A Critical Analysis Paper about the Movie

“Emperors Club”

Submitted to

Mrs.Irene Billones

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements in English for Academic Purposes

Submitted by:
 Introduction

The Emperors Club was directed by Michael Hoof man and it was released in
theaters in November 21, 2002. It was filmed at Emma Williard School in New York and
has a running time of 110 minutes. The Emperor’s Club centers on an inspiring and
committed teacher of classical history, Mr. Hundert (Kevin Kline), who believes that "a
man's character decides his destiny" and that he must form the character of his students.
A discourteous new student named Sedgewick Bell (Emile Hirsch) provides Hundert's
greatest challenge. He seems to value nothing but pleasure and shocking people. He
knows that he will have the protection of his father, a Senator. But he's bitter and angry
about his distant father. Hundert is patient and sympathetic. We get a glimpse of
Hundert's feelings about his own father. Hundert gently persuades Bell to care about
succeeding on the school's terms. And that means competing for the school's highest
honor – the "Mr. Julius Caesar" competition. Bell does care, perhaps more deeply than
Hundert knows. Hundert bends the rules to put Bell in the final competition. But he has to
make an important decision that will determine the outcome, taking into account the
needs not just of Bell but of the school and the other students in the competition as well.
Many years later, he must revisit those choices and reconsider the role he has played in
the lives of the young men put under his care.

In this richly satisfying drama, Hundert is a moral man who loses his way when he
tries to take responsibility for the direction of Sedgewick Bell's life. Ego often sabotages
our highest ethical ideals. Kevin Kline puts in another graceful performance as the flawed
teacher who stumbles badly in his encounter with the Bells. This solid and substantive
film beautifully conveys the slippery slope of ethical dishonesty and the disregard
for the old virtues in the corridors of power where the rich do what they want.