St. James Academy

Author(s): Masnoraffis Masdil
Location: Singapore

"St. James’ Academy"

Directed by Stephen Daldry
Written by Dan Futterman
Original Score by James Newton Howard

Main Cast

Matt Damon (Matthew David Myers)
Paul Newman (Gregory Simmons)
Rachel McAdams (Sarah Simmons)
Channing Tatum (Robert Kennedy)
Elijah Kelley (Sean Peterson)
Shia LaBeouf (Roger White)
Kristen Bell (Sandra Howard)
Vanessa Hudgens (Patricia Davis)
Julia Stiles (Maria Morgan)
Richard Schiff (George Morgan)
Mary Louise-Parker (Julia Morgan)
Liza Minnelli (Mrs. Rachel Elroy)

Tagline: "Sometimes love is the most powerful weapon facing against your fears…"

Synopsis: St. James’ Academy is a film that portrays the battle between love and fear. It is a film that is set in one of the most prestigious educational institutions of the country – St James’ Academy.

The autocratic disciplinarian Gregory Simmons (Paul Newman) governs St James’ Academy with an iron hand. He runs the institution keeping in mind its three pillars -- Tradition, Honour and Discipline. Every year he reminds the fresh batch of students that the outside world is closed to them once they have decided to enrol in this prestigious institution. And he warns them that any flouting or bending of rules will not be tolerated.

To this institution come three youngsters. Boys from different parts of the country, with difference characteristics and different stories to tell. They enter this cold and strict atmosphere where only excellence is encouraged, where fun and frivolity is frowned upon, where laughing or sharing a joke is deemed unacceptable.

It is here that Robert (Channing Tatum), Sean (Elijah Kelley) and Roger (Shia LaBeouf) form a kind of unbreakable bond. A bond that will require them to face the most difficult of tests and make choices that they never thought that they would have to make. Because it is here that these boys break the cardinal rule of St James’ Academy and Gregory Simmons... they fall in love.

When Robert, Sean and Roger first met Sandra (Kristen Bell), Patricia (Vanessa Hudgens) and Sandra (Julia Stiles) respectively, their lives are placed in a turmoil as they would like to meet the girls, talk to the girls and dream about the girls, but the omnipotent figure of Gregory Simmons looms large.

It is only with the arrival of Matthew Myers (Matt Damon), the maverick music teacher, who encourages the boys to follow their hearts and break open the gates of St James’ Academy, that the boys actually begin living a life that they earlier only dreamed of.

The plot thickens when we learn that Matthew was previously Gregory’s student, whose college career came to an abrupt end after his alliance with Gregory’s daughter Sarah (Rachel McAdams), causing bitter strife and anger. Now he has returned to teach the three young men and the miserly principal the meaning and power of love.

St James’ Academy slowly becomes a story of the battle between what the two stellar men, Gregory Simmons and Matthew Myers, stand for. Two stubborn men who live their lives with completely opposing principles. One who stands for love and everything that the heart encompasses and the other who stands for discipline and fear and who believes that love only leads to pain and weakness.

What the Press would say:

Paul Newman is the star of the film, and delivers a performance that should win him accolades across the board. Newman’s towering screen presence erupts on screen. His dialogue delivery is excellent, his body language convincing, Newman is made for the rigid character he portrays. He makes the character come alive.

Matt Damon performs very well, and manages to hold his own against the likes of Paul Newman. The scenes capturing the conflict between the two actors, especially the climax, are brilliant. The two stars share a good chemistry on screen. Rachel McAdams supports well in a role that is pivotal to the script. She looks stunning, however, and her pairing with Matt Damon is quite fresh. Much of her on-screen time is limited to looking stunningly beautiful, which she manages to do quite well. The surprise element in St James’ Academy makes you sit up and wonder what is it in Liza Minnelli that jolts you even today? There's a beautiful dance item by the golden girl of yesteryears, leaving you wanting for more.

Among the younger cast, Tatum Channing and Kristen Bell impresses as the quarrelling couple from neighbouring schools who at last fall in love with each other. Not to mention the swift dancing moves they display while training for the dance competition. Shia LaBeouf continues not to disappoint as the young man who holds a candle for Julia Stiles, the young widowed wife of a dead soldier.

Stephen Daldry has handled the film very well. His direction is skillful, which is quite evident in the scenes between Matt Damon and Paul Newman. The film moves at a nice pace, not too fast, not too slow. For some, the film will seem like an eternity. For this viewer, the length was perfect. Daldry intelligently introduces a love story and follows it through until the end. Every scene is planned out and executed well. The script, while sounding bland on paper, is handled very imaginatively, courtesy of Dan Futterman. The dialogues are excellent.

St James Academy has achieved a very rare feat. The film made us care for the characters, St James’ Academy’s lead characters are very well etched and seem real, which is different from most films, whose characters are one-dimensional cardboard cutouts.

For Your Consideration

Best Picture
Best Director: Stephen Daldry
Best Screenplay: Dan Futterman
Best Original Score: James Newton Howard
Best Actor: Matt Damon
Best Supporting Actor: Paul Newman
Best Supporting Actor: Shia LaBeouf
Best Supporting Actress: Rachel McAdams
Best Supporting Actress: Kristen Bell
Best Film Editing: Kevin Tent
Best Art Direction: Clay A. Griffith
Best Cinematography: John Toll
Best Costume Design: Betsy Heimann