Welcome to episode 39. Today, we discuss the 80′s teen hit, “The Breakfast Club”.
Not familiar with the movie? Take a look at IMDB for more information.
Join Scott, Randy, Brian and Ibbott as we hide our weed in Anthony Michael Hall’s pants.
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As usual, a HUGE thanks to Scott Fletcher, the official announcer of Film Sack Central.
Hey! Why not leave us a nice review on iTunes if you like the show?
Up next episode? The 80′s cold war adventure, War Games.
The original poster art for Texas Chainsaw 2 was a parody of the Breakfast Club’s poster.
Sorry, listening to the podcast at the same time. Speaking of John Cussack, two movies worth seeing with a similar feel to John Hughes was “Better Off Dead” and “One Crazy Summer” Both directed by Savage Steve Holland.
I hate films with lots of swearing, I always have. I don’t mind if swearing is used to establish the nature of a character or to punctuate an important line. But swearing for the sake swearing or to get a rating is obnoxious. So, I was surprised to hear that this film was rated R. And further that there are 25 uses of the F-word and a variety of cursing and swearing throughout. I was stunned. John Hughes wove a story so well that the use of harsh language is part of the tapestry, not added for shock value.
I second “Better Off Dead” as some film-sacky goodness!
I want to hear Scott Fletcher say “Chicks cannot hold dey smoke…dat’s what it is!”
My mom is a retired high school librarian. We watched this movie together once, and I’m pretty sure it physically pained her to see Bender ripping books apart and jamming cards into the wrong parts of the card catalog.
Love the movie, seen it a dozen times. What strikes me is how sensitive all of the characters are– they’re teenagers at war with each other, completely unable to laugh off any of the stupid insults that get hurled at them. Claire cares about what everyone thinks of her way too much to say “Yeah, I’m a virgin, so what?” Maybe that’s why I had a little more sympathy for her than Scott did.
Time for Brian going from being shocked– shocked!– about pot in Bender’s locker to being stoned off his gourd: about 2 minutes, I think.
> I want to hear Scott Fletcher say “Chicks cannot hold dey smoke…dat’s what it is!”
Well in that case Film Sack needs to do “Weird Science” so I can hear Scott Fletcher say, “Not the family jewels.”
John’s right, Weird Science is a no-brainer for the Film Sack. Another fun episode this time, though BC always makes me nostalgic in a sort of melancholy way. I know what you mean about that song, Scott!
Still waiting for The One About Ice Pirates…. ;-P
Is there any hope for Episode 42 – The One About The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy?
Still laughing about the whole “Brownie hound” discussion. Scott thought it was a gay reference then Brian Ibbott corrected him and read the entry from The Urban Dictionary. Then Scott says “We’ll go with yours (Brian’s definition), I like yours better, mine’s kind of distasteful” Like the pedophile definition isn’t as well, it was so unintentionally funny but I laughed pretty hard.
I was greatly looking forward to this movie. I have loved every John Hughes movie I’ve ever seen but this one was completely new to me.
You guys nailed this movie in your overall analysis. It was without doubt the truest representation of the teenage viewpoint in any film I’ve ever encountered. Unfortunately, the accuracy of it made it completely unenjoyable for me. Despite desperately wanting to love it- even feeling like I *should* love it- I *hated* watching this film.
The two main reasons I hated this movie:
1) There isn’t a single likable character in the film. You can identify with the characters, you can feel bad for the characters, but you can’t really like any of them. In other words, they were exactly like all the real people you remembered hating in high school.
2) It hit too close to home. I *was* a straight ‘A’ introverted nerd who came very close to committing suicide when I encountered the first “easy” class that I just couldn’t pass. This film brought all the terrible emotions of that time in my life flooding back to me.
In summary, this was a tremendously well-done movie. I would even go so far as to call it one of the greatest character-driven films of its decade. I congratulate John Hughes on making a great movie and I hope I never see it again as long as I live.
Also, WarGames (the 1983 film with Matthew Broderick and Dabney Coleman) is not available for Netflix instant play. I guess it was when you guys decided to use it for Film Sack? Bummer.
Ally Sheedy was on USA Networks Psych 2009 and 2010 as a psychopath. You should totally check that one out if you like or dislike her work. Perhaps her best work ever. She freaked me out. Just take a look at her: http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ally-sheedy/photos/139226/39167 CRAZY!
Btw i agree with ChrisMartin. The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy needs to be 42.
Here’s a few things you never noticed in the Breakfast Club.
1) Mr Johnson is John Hughes. At the end of the movie Anthony Michael Hall gets into a car being driven by the reclusive late director.
2-3) The nerd’s parents have the plate “EMC 2″ referring to Einstein’s theory. (Duh!)
The truck dropping off and picking up the jock has “OHIOST” on its plate. This could either be the place he’s being forced to attend pending a scholarship, his mean ol’ dad’s alma mater, or both.
4) While it’s easy to notice this, you probably didn’t realize what it was at the time. During the opening montage, we see a locker that’s been completely decimated by fire. Almost like a flare gun went of in it, right? (Yes, it did. That’s Brian Johnson’s locker.)
5) The wise and sassy janitor was Man of the Year in 1969. Now, 15 years later, he’s picking up after bratty little punks. Makes you wonder if one of the students in detention is also on the fast-track to a career in the custodial arts. (Bender is the obvious pick, but our guess is wrestler Andrew Clark. The scenario: His knee blows out during his freshman year of college, he loses his ride, and is forced to return home. With his glory days behind him and no discernible future–his dad disowned him for not being a winner–he’s greeted with open arms by Shermer High School and offered the job after Carl is fired for drinking on the job and blackmailing teachers.)
6) Apparently so, or at least enough for the school to post a sign in the computer lab stating “Hackers Will Be Expelled.” This is most likely a nod to early 80s films like Tron and Wargames, which opened up a world of possibilities for h@X0rzing. Shall we play a game? You bet we shall.
7) The guidance counselor’s name–”Dr. R. Hashimoto”–is a nod to Breakfast Club production supervisor Richard Hashimoto. (Fun fact: He also worked on Wargames.)
9) ONE THING YOU DEFINITELY NOTICED: Lockers Could Be Outrageously Offensive In The 80s
During the opening montage we see Bender’s locker with the phrase “Touch this locker…and you die, F**!!!” in permanent marker. Tell the principal he raids Barry Manilow’s wardrobe, you’re punished. Write one of the most offensive words to gay people on a locker in plain view of anyone walking down the hall, and it’s totally cool. It’s small moments like this that really date The Breakfast Club, a movie made during a less-sensitive era when such hateful epithets were probably frowned upon by a few, but dismissed and tolerated by most.
Awesome, awesome, awesome…this movie is one of my all time favorites, even now as a 32 year old woman. I first saw this when I was 8 (progresive parents?), and of course didn’t “get it,” but watched it again when I was in high school (you have to love 80′s movies even though you might have only been 10 at the time, hooray nostalgia), and even though it was the 90′s by then, it still held up! I think it holds up even today, though yeah, the wardrobe is dated…although, I’ve seen a lot of 80′s inspired fashion lately. I love how the stereo-types are well defined (you guys covered that well), and easy to identify with. Great movie, great episode of Film Sack…really looking forward to War Games, another satisfyingly silly and fun, and completely outdated, teen 80′s flick!
PS. Please, please, please do an episode about “Just One of the Guys.” GREAT film!
PPS. How about a woman’s perspective too? I know you’re all married, get a wife, or a very good lady friend on with you guys!!! Not that you guys aren’t awesome, but only to add a little extra something to the pod cast…’cause belive it or not, there’s a lot of women out there who listen to you guys, and who love watching weird and zany (sp?) movies!
Now the question would lie about which Hitchhickers Guide, the old BBC series or the atrocious movie adaptation.
Star Trek connection once removed: both Judd Nelson and Leonard Nimoy were in 1986′s The Transformers: The Movie as the voices of Hot Rod and Galvatron.
With War Games being the next movie up, check out this recent review of that film as a quick primer:
http://www.giantbomb.com/wonderful-universe-of-tang-wargames/17-2953/
Great Film Sack episode!
Anthony Michael Hall’s real name is Michael Anthony Hall. He changed it when he registered for SAG.
Secret Life of an American Teenager is literally the worst show on television. There are so many things wrong with it I won’t even begin.
That’s the best answer by far! Thanks for contiurbtnig.
Definately one of the seminal movies of the 1980s.
I was wondering how you choose which films to critique for the show?
Btw Wargames is another winner – you guys are on a roll!
Though this is one of my favorite movies, I have to say that I didn’t identify personally with any of the characters. I had friends back in high school (1979-1983) who would easily fit each one of them, but I was just your average dude…the guy who really couldn’t be categorized. The sixth character who could have easily been portrayed by John Cusack could have been the average guy.
I saw this my senior year in high school and loved it of course. Growing older I have sided more with Paul Gleason’s character and his comments about the thought that wakes him in the middle of the night! Hilarious. I have tickets to the showing in New York on September 20th. Great episode guys!
Molly Ringwald’s real dad is actually blind. Adam Carolla tells a story about how he grew up with her and her dad, even though he was blind, would walk to the bus and back and walk around everywhere. Just something i think about when watching these 80s flicks with her.
Seen the film many times but this was the first time I paid attention. It takes a special director to be able to film a one set film. Hughes at his best. However, I have to say, now, I found it a bit slow in spots. The relationships between high school cliques were right on. I was fortunate as a student to float amongst them all. I often wondered what would happen if varying people like these were ever allowed to be themselves, put down the walls. Pondering some more, I have to ask myself if this movie influenced me to get to know a person and not a stereotype. There may be much more to this movie than I thought.
I don’t know why, but as I listened to the guys talk about the characters in this movie I couldn’t help but think…
The Breakfast Club: a Five Man Raid Team
The Bad Boy – Tank
The Jock – Off Tank / DPS
The Outcast – Healer
The Geek – Off Healer / DPS
The Princess – DPS