Thursday, September 07, 2006

I'll break my totally unannounced and unanticipated hiatus for the time being. I've been trying to come up with a list of the best high school themed films. I don't necesarily wnnt to restrict it to a certain number, or to either strictly comedy OR dramatic films. However, I need to start writing it down cuz I can never keep them all in my head for long. Here's the list so far roughly organized from more dramatic to more comedic.

ELEPHANT: Gus Van Sant's take on the essential unexplainability of the violence of the Columbine massacre.

ORDINARY PEOPLE: One of the great films of all time which happens to focus on a high school student.

STAND AND DELIVER: The drama of advanced math. So few "high school movies" actually look at learning.

DONNIE DARKO: Dark fantasy of a possibly schizophenic student. A cult favorite but still one few have seen.

LEAN ON ME: Another one which takes school seriously, this one looking more at the principal.

SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL, THE BREAKFAST CLUB, SIXTEEN CANDLES, SAY ANYTHING, PRETTY IN PINK: They probably each deserve their own entry, but I'm lazy so I'll just call it the John Hughes set. My favorite is Breakfast Club, just because it all takes place at the school.

RUSHMORE: I hope no comment needed.

CLUELESS: My wife's favorite of the bunch.

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE: I think pretty much EVERY current hs student has already seen this one.

FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF: Possibly the best known teen comedy? It's also Hughes, but less dramatic/more funny than the others mentioned above.

BETTER OFF DEAD: The teen comedy time forgot?

So what did I leave out. I know there are a few I haven't seen (Heathers for one), and some I think are borderline "great" movies like Election. What would you add?