to find his place in the world. The film's themes are timeless and continue to resonate with audiences today, making it a must-see for fans of coming-of-age stories and period dramas alike.
School Ties is a 1992 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 65.