The Breakfast Club

Rating: 8/10 (11 April 2017)

"Teen King' John Hughes wrote and directed The Breakfast Club in 1985. The stacked cast included Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, and Ally Sheedy in a film that chronicled the life of 5 high school students from different backgrounds and social circles forced to spend a Saturday in detention together. Breaking out of their shells and opening up to each other prove to the group that they're not as different as they initially seem. A brilliant ensemble piece with exceptional character development and engaging dialogue cement The Breakfast Club as one of the seminal films of the 80's.
Andrew Clark (the jock), Claire Standish (the princess), Brian Johnson (the nerd), John Bender (the criminal), and Ally Sheedy (the basket case) are forced to spend 9 hours together locked inside their high school in detention on a Saturday in March. They are supervised by Richard Vernon (Paul Gleason) their principle who has reached the end of his rope with high school students has decided to force the students to write 1,000-word essays describing who they think they are. Initially, the question seems easy, as each student has been pigeon-holed into a label that they have subsequently assumed. As the day drags on, their walls are broken down and they begin to realize they aren't who the world thinks they are. Their motives for their actions are tested, and each of their facades gives way to reveal a whole person who is much more complex that even they realized before their detention began. Not only does each member of the group develop a better understanding of themselves, but they also begin to better understand each other, as well.
The emotional complexity of The Breakfast Club is its brightest light. The film is able to tackle abuse, both emotional and physical, neglect, and failing to meet expectations in an incredibly relatable way that avoids the pitfall of being either over-indulgent or preachy. Not only do we gain a full understanding of the hardships of each student, but we gain an understanding of Richard Vernon, as well. A character who initially comes across as a throw-away character is actually riddled with layers, as well. Through long scenes with rich artful dialogue, each character in the film is fully fleshed out, a rarity in such an ensemble piece. With a cast of such well-known names, I was a bit surprised to see one actor seeming to carry the film. Each scene with Judd Nelson's Bender is so critical to the plot, and he plays his character so well, I can't imagine anyone else in the role. With so many seemingly little moments, such as Ally Sheedy's "basket case" attempting to look in the window at her parent before the car abruptly pulls away establishing the neglect for her character, really gives the audience the sense that every aspect of the film exists for a specific reason. The payoff is always magnified when each shot of a film adds to its resolution, making The Breakfast Club a true standout of its generation.