AllMovie

Much like 1996's Courage Under Fire, School Ties should have made Matt Damon a star long before his Oscar-nominated turn in 1997's Good Will Hunting. Surrounded by established actors like Brendan Fraser and Chris O'Donnell, who themselves turn in outstanding performances here, Damon is excellent as the jealous and hate-filled personification of religious intolerance that is at the heart of this film. And while some could accuse the script of being on the predictable side, one shouldn't really expect many surprises from a story like this. The audience feels for Fraser's character and hopes he can overcome the anti-Semitism of his peers. It is in this respect that the writing succeeds. It certainly isn't the best of the countless boarding school films, but School Ties features an engaging story and several top-notch performances that more than warrant a look.