I have wondered for months if Dr. Jack Stillinger (Keats Scholar - University of Chicago) has seen "Bright Star" and what he must think about it. So I decided to ask him via email. He wrote me back and I wanted to share this with you (since I told him about this Forum). He is a wonderful man:
He wrote:
"BRIGHT STAR is getting a lot of discussion (favorable and unfavorable) among the Keats community, and people have been writing to me about it from all over the country. I haven’t seen it yet, but have an opinion even so—mainly that it’s really great to have a popular film about Keats and his poems getting so much attention (especially in the reviews). I understand that the film does an excellent job of presenting the poetry, and this is all to the good. I feel as if some stock that I invested in has just quadrupled in value! So we’re all pretty happy about the whole thing.
Very best.—Jack"
Amazing that he hasn't seen it yet - but I'm sure he will. I encouraged him to do so. Hopefully his critical eye will not diminish his ability to enjoy what this movie does. I love his comment about his stock that just "quadrupled"! I feel the same way. Don't we all?