judd nelson

"The Breakfast Club," directed by John Hughes, is a seminal film of the 1980s that has transcended its era to become a timeless classic. This 1985 masterpiece delves into the lives of five high school students who, on the surface, embody the quintessential teenage stereotypes: the Brain (Anthony Michael Hall as Brian), the Athlete (Emilio Estevez as Andrew), the Basket Case (Ally Sheedy as Allison), the Princess (Molly Ringwald as Claire), and the Criminal (Judd Nelson as Bender). These characters, forced to spend a Saturday in detention together, start off as archetypical figures but evolve into complex, multi-dimensional beings as the film progresses.

The genius of "The Breakfast Club" lies in its simplicity. The entire movie unfolds in one location – the school library – and focuses on the interactions between the five students. This limited setting could have been a constraint, but Hughes turns it into an advantage, creating a microcosm of high school society. The film opens with a quote from David Bowie, setting the tone for a story that challenges the status quo and speaks to the rebellious spirit in all of us.

The characters are introduced in a way that immediately establishes their social roles. Brian is the obedient, academically focused student; Andrew, a wrestler, carries the burden of his father's expectations; Allison lurks in the background, her silence and odd behaviour making her an outcast; Claire is the popular, affluent girl; and Bender, with his flippant attitude and disdain for authority, is the quintessential rebel.

As the day progresses, the characters engage in conversations that range from frivolous to deeply personal. They argue, laugh, and eventually open up about their fears, dreams, and frustrations. The film brilliantly uses humour and drama to explore the pressures of adolescence. Each character's story reflects broader societal issues – parental pressure, peer pressure, social expectations, and the struggle to find one's identity.

One of the most powerful aspects of "The Breakfast Club" is its portrayal of the common ground shared by these seemingly different individuals. The film suggests that, despite superficial differences, everyone faces similar challenges and insecurities. This realization breaks down the barriers between them, fostering a sense of understanding and camaraderie.

Hughes' direction is impeccable. He gives each character enough screen time to develop and shine. The script is sharp, insightful, and, at times, painfully honest. The dialogue never feels forced or contrived, resonating with a sense of authenticity that has made the film a favourite across generations.

The performances are exceptional. Judd Nelson's portrayal of Bender is both charismatic and heartbreaking, revealing the vulnerability beneath the tough exterior. Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy deliver nuanced performances, capturing the complexity of their characters' internal struggles. Emilio Estevez and Anthony Michael Hall balance the ensemble with their portrayals of Andrew and Brian, adding depth to the athlete and nerd stereotypes.

The film's soundtrack, particularly the iconic song "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds, perfectly encapsulates the film's themes of identity and remembrance. It's a reminder that the experiences and emotions of these characters are universal, echoing beyond the confines of their detention room.

"The Breakfast Club" also deserves praise for its exploration of themes like empathy, acceptance, and the challenge of being true to oneself in a world that often demands conformity. It's a poignant reminder that, beneath the facades people present to the world, there's a depth of emotion and complexity.

In conclusion, "The Breakfast Club" is not just a movie about teenagers in detention; it's a film about human connection and the universal experience of growing up. Its honest depiction of the highs and lows of adolescence, combined with exceptional writing, directing, and acting, makes it a masterpiece of American cinema. It’s a film that speaks to teenagers and adults alike, reminding us all of the importance of looking beyond stereotypes and finding common ground. This movie remains as relevant and impactful today as it was in the 1980s, a true testament to its brilliance and the visionary work of John Hughes.

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What if 'St. Elmo's Fire' was recast in the Late 90s?

Wrap yourself in a cozy blanket, grab a pumpkin spice latte, and get ready for a trip down memory lane as we reminisce about the charm of 'autumnal movies' (since there aren't many Thanksgiving films) and deep dive Cory's personal favorite movie, the quintessential 80's classic, "St Elmo's Fire".

 Join us as we dissect its nihilistic themes, impressive character development, and how despite initial misgivings, this film inexplicably grew on Cory and Nick. We also touch upon the undeniable allure of fall aesthetics, a beauty that we unfortunately don't get to experience in its entirety in Oklahoma.

Take an auditory journey with us as we uncover the trials and triumphs behind the making of the iconic "St Elmo's Fire". Get an insight into the gritty representation of post-college life struggles, the unique acting styles of the 'Brat Pack' actors, and the influential role of John Hughes in the casting process. 

 Brace yourselves as we also explore the casting possibilities for the 90's rendition of "St Elmo's Fire". This discussion is sure to leave you nostalgic and perhaps even inspire you to conduct your own star-studded debates.

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Featured Music:
"Quantum Recast Theme" - Cory Williams
"Revival" - Daniele Musto
"Pukka" - Bellodrone
"Kings and Queens" - Wicked Cinema
"Kiss the Cat" - Al Town
"Birdcage" - Al Town
"Passenger" - Abloom

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This week, a world premier crossover event… Grab some popcorn and join your hosts this week as we check out songs from flicks as interpreted by other artists. That’s right, we are going to the movies and listening to the sounds of bands covering other bands' material! Two infamous recurring InObscuria series are colliding like peanut butter and chocolate to bring you a blissfully delicious treat. Grab your Reeses, large Coke, and some nachos, and hum along!

What is it we do here at InObscuria? Every show Kevin opens the crypt to exhume and dissect from his personal collection; an artist, album, or collection of tunes from the broad spectrum of rock, punk, and metal. This week is our very first major crossover event. One that provides yet another collection of lost and forgotten songs from the silver screen as covered by other artists! Our hope is that we turn you on to something new… or something that sounds like something new that actually may be old. It’s complicated.

Songs this week include:

1. Leo - “Weird Science” from Leo Metal, Vol. 43 (2023)
2. Corey Taylor - “On The Dark Side” from CMFB… Sides (2022)
3. David Cook - “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” from Don’t You (Forget About Me) - Single (2011)
4. Haunt - “Send Me An Angel” from Hell Tracks (2023)
5. L.A. Guns - “Cry Little Sister” from Covered In Guns (2009)
6. ESP - “Free Ride” from ESP (1999)
7. Ghost - “We Don’t Need Another Hero” from Phatomime (2023)
8. Weezer - “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” from The Teal Album (2019)

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Beam me up, Scotty as we are combinating and consolidating for our Cash Money brothers! Get your Jimmy waxed with New Jack City this week. Quid Pro Mo Home Video Hustle  

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Diane and Sean discuss the John Hughes classic, The Breakfast Club. Episode music is, "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds, from the OST.

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I have a question, Film Nerds: Does Barry Manilow know you raid his wardrobe? 

On this week's episode, BK & Jack take a look at the extremely complicated history of what is often considered to be the quintessential film of the 1980s. Hear how John Hughes created a space in the art form for serious teenage voices for the first time by utlizing his own penchant for rebellion, how the principal crew on the project had to fight the studio every step of the way to make the film, how the bonds between the cast translated into universal & relatable characters, the checkered legacy of the film's director & films, & much, much, more! This is one of our juiciest discussions yet, and you won't wan to miss it!

Sincerely yours, The Film Nerds.

Will and Matt have their best idea yet about Paul Rudd and discuss what might be the most interesting adaptation of a Superman comic... ever... to feature Shaq and Judd Nelson!

DISCLAIMER: Language and Spoilers!

STEEL
dir. Kenneth Johnson
starring: Shaquille O'Neal, Annabeth Gish, Judd Nelson

In this week's episode we are going to talk about famous people from Maine. There are some amazing celebrities born in Maine. We talk about Patrick Dempsy, his amazing charitable work and his involvement in the community. Also we talk about Anna Kendrick who is a Portland native. She did a ton of local theater on her way to becoming a big star! Also sports reporter Erin Andrews is from Lewiston Maine.  Of course we talk about famous writer Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who is commemorated all over Portland! Don’t you forget about Judd Nelson - who was a member of the Brat Pack. And last but not least we talk about Stephen King who is probably Maine’s most famous resident, known for his horror books and films! So let us know - did we miss someone? Who is your favorite celebrity from Maine? Let us know below and remember, if you Make Maine Your Home, you don’t have to do it alone!

To checkout listings all over southern Maine visit: https://www.makemaineyourhome.realestate/

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0:00 - Intro & Summary

2:00 - Movie Discussion

50:16 - Cast & Crew

58:26 - Awards

1:02:11 - True Crime/Pop Culture

1:08:26 - Rankings & Ratings

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The Breakfast Club

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The Breakfast Club

Written and Directed by:  John Hughes

Starring:

Emilio Estevez

Paul Gleason

Anthony Michael Hall

Judd Nelson

Molly Ringwald

Ally Sheedy

Released February 15th, 1985

Budget: $1M ($2.5M 2021)

Box Office: $51.5M ($130M 2021) worldwide

Ratings:   IMDb 7.8/10 Rotten Tomatoes 89%

Metacritic 66% Google Users 93%

John Hughes has had two movies selected to be preserved in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." First was "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" in 2014, and The Breakfast Club was selected in 2016. 

First time you saw the movie?

Plot:

The opening credits ends with a quote from David Bowie: "...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..."

A voice over complaining about Saturday school: Shermer High School, Saturday March 24th, 1984. Cars are dropping off the students. Claire complains she has to do saturday school, Brian promises it's the last time, Andrews father tells him he'll loose his scholarship , Allison is dropped off without word and Bender walks in. In the library, they all settle in. Principal Vernon addresses the students, telling them what he expects from their time. Bender starts harassing the other students... Telling Claire, 'you couldn't ignore me if you tried.' They discuss the difference between social clubs and academic clubs... Like math and physics club. They discuss the complexities of wrestling, and rolling on the ground with sweaty men... Sounds familiar. Bender sabotages the library door so that it'll close. Vernon aggressively questions them as to why the door is closed...and they all agree that it just closed. After trying to rig the door open, Bender and Vernon go back and forth, and he keeps adding saturdays. Claire pleads for him to stop. The group is shown wasting time, drawing, paper football, shaking dandruff out of their hair, Brian tucks a boner, and eventually they all fall asleep. Vernon wakes them up for a bathroom trip. Afterwords, Claire describes how her parents use her against each other. Bender continues to antagonize, but they eventually even share names. Bender takes particular interest in Claire, asking how far shes been with a guy. Andrew stops him, and it briefly turns physical and Bender threatens to kill him. A brief conversation with Carl the janitor, a whistle along, and it's lunch.

S:

-The car claire is dropped off in is John Hughes car

-The mom and sister with Brian are Anthony Michael Halls real mom and sister

-Anyone ever have saturday school/detention? Any good stories?

-Vernon giving Bender 2 months of saturday school... why would he want to be there that many saturdays? Though, he doesn't have a wedding band on.

Andrew and Allison go to get drinks, and she finally breaks her silence, saying she drinks vodka. Andrew complains then about being good and wrestling with sweaty dudes...Unlike Tucker. Bender continues to antagonize, eventually outing Brian as a virgin...Claire pulls out sushi for lunch, Andrew has an entire grocery bag full of food, Allison makes some weird, crunchy, sugar sandwich, and Bender goes through Brians lunch the ends with Bender doing an super sarcastic Leave it to Beaver, impression of life at Brians house. Andrew notices Brians reaction and asks about Benders home... Which then gets pretty real. Ending with Andrew questioning the authenticity of his actions, and then shown a cigar burn on his forearm. He storms off, and is reflective. Vernon goes to the lounge, and they all follow Bender to his locker, which no one can explain why... Which we soon find out is weed. As they head back, they are trying to avoid Vernon, and we get the awesome 80's musical montage. (Fire in the twilight) Ending up at a locked gate, stuffing his weed in Brians pants, Bender takes off making a bunch of noise, Vernon following, ending in the gym, giving everyone else time to get back. Vernon gives a very stark view of Benders future...they leave; but in a closet, Vernon threatens Bender, and provides Bender with some perspective, giving him a free shot, which he doesn't take, and he calls him a gutless turd. As Vernon takes a slam, Bender crawls through the ceiling and crashes back to the library, stating he forgot his pencil. As the others cover for Bender, he steals a look and nearly a face-full up Claires skirt. Taking his weed from Brian, the others follow him to the back of the library to smoke.

S:

-Judd Nelson played this character method and didn't break, even between scenes. John Hughes almost fired him bc of how he treated Molly Ringwald off camera; though she said she was aware and was ok with it.

-So Bender can say whatever he wants about anyone else, but then when its about his interpretation of his own home, that's too far? Should we feel bad for him? He's been a shit head the whole time.

-What do you think about Bender? Is his life like he says or what? What is he doing today?

-First time smoking weed?

Brian and Claire are obviously super stoned and being silly. Andrew comes out from hotboxing in a room, and aggressively dances around, ending with screaming and a glass breaking, with Allison watching intently. Carl catches Vernon going through the restricted files. Andrew and Brian chat, and Allison finally joins in, offering that she stole his wallet. Claire and Bender discuss not throwing things away. Allison dumps her purse on the couch, stating shes always "ready to jam" because her home life is unsatisfying. Andrew tries to connect with Allison, who he reads pretty well, and she opens up to him, about her family, asking, "What did they do to you...?" like its something that happens to everyone... Very stark. Vernon and Carl talk, and Carl pegs him precisely. They're sitting in a circle, they go back and forth sharing and asking questions. Allison says she's screwing her therapist, Claire is prodded into answering if shes a virgin.... which she is. This leads to a discussion about how they're bizarre, and Andrew tells why he's in Saturday school...Taping a kids 'buns' together. And he gets very emotional. It impacts them all very deeply. Brian shares how Andrews dads intensity is like his grades, and failing shop. They move on to hidden talents, and Claire puts on lipstick with her cleavage, which Bender mocks, and the others chastise him for going after her... and he shares the differences in their christmases... Smoke up Johnny! They lament, asking if they're going to be like their parents, and Allison states its unavoidable, that when you grow up, your heart dies. Brian asks if they'll still be friends on Monday, and Claire tells them the truth that they wont be friends... they go back and forth about how shitty that is, and Brian shares why hes in Saturday school... because he was going to kill himself with a flair gun. Which they all laugh at. Which then prompts Allison to share that she did nothing to be there, she had nothing better to do. Segue to 80's musical montage. (we are not alone)

S:

-Any of y'all ever consider running away?

-Would you say your bizarre? How so?

-Tell zapping the kid in 8th grade story

-Originally the dance montage was supposed to ONLY be Molly Ringwald, but she didn't want to do it alone, which then kind of spawned the 80's/Mtv dance montages.

Bender is crawling back through the ceiling, Claire convinces Brian that he should write the essay Vernon asked them to write. Claire then takes Allison for a make over. Claire goes into the closet with Bender, as Allison FINALLY gets Andys attention after watching him the WHOLE TIME. Claire kisses Bender, and he offers to be something her parents use against each other. Andy complements Allison, who she states Claire did it. They all walk out together, Andy and Allison kiss, Claire gives Bender one of her diamond earrings, which he made fun of her for earlier. They share a kiss, and she leaves. Bender puts the earring in, and a voice over is heard: (voice over), Bender is shown walking across a field, he throws a fist in the air, freeze frame, and credits roll.

S:

-Kissing in front of the parents... Is it just me that thinks thats weird? That shit is NOT happening with my daughter. She'll sneak around like God intended.

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On the 57th episode of the Slice By Slice podcast, Jesse and Josh take a look at the body of work of writer/director John Hughes, who some say was the voice of a generation. Recorded on 03/28/21. Released on 4/1/21

Email: sbyspodcast@gmail.com  

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• Intro
• News and Announcements
• Corrections and Updates
• What We Watched
• John Hughes Backstory and Career
• Film Discussions
  • The Breakfast Club  (1985)
  • Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
• Outro

Zach & Zo go on a road trip to a city where crime & drugs run rampant. A city where New Jack Cops are needed to take on the New Jack Gangtas. Take a trip with us to the violent underbelly and join us as we talk about New Jack City.

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Ryan and Ty take a trip back to the 80's this week to talk about the 1985 John Hughes film The Breakfast Club. Topics range from the expected things like a search for understanding, to the less expected topic of writer/director's depiction of questionable or offensive dialogue and who that reflects on. Be sure to check out our social media accounts to vote on next weeks episode. You can email us at rollitpodcast@gmail.com or follow us!    

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Watch us live on Twitch every Monday at 7pm CT: https://www.twitch.tv/mof1podcast

We're still preoccupied with 19, 19, 1985. In this week's episode our listener Becca thinks Jacqueline will like St. Elmo's Fire and Meghan will like Clue.

St. Elmo's Fire (Not currently streaming)

Clue (Amazon Prime)

Things We Like This Week:

• Jacqueline
  • Visiting her grandparents in Oregon
• Meghan
  • Taylor Swift's "Folklore" (Spotify)

Thanks so much to Matt Paul (Meghan's Husband) for the "Super Awesome Podcast Jam."

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“You think I give a shit what these kids think about me?”

There’s nothing to do when you’re locked in a vacancy, so sayeth John Bender, played harshly and artfully by the indelible Judd Nelson. The Breakfast Club is a legendary piece of 80’s cinema, sandwiched between Sixteen Candles and Weird Science, and serves as the crown jewel of the Brat Pack collection. Disagree? B.O.O...H.O.O… John Hughes was a juggernaut of cinema and a triple threat behind the camera, serving as writer, director, producer or any combination thereof. But where Hughes’ talent really shined was on the page. His dialogue was poignant but timeless, natural yet finely crafted, and the characters he created weren’t stymied by the tawdry archetypes that plagued 80’s cinema… which afforded his films a timelessness to which few others of the era can compare. Aside from the prevalence of cell phones and what would constitute detention vs being arrested on school grounds in the 21st century, the Breakfast Club is just as fresh and relevant today as it was on that fateful morning in 1984.

“Does Barry Mannilo know that you raid his wardrobe?”

Principal Richard Vernon, who himself is sacrificing his entire Saturday to monitor detention, approaches this rag-tag group of misfits, each a wrongdoer in their own way, broken up by the social hierarchy of high school, and assigns them a task to occupy their time… an essay… written to him and due before they leave, describing to him who they think they are… with specific instructions for the cunning Bender who would otherwise find a loophole to exploit. Although the film ends with only Brian writing an essay, on behalf of the group, and while he’s shown counting all 1,000 words, we only hear a select few as the film draws to a close, and the iconic Simple Minds anthem carries the kids home.

“Come on Sport-o, level with me, do you slip her the hot beef injection?”

Does Principle Vernon always have to monitor Saturday detention or is he merely filling in? Did he really bribe Carl with the $50 he asked for to keep his mouth shut? And Bender and the Princess? That would never last… shoulda been the Basketcase… This is… DEAR MR VERNON, as read by Anthony Michael Hall and the cast of THE BREAKFAST CLUB, on STORIES TELLING STORIES...

The Plotaholics wrap up this 80s-centric January with the film that many consider to be the quintessential 80s teen flick: The Breakfast Club. Has there ever been a movie that has inspired more callbacks--from dancing in the library to "what about you, dad?"--than this one?  Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy round out an ensemble cast with representatives from every high school character-type you can think of--the rebel, the crazy one, the jock, the brain, and the popular girl.

Bryan was up all night driving before we recorded this episode, so things take a couple of weird turns. The Plotaholics spend time talking about the under-appreciated 90s kids' show, Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills and what role Thankskilling alum, Wanda Lust, would play in an adult reboot of said show set in Illinois. There is table-top RPG talk (Shane is playing Monster of the Week from Evil Hat Productions and loving it) and Funko Pop talk (Bryan found Angel from Buffy!).

It's everything you've come to expect from a distraction-heavy episode of The Plotaholics Podcast, including one Plotaholic's heart-breaking revelation that he is, in fact, a Millennial.

Enjoy The Breakfast Club!

STANLEY: The lake! You’re supposed to die IN...THE...LAKE!

The leaves are changing… the days are getting colder and the nights are getting longer… autumn is in the air. It’s October, and Halloween is just around the corner; a time for sweet treats, tricks and treats, and scary stories to keep you up at night… Here at STS, we’re no strangers to the power of a good scary story, so we’re setting up a Halloween Spook-Tacular October, with four tales of terror sure to make your spine tingle… first up, we take a midnight ride to the middle of Summit Lake, to examine an underwater offering from my favorite early-2000’s made-for-TV movie, and examine Judd Nelson’s haunting portrayal of B-Movie script writer Stanley Caldwell. This is... GARDEN OF FLESH, from USA Network’s CABIN BY THE LAKE, on STORIES TELLING STORIES...

"I’m not here and I can’t afford voicemail, I’m just the writer… what do you want?”

In the year 2000, I was a huge fan of professional wrestling, specifically the then-WWF which aired Monday Night Raw on the USA Network. I didn’t otherwise pay much attention to the network, only tuning in for wrestling programming. But in the weeks leading up to the February 1st release of CABIN BY THE LAKE my interest was piqued during commercial breaks between matches, teasing a Judd Nelson-led suspense thriller that was sure to relaunch the career of the Breakfast Club alum. After a quick trip to the local Ames Department store, in my grandmother’s trusty Ford Taurus, I had a blank VHS cassette at the ready and settled in to record this no-doubt Oscar worthy made-for-tv performance, after the night’s wrestling had concluded. I don’t remember what happened on that episode of RAW, but I remember Cabin by the Lake…

“If you have to go to the hospital you don’t want to be caught wearing dirty underwear…”

Stanley is a screenwriter struggling with writer’s block. He’s at his mountain lake cabin trying to finish the script for a film that has already been sold into production. His agent and the film’s director are hounding him for a script that mocks him with blank pages. We experience the silence of Stanley’s life… a quiet home, silence, a squeaking office chair… minimal distraction. And minimal work. But much like a classically-trained thespian, there is a method in place… Stanley remarks to his agent, “okay, I’ll drown the girl,” in exasperation to her hounding about his failure to deliver the script on time, as the film is already going into production. And where she heard a writer writing, Stanley hears a call to action, beyond his desire to glean bits of character and motivation by holding an actual girl hostage… He enters… through a secret door, to a secret room, visible through a two-way mirror, we find a girl, Kimberly, chained to the floor… Stanley enters with a plate of food and a bottle of water, setting them in the center of the room… we see graffiti on the walls from a furnished permanent marker, a bare mattress against the far wall, a sink and a toilet… prison, in such a pristine environment. He gives her clean clothes and gags her with an orange for a trip out on the boat, where he ties her to a brick and pushes her overboard, after surmising from a few key questions that she was too frightened to speak. He pulls her up by the hair, for one last gasp of air, advising her “Don’t hold your breath… it just makes it worse…” before letting her go, sinking into the quiet night as her voice is silenced forever. Will she complete his garden?

“Nah, it’s dead out there…”

I adore this movie. It’s low-budget, it’s corny as hell, but Nelson’s intense stare and intimidating presence dominate every scene he’s in. The rest of the actors, try as they might, can’t manage to escape the shadow that he casts. But outside the Brat Pack, Judd Nelson was never able to achieve the level of success and steady work as some of his peers, which is unfortunate. His intensity is off-the-charts and when given a layered character he can go to town on the subtle nuances that truly bring them to life. The mistake Hollywood made with Judd Nelson was trying to make him a leading man… and perhaps he longed for the roles taken by an Estevez or a Lowe, but few actors worth their salt can imbibe a deranged, intense, gentle, friendly, and brutal mindset into a single character, with convincing integrity like he can. Nelson’s got chops… he ain’t just John Bender, kids.

“You gave me blank pages!!”

How many other scripts like this has Stanley written? Where did he first get the idea to kidnap girls as character research? And why the hell did “Return to Cabin By The Lake” have to suck so badly compared to the original?!? This is GARDEN OF FLESH from the made-for-USA Networks TV Movie “CABIN BY THE LAKE,” as read by Judd Nelson, on Stories Telling Stories!

STARRING:

Eric R Hill as STANLEY | SHERIFF | OFFICER BOONE

Sarah Venooker as MALLORY | REGAN | RANDOM AGENT

Thomas Hunt as LANCE