THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985) - ♦♦♦♦♦

Directed by - John Hughes

Written by - John Hughes

Starring - Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall, Paul Gleason

"It's hard to over estimate the effect that THE BREAKFAST CLUB had on cinema, which is still evident to this day. Not only it is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best teenage angst and coming of age films of all time, but it is also surprisingly one of the most genuine, candid and even respectful representation of teenagers as well as a manifesto for its times. 

It follows a group of teenagers, who neatly represent different social groups from the jock to the nerd. There, after initial clash, they begin to connect, open up, share secrets about their lives and their views on the world in general, alienating themselves momentarily from the real world, knowing that could never have been friends in the hostility of their high school environment. 

THE BREAKFAST CLUB is exciting, poignant, fun, funny and dramatic. There isn't a dead moment in the film, and its creativity stretches the boundaries of its purposefully restrictive setting. The maturity of the dialogue, the close examination of each of the characters, surpasses the stereotypical restriction of the vast majority of teenage films that preceded it. 

The final result had an indelible effects on other films that followed it, both in the mainstream circuit and in indie one, as well worldwide. Most of all, despite its maturity, its great soundtrack and its trendy elements still shows its awareness of its target audience, therefore in the process being as respectful towards it as it is towards its characters.

For all this, one man can be credited. That man is JOHN HUGHES, who wrote, directed and produced the film. THE BREAKFAST CLUB is one of his greatest cinematic achievements, and cleverly blends the line between mainstream and arthouse cinema. While costumes, language and music clearly date it with an eighties timestamp, there is an air of observant timelessness about it. 

But aside from such cultural observations, the film benefits from an energetic sense of humour, snappy dialogue complete with memorable one liners, and a sexual tension that could be cut with a knife. 

THE BREAKFAST CLUB is a classic of American cinema and one of the most important works of its time - or of all time. It is the cinematic representation that many generations lacked. Its sensibility matches its charisma, aided by the cast assemblage known as the BRAT PACK, and their own, iconic and excellent performances."

Comedy, USA