The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is my absolute favorite movie. The film was directed by John Hughes in 1985 and is still viewed as one of the greatest high school films today. The most captivating aspect of this production is the acting. The five main characters, also known as the "Brat Pack", embody five different stereotypes that are commonly seen within the walls of a high school. Each character is dramatic, emotional, and is under a lot of stress either at school or home. When they are forced to endure a Saturday morning detention together they dance, do drugs, and talk to pass the time. Eventually they start building relationships that would be considered unorthodox on a regular school day. Normally the "cool" kids never want to talk to the "geeks" or the "freaks" and vise versa. These boundaries constantly halt the students  from ever becoming friends; however,  as time passes, secrets are revealed, bonds are made, and boundaries are torn down. This film is truly powerful and exposes the reality that, with an open mind, anything is possible.

Although each performance in The Breakfast Club is phenomenal, Judd Nelson is, hands down, the most impressive. Nelson took on the role of John Bender, the rebel or "the criminal" who has serious family issues and is constantly in trouble. He portrays a bitter, angry, self loathing teenager who is lost in the cloud that makes up his thoughts. He takes his anger out on other people and refuses to be controlled by any outside force. This is almost directly caused by his abusive father's behavior. The miraculous thing about John Bender is that, above all, he is smart. In result, his defense mechanisms are always clever, strong, and cut deep. I enjoy watching Nelson perform because his feelings are so powerful. His various monologues throughout the film could instantly silence a room. With controlled body language and speech, Nelson was able to make every line come to life. The Breakfast Club will forever be considered a classic because it has a good story that is heightened by the actors portraying each dynamic role.