|
| • Advanced Search • Help |
Fast Times at Ridgemont High | Year: 1982 Classification: Comedy Directed: - Amy Heckerling Actors/Actresses: - Amanda Wyss - Forest Whitacker - Sean Penn Holds up over time I hadn't really watched this since my teen years and was happy to revisit these characters. I hadn't remembered just how dark this film is and how the lives these kids lead are really more mature than they are ready for. I think it is a wonderfully accurate depiction of the teen lifestyle. Having sex at 15, when many adults are not prepared for its repercussions, is simply part of their lives. Drugs aren't really touched on so much (except for surfer marijuana use which is played for laughs), but the character of Stacy is confronted with the reality of pregnancy and subsequent abortion (although after the event, she doesn't really seem to suffer) after a one-time encounter in her pool changing room. So, okay, maybe it's not so realistic, but, hey, it's got a great cast of then-unknowns like: Phoebe Cates, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Sean Penn, Judge Reinhold, Eric Stoltz, and blink-and-you'll-miss-him Nicolas Cage. As well as an insightful screenplay by Cameron Crowe and spot-on direction from Amy Heckerling. A note on the commentary from Crowe and Heckerling: while not terribly enlightening about the process of movie-making, one does get the impression that everyone had fun making the film, and they two seem to be having fun making this commentary. Interestingly, it continues on well past the end of the film--almost ten minutes after. Which isn't so entertaining, having to look at a black screen and all, but is the first time I have seen this happen. Also included: Reliving Our Fast Times at Ridgemont High It's good, though, to revisit the cast members twenty years later and see how they have changed (all except for director Heckerling appear to have aged). Several cast members are missing including Cates and Leigh, but the most notable absence is that of screenwriter/novelist Cameron Crowe, although he is well spoken of and pictures of him at the time are shown. He is, however, present on the film's commentary. Enlightening enough on the subject of how fun the film was to make and how the casting process went about, and all in all a pleasant expenditure of thirty minutes. Fast Times...Stands the Test of Times! When the trailer for FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH was being previewed before the feature film in the theatre I was in, an elderly couple behind me(elderly..they were probably only in their early 40's..but this was way back in 1982 when I barely got out of high school..)the husband stated to his wife "Remind me NOT to watch this movie!". This is because the preview showed mostly clips of Sean Penn's Jeff Spicoli character. This was a little misleading because the movie wasn't all about Spicoli. This was a dead-on representation of high school life at that point of history of the early 1980's. The movie is episodic focusing on various character's ups and downs during the course of one school year. Some thought provoking real life situations and some comedic situations a little exagerated. However, the movie is honest in its depiction of teen high schoolers. Good cast of future stars such as Judge Reinhold, Nicholas Cage, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Anthony Edwards, Pheobe Cates,Eric Stoltz,Forest Whitaker, and of course..Sean Penn. Also, some veteran character actors such as Vincent Schiavelli (GHOST, TOMORROW NEVER DIES) and of course Ray Walston as Mr. Hand. Written by Cameron Crowe (JERRY MCGUIRE, ALMOST FAMOUS). Note: Classic line -(after counselor tells Brad Hamilton/Judge Reinhold that the "fun" is over because he's about to graduate) "Over? I'm still waiting for the fun to begin!" The background of Fast Times... The film itself is a classic, from the soundtrack (which features recently broken-up members of The Eagles), Stevie Nicks, and Jackson Browne. Cameron Crowe wrote the true story of teenagers in late 70s San Diego (Clairemont High) from his own perspective, originally written for Rolling Stone magazine. Because he looked so young at the time, he was able to go to school and fit in. Even though Crowe changed the city to the LA area (the movie also takes place in LA), the Clairemont High schoolers were upset with a lot of it. "Rat" is now the writer of some of the "Dummies" books. The film itself is an essential 80s comedy classic, a lot of subjects bold at the time, a lot of new talent to move on to bigger paychecks (Forest Whittaker, Sean Penn, Nicolas Cage). I think it would be great if Crowe and Heckerling did a commentary with the original cast members as well as the Clairemont High students to give added perspective on the fact and fiction of it all. I think people would want to know if these people really existed, and what happened to them. Buy Fast Times At Ridgemont High at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Fast Times At Ridgemont High Search with the Priority Search Engine on Fast Times At Ridgemont High This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
|
