Teachers (1984) is not the freshest or most original movie about the difficulties modern educators face in an urban public school setting, but it has a lot to say about those difficulties.  Furthermore, it does so with clever, dark humor, a wide swath of audaciousness and some fine acting from a terrific cast.

Arthur Hiller’s film attempts a Network-like approach to the very serious subject of public school inadequacy, filling the story with black humor and comic absurdities that push the boundaries of believability.  Of course, the real irony is that the wilder things get, the more authentic the story becomes.  Truth is crazy.

Director Hiller is no rookie to this type of approach.  His films The Americanization of Emily, The Hospital, and House Calls each feature themes of chaos among order,  establishment viewing individuals as less important than an organization or social system, and the notion that the image of reality is often more important than the reality itself.  All of these themes are present and imperative in Teachers as well.

Teachers isn’t as strong as those other Hiller films because the story is occasionally disjointed and implausible, yet it still delivers a dramatic punch, and benefits greatly from some solid acting.  Lead actor Nick Nolte is good, but not exceptional, as the burned-out teacher who finds his life re-energized by the confluence of events at his high school.  Jobeth Williams is convincingly sincere as the lawyer — and former student — who forces Nolte into some serious self-examination.  Judd Hirsch is superb as the school’s beleaguered leader; his is the best characterization.  Excellent in smaller roles are Richard Mulligan, Lee Grant, Royal Dano, Madeleine Sherwood, Allen Garfield, Laura Dern, Morgan Freeman and Crispin Glover.  So even if the movie’s moral points are obvious, they are well presented by this talented cast.  My rating:  ☆ ☆ ☆.  (10:1).