Post by Boz on Sept 1, 2006 13:24:25 GMT
Sorry if this comes off as disjointed, unfocused, or rambling. I didn't really have the energy to make any sort of structured essay out of my viewing notes.
The Breakfast Club
Directed by John Hughes
1985
Director John Hughes’ film, The Breakfast Club, tells the simple story of five seemingly very different high school kids, all stuck in an eight hour Saturday detention, where they end up learning they may not be so different from one another after all. While Hughes other famed 80’s classic, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, is clearly more polished in its narrative flow and style, this film succeeds in expressing a wider range of emotions, has more clearly defined characters, and better portrays the real feeling of suburban high school in the 1980’s, especially considering that a suprisingly small portion of FBDO takes place in the actual high school, despite the fact that it is a "high school" film.
There are great performances from the entire cast, and they stand out because of the limited amount of characters in the film as a whole. Judd Nelson really steals the show though as the rebellious John Bender, whose every move is accompanied by the intimidating jingle of his chains. The camera doesn’t move much, but when it does it is seemingly always to track the methodic movements of the Bender. Nelson gets handed some real dialogue gems, his rival Paul Gleason as well. Director Hughes really effectively gets across the sense of camaraderie as well as the rivalry between the different kids. There’s the sexual tension, the social pressure, the angst, the kids wanting to be mature but yet they’re still relatively young, and as the day wears on, we watch as their facades slowly fade. Hughes puts so much consideration into the character’s wardrobes as well. All are multi-layered; they shed their clothes like they shed their defenses, figuratively and physically becoming more comfortable, with both themselves and one another.
It’s amazing that such a fun and interesting film could take place with so few characters in only a single setting. Hughes really gets that high school feeling by not adding too much music, producing the familiar long, tedious silences. It helps add to the atmosphere that we never are really knowledgeable about the exact proportions of the school. It is seemingly vast but decidedly empty. The time passes fairly unbeknownst to us as well. Hughes shows the clock several times in the beginning before the kids have begun relating to one another and interacting, but as the situation becomes less awkward, the clock makes no more appearances. The whole film feels like it takes place in the morning, much like actual high school. Every time you think Hughes might go too far towards either the comedic or melodramatic extremes, he defies your expectations and keeps a nice balance.
This acts as a companion piece to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, here displaying the insecurities and emotional undertones with moments of spontaneous raunchy humor, whereas this scenrio is basically reversed in FBDO. Hughes doesn’t pepper the film with too many pop culture references, so besides the clothes and music, the story is effectively timeless. It’s interesting that we se glimpses of some of the parents, before we hear anything about them, but later when these same parents become key topics of conversation and are described as sources of frustration, these same brief glimpses are given depth and provide support to back up these stories. We never see the kids among their social groups, despite what an important role this plays in their interactions. It’s interesting that the one who seems to make the least effort, and has the least social interaction with the school, Allison, is the most content, and most naturally at ease.
This film stands as perhaps the best 80’s movie (next to Thief), and perhaps the best high school movie (next to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off). Hughes is massively talented, perfectly captures the era. It’s tragic that he made no real effort to translate his directorial prowess into other areas of interest, as he hasn't directed a film in fifteen years.
The Breakfast Club
Directed by John Hughes
1985
Director John Hughes’ film, The Breakfast Club, tells the simple story of five seemingly very different high school kids, all stuck in an eight hour Saturday detention, where they end up learning they may not be so different from one another after all. While Hughes other famed 80’s classic, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, is clearly more polished in its narrative flow and style, this film succeeds in expressing a wider range of emotions, has more clearly defined characters, and better portrays the real feeling of suburban high school in the 1980’s, especially considering that a suprisingly small portion of FBDO takes place in the actual high school, despite the fact that it is a "high school" film.
There are great performances from the entire cast, and they stand out because of the limited amount of characters in the film as a whole. Judd Nelson really steals the show though as the rebellious John Bender, whose every move is accompanied by the intimidating jingle of his chains. The camera doesn’t move much, but when it does it is seemingly always to track the methodic movements of the Bender. Nelson gets handed some real dialogue gems, his rival Paul Gleason as well. Director Hughes really effectively gets across the sense of camaraderie as well as the rivalry between the different kids. There’s the sexual tension, the social pressure, the angst, the kids wanting to be mature but yet they’re still relatively young, and as the day wears on, we watch as their facades slowly fade. Hughes puts so much consideration into the character’s wardrobes as well. All are multi-layered; they shed their clothes like they shed their defenses, figuratively and physically becoming more comfortable, with both themselves and one another.
It’s amazing that such a fun and interesting film could take place with so few characters in only a single setting. Hughes really gets that high school feeling by not adding too much music, producing the familiar long, tedious silences. It helps add to the atmosphere that we never are really knowledgeable about the exact proportions of the school. It is seemingly vast but decidedly empty. The time passes fairly unbeknownst to us as well. Hughes shows the clock several times in the beginning before the kids have begun relating to one another and interacting, but as the situation becomes less awkward, the clock makes no more appearances. The whole film feels like it takes place in the morning, much like actual high school. Every time you think Hughes might go too far towards either the comedic or melodramatic extremes, he defies your expectations and keeps a nice balance.
This acts as a companion piece to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, here displaying the insecurities and emotional undertones with moments of spontaneous raunchy humor, whereas this scenrio is basically reversed in FBDO. Hughes doesn’t pepper the film with too many pop culture references, so besides the clothes and music, the story is effectively timeless. It’s interesting that we se glimpses of some of the parents, before we hear anything about them, but later when these same parents become key topics of conversation and are described as sources of frustration, these same brief glimpses are given depth and provide support to back up these stories. We never see the kids among their social groups, despite what an important role this plays in their interactions. It’s interesting that the one who seems to make the least effort, and has the least social interaction with the school, Allison, is the most content, and most naturally at ease.
This film stands as perhaps the best 80’s movie (next to Thief), and perhaps the best high school movie (next to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off). Hughes is massively talented, perfectly captures the era. It’s tragic that he made no real effort to translate his directorial prowess into other areas of interest, as he hasn't directed a film in fifteen years.