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Friday, September 17, 2010

Friday's Top 5... High School Movies


#5: Election


Alexander Payne's hard-edged film about a power struggle between a frustrated and disillusioned high school teacher and an overachieving student is my favourite of his films. It's smart and funny and features Reese Witherspoon's very best performance.


#4: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

This was one of my favourite movies when I was a kid. It's been a number of years since I've seen it, but I still have very fond memories of it. Matthew Broderick makes for the perfect protagonist in this saga of a day spent skipping out on school.


#3: Clueless

One of my favourite movies period. I mean, what's not to love? It boasts a great script based on Jane Austen's Emma, charming performances across the board, and a heart admist the popculture based comedy.


#2: The Breakfast Club

Perhaps the ultimate teen movie. It's not the only film which directly engages with the archetypes and social rules that can make up the high school experience, but few others have done it as memorably or had such a lasting impact.


#1: Rebel Without A Cause

Nicholas Ray's anthem to teenage angst practically invented the teenager. Factor in great performances from Natalie Wood, Sal Mineo and James Dean in his defining performance, and it's no wonder this one is a classic.

3 comments:

filmgeek said...

Great selection :) I'm a bit of a high school movie geek and have posted on the loads (http://screenspeak.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-favourite-teen-movies.html)

My ultimate top 5, after much consideration, would be:
1. 10 Things I Hate About You
2. Rebel Without A Cause
3. The Breakfast Club
4. Half Nelson
5. Fast Times at Ridgemont High

These two were close though - American Pie and Heathers

Norma Desmond said...

I haven't seen Half Nelson yet. I definitely should though since I quite like Ryan Gosling.

Canada Drugs said...

Rebel Without a Cause is a classic effect of sociology is rarely achieved throughout the film, and almost never exceeded. This film is the constant debate. I recommend this film, since high school, history, sociology and language arts classes. The other four also a great film.