steven@ism70.UUCP (02/21/85)
THE BREAKFAST CLUB Starring Emilio Estevez, Paul Gleason, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy. Directed by John Hughes. Written by John Hughes. Produced by Ned Tanen and John Hughes. Photographed by Thomas Del Ruth. Production Designed by John Corso. Edited by Dede Allen. Music composed and supervised by Keith Forsey. From Universal Pictures. (1985) _V_a_r_i_e_t_y hated this movie. Sample quote: "For those who attend, _T_h_e_ _B_r_e_a_k_f_a_s_t_ _C_l_u_b will probably pass as deeply profound among today's teenage audience, meaning the youngsters in the film spend most of their time talking to each other instead of dancing, dropping drawers and throwing food. This, on the other hand, should not suggest they have anything intelligent to say. But for those who care to listen, writer-director John Hughes has come up with a wondrous message: No matter what is wrong with the individual youth of today, it is the parents' fault. What's more, if the kids just whine and complain enough, there's no limit to the deep and meaningful impact they can have on each other." Which isn't surprising. I read the script a few months ago and thought it stunk. Plus, I hate John Hughes. Anybody who is proud of the fact that he wrote _M_r_._ _M_o_m in a weekend and _N_a_t_i_o_n_a_l _L_a_m_p_o_o_n_'_s_ _V_a_c_a_t_i_o_n in three days is an enemy of writers everywhere. And I hated _S_i_x_t_e_e_n_ _C_a_n_d_l_e_s. So, _T_h_e_ _B_r_e_a_k_f_a_s_t_ _C_l_u_b shocked me. I _l_i_k_e_d it. I thought it was a good movie that told some truths about being a middle class adolescent American teenager that I hadn't seen in some other films. Hughes took out all the gratuitous stuff in the script I read and inserted in its place something simple and powerful: good dialogue. _T_h_e_ _B_r_e_a_k_f_a_s_t_ _C_l_u_b is a pretty simple movie: five teenagers "Jock, Rebel, Princess, Recluse and Brain" as they say in the ads, spend a Saturday in detention at the school library. That's it: one day of detention, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The kids do some sneaking around the school grounds, and there is Paul Gleason (the strong arm man in _T_r_a_d_i_n_g_ _P_l_a_c_e_s) as their detention supervisor to harrass, but by and large, most of the interest in the movie derives from the interplay between the five characters. Which means that if you don't like the characters, there's nothing to hold onto in this film, and obviously Har. hated the characters. He thought they were spoiled brats. I don't think they are; obviously Hughes intends them to be sympathetic to the teen audience. John Hughes, his previous cinematic sins aside, does know teenagers very well. They ring consistently true in _T_h_e_ _B_r_e_a_k_f_a_s_t _C_l_u_b. He knows, for example, that kids are a cliquish bunch who want to feel that they are at the center of high school attention. The character of The Rebel, John Bender (Judd Nelson in a wonderful performance) starts out of the gate attacking everyone else verbally. Otherwise, Hughes realizes, these kids would never ever talk to each other. The movie's stance about all parents being the root of all teenage agony is specious, on the other hand I know that when I was a teenager I liked my parents but I still couldn't stand being at home around them from 3:30 Friday afternoon until 6:00 Sunday night. Whether it is true or not, the film sees teenage life through thoroughly teenage eyes. If you are willing to look at life that way for the duration of the movie, you'll be rewarded. Three stars out of four.
jla@usl.UUCP (Joseph L Arceneaux) (02/26/85)
I must say that after seeing 'The Breakfast Club' this past weekend, that
the 'Variety' ecerpt posted here is nothing but simple-minded mouse drivel.
'The Breakfast Club' is an *outstanding* movie, and remembering my somewhat
traumatice high school days, there is no doubt that John Hughes understands
the high-school teenage condition.
The dialogue is quite intelligent I think, and 98% COMPLETELY true to life.
These characters are people that I went to high school with, and the only
questionable aspect, to me, was the time spent on Gleason's character Vernon.
About all I got out of that tangent was "Gee, no wonder our schools have such
a bad reputation."
I understand that most critics are really giving this film a hard time, and
that is really sad, as I would place this film above 'The Killing Fields'.
If not, then very close to 4 *.
Finally, I would like to add that I though '16 Candles' was a delight!
--
Joseph Arceneaux
USL Computer Science Department
{akgua, ut-sally}!usl!jla
"I'm sorry, but my kharma just ran over your dogma."allan@nmtvax.UUCP (02/27/85)
I saw 'The Breakfast Club' last week and found it to be a very good movie. Apparently the audience thought so too, because they applauded (and when is the last time you saw an audience applaud (for me, that was a long time ago)). Allan F. Perry ...lanl!nmtvax!allan
mjg@aplvax.UUCP (Mars J. Gralia) (03/07/85)
I agree. Excellent movie. Jeanette Bonnell Layton, Utah (Posted elsewhere!)