The Breakfast Club Acting Review

            John Wilden Hughes Jr. was born on February 18, 1950 and died on August 6, 2009 who is a film director, producer, and screenwriter. During the 1980’s and 1990’s he has directed and scripted some of the most successful films. Besides The Breakfast Club, he has directed “National Lampoon’s Vacation” (1983), “Sixteen Candles” (1984) which also starred Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall, “Weird Science” (1985), “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986), and “Pretty In Pink” (1986) also starring Molly Ringwald. The casting director of The Breakfast Club is Jackie Burch who is also the casting director for “Sixteen Candles” too. A casting director’s job is to negotiate fees and contracts for the actors and act as a liaison between the director, actors, and their agents.

            Emilio Estevez born May 12, 1962, is an actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and vintner. His first role was in a drama that was produced by the Catholic Paulist Order. Shortly after that, he made his stage debut along with his dad Martin Sheen, in the play Mister Roberts. During the 1980’s Emilio got much attention. He was a member of the “Brat Pack” which included him, and fellow actors and actresses of The Breakfast Club: Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy. As well as Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, and Demi More. Emilio is said to have been the leader of the “Brat Pack.” The name “Brat Pack” is a name given to a group of teenagers who have starred together in the 1980’s teen, coming of age movies. The two most notable films including the “Brat Pack” are The Breakfast Club and “St. Elmo’s Fire.” Emilio played Andrew Clarke the “athlete.” Throughout his years of the “Brat Pack” Emilio starred in more movies, including “The Outsider” as Keith “Two – Bit” Matthews, “Repo Man” as Otto Maddox, “The Mighty Ducks” as well as it’s sequels as Gordon Bombay. After that as an adult in 1990, Emilio directed, wrote, and starred in a TV show along with his brother Charlie, “Men at Work”, a comedy about garbage men. Besides acting his directorial debut was with the film “Wisdom” which made him the youngest person ever to write, direct, and star in a movie.

            Paul Xavier Gleason born on May 4, 1939 and died on May 27, 2003 is a film and television actor. Paul is known for his roles on TV shows such as “All My Children” as Dr. David Thornton, and movies including The Breakfast Club as Principal Richard Vernon, “Trading Places” as Clerance Beeks, and “Diehard” as Dwayne T. Robinson. At the young age of 16, Paul ran away from home and hitchhiked all the way to the East Coast sleeping on benches and playing baseball as he went. He signed a professional baseball contract with the Cleveland Indians and played for two seasons (1959 – 1960). During his last season in 1960, a trip to the West Coast landed him an introduction with Ozzie Nelson and eventually a guest appearance on his show, “Ozzie and Homer”, thus leading to Paul’s acting career. After this he then moved to New York City and eventually joined The Actors Club Studio where he studied for four years and then moved to Los Angeles. Paul’s final appearance before his death is in independent film called “The Boat of Caleb,” where he plays James Paddington. Paul died of Pleural Mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer from asbestos. He’s thought to have gotten exposure to asbestos from when he would work on building sites as a teenager with his father.

            Michael Anthony Thomas Hall who is known professionally as Anthony Michael Hall was born on April 14, 1968. He began his acting career in commercials and on stage as a child. His screen debut was in 1980 in “The Gold Bug” which he played the young Edgar Allan Poe. He first gained notice in the 1982 film “Six Pack.” Anthony’s breakout role was as “Farmer Ted” in “Sixteen Candles” (1984). Which also stars Molly Ringwald. When Anthony was 16, he was cast as Brian Johnson the “Brain” in John Hughes’ film The Breakfast Club. Hughes states that ‘the 16 year old – actor and Ringwald were the movie “standout performers”.” In order for him not to be type casted or repeatedly playing the same role in movies, he turned down the role John Hughes had for him “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and “Pretty in Pink.” Instead of those films he starred in the film “Out Of Bounds.” He had a two year hiatus from 1988 – 1989 due to a drinking problem. He came back in 1990 sober and got a role starring alongside Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder in Tim Burton’s film “Edward Scissorhands” where he plays a villain. After this he then got into more mature roles.

            John Kapelos born March 8, 1956 is a Canadian actor. He is best known as Carl Reed the janitor in The Breakfast Club, and Det. Donald Schanke in “Forever Knight.” John is an alumni of The Second City Chicago, where he did theatrical work for eight years from 1978- 1982. Besides The Breakfast Club, he also stars in “Sixteen Candles”, and “Weird Science” where he gained fame in 1980’s as a character actor. He guest teaches improv/acting workshops at the AIA (Actor’s Studio in Burbank, California), has produced a four part YouTube series called “Greek To Me”, and manages an independent label “Carpuzi Records.”

            Judd Asher Nelson born November 28, 1959, is an actor, screenwriter, and producer. He’s known as John Bender the “criminal” in The Breakfast Club, Alec Newbary in “St. Elmo’s Fire”, Hot Rod and Optimus Prime in “Transformers: The Movie” and “Transformers Animated”, Nick Peretti in “New Jack City”, Billy Berreti in “Empire”, and Jack Richmond in “Suddenly Susan.” He attended Haverford College but left during his sophomore year to study acting with Stella Adler in Manhattan. He stars in “Making the Grade” as Eddie Keaton, and “Fandago” as Phil Hicks. But it wasn’t until The Breakfast Club that made him a star as he was a member of the “Brat Pack.” Judd is mentioned in the 1980’s because of his acting in The Breakfast Club and “St. Elmo’s Fire.” Nicolas Cage and John Cusack were almost casted as John Bender, but ultimately it was given to Judd Nelson.

            Molly Kathleen Ringwald born February 18, 1968, is an actress, singer, dancer, and author. Her very first role was in “The Facts of Life” as Molly Parker from 1979 – 1980. Her major motion picture debut was in “Tempest” (1982) as Miranda Dimitrus. After she had appeared in many of John Hughes’s films, “Sixteen Candles” as Samantha “Sam” Baker, The Breakfast Club as Claire Standish the “princess”, and “Pretty in Pink” as Andie Walsh she became a teen icon. At the age of 5, she appeared in a stage production of “Alice Looking through the Glass” at Dormouse. The following year she recorded “I Wanna Be Loved by You” with her father and his group, The Fulton Street and Jazz Band. Her breakout role was in “Sixteen Candles.” After The Breakfast Club her acting as Andie in “Pretty in Pink” became one of her most recognizable roles. She has written two books; “Getting the Pretty Back: Friendship, Family, and Finding the Perfect Lipstick” and “When It Happens to You: A Novel in Stories.”

            Alexandra Elizabeth “Ally” Sheedy born on June 13, 1962 is a film and stage actress as well as an author. Her film debut is in the movie “Bad Boys” as J.C Walenski. Thanks to her roles in The Breakfast Club as Allison Reynolds the “basket case” and “St. Elmo’s Fire” as Leslie Hunter she became a member of the “Brat Pack.” She’s known for her roles in “War Games” as Jennifer Mack, “Short Circuit” as Emily Speck, and “High Art” as Lucy Berliner. She gave up her career as a dancer to become a full time actress. At the young age of 12 she wrote a book called “She Was Nice to Mice” and it was published by McGraw Hill and became a best seller. During the 1980’s is when she was most active. Throughout the 1990’s she appeared in television films.

            Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, and Ally Sheedy were all amateurs and popular stars. Thanks to John Hughes and being members of the “Brat Pack” they became popular throughout the 1980’s. Paul Gleason and John Kapelos are the two oldest stars, but they had a little bit more experience than the “Brat Pack” members did. The actors and actresses are treated as camera material. The editing isn’t too manipulative, everything seems normal and natural, there’s no CGI (Computer Generated Images) or anything like that. The actors and actresses cite their dialogue without too many cuts. The Breakfast Club definitely has an ensemble cast, it wasn’t focused on just one person, it was focused on the five kids in detention. Though some do consider Emilio Estevez as the main character of the five kids. Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald’s iconography are the same throughout the movies they star in. Molly is usually as the innocent girl, and Judd is usually cast as the bad guy. To me, the actors and actresses were cast for The Breakfast Club were perfect, they each portrayed their roles very well. The values that Molly Ringwald’s character Claire has is that she is a popular girl that is a virgin. Judd Nelson’s character is the criminal, bad guy with an attitude. Throughout the filming of The Breakfast Club, Judd actually stayed in character and messed with the cast even when they weren’t filming. John Hughes became disappointed with Judd because he kept bothering everyone off camera and was almost fired, but the others actors and actresses had to convince him not to fire Judd. Emilio Estevez originally had auditioned for the role of John Bender but got the role of Andrew Clarke instead because Hughes didn’t have anyone to play Andrew Clarke. Before Judd Nelson had the role of John Bender it was tied down to him and John Cusack, Judd won because John didn’t look “threatening” enough. Their cultural values work well with the movies they are in because they portray similar roles in other movies they have acted in. The acting of all of the characters is very realistic, your typical stereotyped high school students. Those actors and actresses were cast because they fit the role of their characters very well. In my opinion, their personalities is what enhances their characters. 

The Breakfast Club Ideology Review

            The Breakfast Club written and directed by John Hughes tells the story of five high school students who sacrifice a Saturday in detention. While they are there they realize they have a lot more in common then they think. There really aren’t any good versus bad guys in The Breakfast Club, but I’d say character is both a good and bad guy (girl) in their own way. For instance, John Bender is definitely a bad guy, he has a bad attitude but he’s also a nice guy deep down. This is show when he and Claire get together. Claire is popular and people think she’s stuck up, but she’s really not. Andrew is a good guy, but he did tape a classmate’s buttocks together, thus proving why he is in detention.

            The characters each have a stereotype that is perceived by others about them. Claire is stereotyped as a “princess” because she’s popular, Brian as the “brain” or geek because he’s smart and writes the essay for everyone, Andrew as an “athlete” or jock, Bender as a “criminal” or punk, and Allison as a “basket case” or weirdo. They are stereotyped by how they act and what they wear. John Bender is the main protagonist in the movie.

            The cultural values are idealism, fear, and family. Idealism being that they are all struggling with the need to be perfect in the eyes of their parents and friends. An example of this is when Brain got an “F” in his woodshop class because he figured it couldn’t be too hard if the stupid kids took it, but it turned out harder for him when he didn’t do too well on his project. Brian knew he couldn’t go home with an “F” and show his parents, so he brought a gun to school and was planning on committing suicide but the gun went off in his locker which is how he ended up in detention. Family meaning that they are all worried about what their families are going to think of them and how they don’t want to end up like their parents. An example of this is when Andrew reveals that he taped a classmates backside together because his dad used to to mess around when he was in school but he didn’t get caught. Andrew also struggle with being perfect and being number one in his dad’s eyes. So by doing that Andrew thought that he could impress his dad. Fear would be that each character knows that besides that Saturday on detention, they all won’t be seen together again. They fear that because of the stereotypical cliques and what their friends think, that they all can’t be seen together again for fear of ruining their reputations too.

            The two women in The Breakfast Club, Claire and Allison are portrayed as the “typical” and “atypical” females. Claire is the ‘typical” female, a princess, she wears pink, her outfit has different shades of pink in it, and she wears makeup. In school Claire is seen as the popular girl, she skips class to go shopping. She is also very feminine unlike Allison. Allison is the “atypical” girl, a basket case, she wears all dark clothes, she doesn’t really talk, and when she does talk she makes up lies. Allison is very dark, but towards the end of the movie after she reveals some things about herself, and when Claire gives her a makeover she becomes a little more feminine.

            The tone of The Breakfast Club can be described as angst or teen angst. As teenagers, sometimes we feel that we are misunderstood and are succumb to peer pressure. We often tend to worry about what others think of us too. I feel as if the tone of this movie is very true to real life because as a teenager we do have the so called “teen angst” and we sometimes do feel misunderstood. At times we feel as if people don’t understand how we feel or what we’re going through. The overall tone of The Breakfast Club definitely reinforces the values of the characters because throughout the movie, we find out a lot about each character.

The Breakfast Club Dramatization/ Set & Costume Analysis

Set Analysis

            The scene I chose from The Breakfast Club is the scene where Claire, Bender, Andrew, Brian, and Allison are sitting together on the library floor. I chose this particular scene because this is where they reveal to each other why they are there and a little about themselves, and realize that they have a lot more in common then they think they do. This scene adds to the dialogue well too. The set is very realistic, The Breakfast Club is filmed at six different locations. Maine North High School was used for the school exterior, the school interior hallways, and the library is used as a model for the re-build in the gym, as well as the football field for Bender’s final fist pumping scene. Glenbrook North High School is used for the school’s interior. The Breakfast Club is filmed at three different locations in Illinois, Chicago, Des Plaines, and Northbrook.

            With the movie, being filmed at multiple locations as well as two different high schools, it gives us the feel throughout the movie that the characters are high school students during the 80’s. The 1980’s represent a time of bright neon colors and power dressing for fashion, with jewelry and Doc Marten boots and a music era of songs still popular to this day. The income of each character is different. Claire is rich, spoiled, and popular. As for everyone else they don’t seem rich or poor, their incomes are average.

            The set is pretty large we are able to see all of the characters and some of the library in the background of this scene. The set is furnished very nicely, there are wood tables and chairs, and bookshelves, lots of books and pieces of art too. We also see that there are two floors to the library, a lower level and an upper level, this scene in particular takes place on the upper level. It’s definitely not overcrowded but there’s also enough furniture so that the room doesn’t look empty. The overall image that the furniture represents is a typical library, with the bookshelves filled with books, chairs and tables for studying, works of various art, steps to reach the upper level. The costumes that each of the characters wear throughout the film help express each characters individuality. The makeup is very slight, especially for Claire with her red lipstick, very natural. Whereas Allison’s makeup is very dark and heavy at the end of the film. 

Costume Analysis

The character I chose from The Breakfast Club is John Bender from the scene where they are all sitting together in the library in the beginning of the film, after they all get dropped off for detention. The era that Bender’s costume represents is the 80’s, but Bender’s costume is more towards the rebellious side of the 80’s. It’s an accurate representation of what his character would wear it fits his rebellious, bad boy attitude and look. His costume represents the stereotypical criminal look with his trench coat, jean jacket, red flannel, white t- shirt, baggy jeans, combat boots, earrings, bandana, and leather gloves. His costume also adds to his attitude because it shows that he’s represented as a criminal and doesn’t care about anyone or anything. Bender’s income doesn’t seem too good, this is shown when he is talking and right before he reenacts what it’s like at the Bender household, he mentions that it was “A better Christmas at the Bender home this year” when he states that he received a carton of cigarettes for Christmas this year. Bender’s costume definitely emphasizes his virility because it shows the he has strength and energy, as well as manliness. This is shown when Bender and Andrew get into a fight with each other.

 Bender’s costume is appropriate for his age because he’s dressed like a typical criminal or bad boy. All of his clothing items are worn in the 80’s too. Bender’s clothes are both form fitting and baggy. His trench coat, jean jacket, red flannel, and jeans are all very loose and baggy, whereas his white t-shirt is form fitting. The material of his clothes is very thick, like most men’s clothing items are. Bender’s costume includes two earrings in his ear, leather gloves, a bandana tied around his boot, a scarf, and his all black combat boots. He has a couple of different colors on, but throughout the movie we see him in his red flannel the most. The color red symbolizes energy and love and is considered a warm color, which can be foreshadowing someone falling in love in the film. All of his clothes are subdued, solid colors, but his red flannel. Most of Bender’s body is concealed with the layers of clothes he has on. In the movie, Bender’s costume is very loose and baggy, his clothes are meant for leisure. Bender’s costume fits his character well because he gives off that “tough guy” vibe when you see him. He stands proud and tall with confidence because he knows he’s superior and that people are scared of him. Overall, Bender’s costume and his attitude give off the criminal, “tough guy’ vibe, and that he doesn’t care really about anything or what people think of him.

            Even though The Breakfast Club isn’t a theatrical play, there are some schools and people who are making it a performance on their own. The Breakfast Club could definitely be adapted for a stage performance. Throughout the whole movie, John Hughes’ hand is very prominent in the film.

The Breakfast Club Story Review

            The Breakfast Club is a multi – genre movie being both a comedy and a drama. The movie stars five of the members of the “Brat Pack” and shows us what it’s like in Saturday detention. While we are watching the film, we find out why each character is there and that they all have much more in common then they think.

            The movie starts off with a voice over by Brian as he tells us where they are and how he thinks Mr. Vernon is crazy for asking them to write an essay on who they think they are. Brian narrates as a first person point of view in the beginning of the film as well as the end of the film as answers Mr. Vernon’s essay question. Brian is the narrator because he is the only student who actually writes his essay and he writes his essay as one for all of them, not just himself. After he says his dialogue the movie then cuts right into the opening scene. Throughout the rest of the movie, it is told as third person point of view as we see all of the characters. The camera is hidden at a perfect angle so we see everything that is going on as if we were really there in the movie. We can also figure out what is going on between the scenes without being told.

            The Breakfast Club is presented as a realistic movie because it’s five high school students all in detention for punishment for what they did. But also because every teenager at some point has felt peer pressured or stereotyped in their life, whether it be from friends or from family, all of which are universal human traits. The movie is also presented chronologically, so we see everything from when each of the students get dropped off at school in the morning for detention to everything in between. This also gives us a realistic view for the movie as well.

            The movie also does a really great job of following the classical paradign. Meaning that there’s a protagonist, there’s the scenes, rising action, more scenes and then it finally reaches the climax, and then the resolution. The Breakfast Club can be identified as a “coming of age story” meaning that the movie focuses on a specific group, which in this case is teenagers and focuses on the characters change as well as their psychological and moral growth. The Breakfast Club’s narrative is “Classical Hollywood” style meaning that it follows a specific set of rules and falls somewhere between both realism and formalist. This type of style follows some basic key elements including: introducing the problem early in the movie, throughout the movie the characters work through the problem, creating a story, and finally at the end solving the problem.

            The Breakfast Club is definitely one of the most notable 80’s movies. Everything from the clothing to the music screams 80’s. The movie has taught us that everyone experiences peer pressure in someway.

The Breakfast Club Writing Review

     “Screws fall out all the time, the world’s an imperfect place.”  Is directed by John Hughes, The Breakfast Club was released on February 15, 1985. It takes place on Saturday, March 24, 1984 at Shermer High School in Shermer, Illinois. The Breakfast Club is a film about five high school students who sacrifice a Saturday in detention and while they are there, the realize they have a lot more in common with each other then they think they do. They also find out the reason why they are all there in detention. The title of the film, The Breakfast Club comes from the nickname given by the students and staff at New Trier High School for students that serve detention before school and are known as being the designated members of “The Breakfast Club.” A son of one of John Hughes friends attended New Trier High School and that is where the inspiration comes from.

            The five students who serve Saturday detention are John Bender, the “criminal” with the bad attitude, Claire Standish the rich “princess”, Andrew Clarke the popular “athlete”, Brian Johnson the typical “brain”, and Allison Reynolds the weird “basket case.” “In the simplest terms, a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal.”

            Two of the themes in the film are stereotypes and peer pressure. Stereotypes is the main theme in the film because we see it throughout the whole film. Each of the five characters are stereotyped into a different group. Bender is sort of like a bully and he is higher up compared to some of the characters. This is shown when Bender walks in and sees Brian in his seat, Brian moves quickly showing that he is scared. Bender doesn’t have a good home life, at home he gets ignored by his parents and because of that he acts out and rebels, hence his bad attitude. Bender is also disrespectful, this is shown we he continues to argue with Mr. Vernon and he tells him “eat my shorts.” He can also be seen as emotionally unstable because as he is discussing to the rest of the group what life is like at his house he build up his anger and the music gets louder as he walks away from them. Claire Standish is used to being the center of attention, being spoiled, and not being reprimanded when she should be. Claire also values her level of popularity way more then she should too. She also feels as if her parents use her to get back at one another, her mom will tell her one thing and her dad will tell her another. Everyone thinks that she lives a happy life when in reality, her parents argue all the time and she takes that out on herself. An example of Claire not being reprimanded is the fact that she decided to skip class to go shopping. Claire says to her dad “I can’t believe you can’t get me out of this. I mean it’s so absurd I have to be here on a Saturday! It’s not like I’m a defective or anything.” This shows that Claire is used to getting her own way no matter the situation except this time. Andrew Clarke like Claire, is used to being the center of attention. Andrew is a jock that is influenced by his dad and how his dad used to cut up and goof off when he was in high school to cut loose himself. He also can’t think for himself. Andrew comes off as popular, but on the inside he is weak, he tries to live up to being the best in his dad’s eyes, which is why he decides to goof off. Brian Johnson is the typical nerd, he can be seen with his backpack and books. He is a member of many clubs including the physics, math, and chess club which are all “academic” clubs. Sort of like Andrew, Brian is pressured from his parents but in his case, it’s to get good grades which is why he doesn’t seem to have too many friends. An example of this is when his mom drops him off at school she tells him that he “better use your time in detention wisely.” Allison is ignored at home and seeks attention, she’s also a compulsive liar. Allison comes to detention to seek attention and because she has no friends or anything better to do. Peer pressure ties in with stereotypes because each of the characters are pressured by their parents and friends to be a certain way or act a certain way. Peer pressure and stereotypes help deepen the movie and make it more relatable too because many teenagers in high school are succumbed to that.

            Most of the scenes in the film are funny and witty, but there are some emotional scenes as well. The music and sound of The Breakfast Club is great, one of the more notable songs of the film is “Don’t You Forget About Me” by Simple Mind. The song is significant in a couple of ways. One way is because the song is played towards the end of the film as all the characters are leaving detention they wonder what is going to happen to them on Monday and if they are all still going to be friends. The song is saying that when we all go back to our regular lives on Monday, don’t forget about us. The song is also significant because at the end of the film, we see Bender walking on the football field with his fist in the air, showing his love for Claire and his confidence too.

            The film does a great job transitioning from one scene to another. An example of this is in the beginning of the film during the title sequence as “Don’t You Forget About Me” is playing in the background and we see all the actors and actresses names, we then see the quote “ …And these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds are immune to your consultations. They’re quite aware of what they’re going through. – David Bowie” and after the quote appears the screen shatters like broken glass with the sound of broken glass and then takes us to the opening scene. As we see the opening scene and hear Brian’s voice as he tells us what day it is and explains that even though what they all did was wrong he’s crazy to make them write an essay on who they think they are. We then see many different parts of the high school from the hallway, to the computer room, to the lockers and then finally the students getting dropped off for detention in the morning. This is important because as Brian says “a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal” we see a photo of each room that describes something about each of the characters.

            In the beginning of the movie we hear Brian answer Mr. Vernon’s essay question in first person point of view as well as the end of the movie as Brian says it again, but this time all of the characters say the word that describes them. Throughout the rest of the movie, the film is told as subjective point of view as we watch the movie and see what happens between all the characters.

            The acting in this film is phenomenal all of the actors and actresses did a great job. The Breakfast Club isn’t too literary being that it isn’t based off of a book. For the most part of the movie the dialogue is stylized except for two parts. One is when Bender is crawling through the air vents and he tells the joke about the blonde lady and her poodle. The other is when all of the characters are sitting together on the library floor telling each other the rea reasons why they are in detention and their personal lives. Both of those scenes are improvised as John Hughes told them to. Overall, The Breakfast Club is an amazing film that I would definitely recommend to watch, on a scale of 1-10 it’s a 9.