The Breakfast Club (1985)
Written and Directed by John Hughes ◆ Produced by Ned Tanen ◆ Distributed by Universal Pictures
Quadrophenia (1979)
Directed by Franc Roddam ◆ Produced by Roy Baird and Bill Curbishley ◆ Distributed by Brent Walker Film Distributors
The Criterion Collection, the curator of the best and most influential films through the history of cinema, has just announced that in November they are releasing a special anniversary edition of The Breakfast Club, the 1985 teen comedy and drama. As Variety put it, the film
defined a generation of high school films with its mix of angst, comedy and unlikely camaraderie among five students in Saturday detention. The new edition features a 4K ultra-high-definition restoration, cast interviews with Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy, commentary from Anthony Michael Hall and Judd Nelson, and nearly an hour of deleted and extended scenes.
That’s a lot of bells and whistles for a film that is good, but not great. Unfortunately, The Breakfast Club is overrated. The greatest film about adolescence was made in London six years earlier, Quadrophenia. That film, an adaptation of a rock opera by the band The Who, is also available in the Criterion Collection, and movie fans can compare the two productions.
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