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By
TERESSA ELLIOTT
You've seen the plot of "The Emperor's Club" before: moral teacher attempts to help troubled
student (and why do these stories always seem to take place in all-boys prep schools?). But this film has Kevin Kline
and more than one layer.
Kline is Professor Hundert -- a teacher of World Civilizations and the moderator of the annual Mr. Julius Ceasar
contest. His placid life is ruffled by Sedgewick Bell (Emile Hirsch), a rabble-rousing student with (of course) a
distant father and (ditto) a promising intellect kept under wraps.
What makes this film worth seeing (and it is) is Kline's measured performance. Kline shows us Hundert's feelings
primarily through his expressions; which is in keeping with this private, formal man. The film also examines big
questions: What is morality? Is character destiny? "The Emperor's Club" gives no easy answers.
The extras are standard and unexciting, however: they include a 30-minute making-of feature, uninspiring deleted scenes
and a director's commentary. The real gem here is the new twist on an old tale. |
