“John Hughes, and really all of best 1980s teen movies, were saying that the stories of teenagers are the stories of all of us. They have the same human need and longing that the stories of adults have.” —Kevin Smokler
In this episode of Deviate, Rolf discusses classic coming-of-age films with Kevin Smokler (@Weegee), author of Brat Pack America: A Love Letter to ’80s Teen Movies.
The discussion themes, cultural references, and time-codes that outline this expansive conversation are as follows:
Kids having adult adventures movies
[2:30 – 17:00]
Links:
- Stand By Me (1986 film)
- Different Seasons, by Stephen King (book)
- Rob Reiner (film director)
- Season 4 of The Wire (TV season)
- David Simon (TV writer-producer)
- Boyz in the Hood (1991 film)
- John Singleton (film director)
- “12 Great Coming-Of-Age Movie Final-Scene Songs,” by Rolf Potts
Emblematic teen movies
[17:00 -45:10]
Links:
- Breakfast Club (1985 film)
- John Hughes (filmmaker)
- Sixteen Candles (1984 film)
- Long Duk Dong (Sixteen Candles character)
- Apu Nahasapeemapetilon (Simpsons character)
- Hari Kondabolu (standup comic)
- How to American, by Jimmy O. Yang (memoir)
- Fresh Off the Boat (TV show)
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982 film)
- Say Anything (1989 film)
- Cameron Crowe (writer-director)
- John Mahoney (actor)
- Ione Skye (actress)
- Heathers (1989 film)
- Daniel Waters (screenwriter)
- Riot grrrl (feminist punk movement)
- Dead Poets Society (1989 film)
- Dylan Kussman (actor)
- Norman Lloyd (actor)
- Carpe Diem (Dead Poets Society Latin aphorism)
Quirky teen fantasy movies
[45:10 -1:06:10]
Links:
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986 film)
- Matthew Broderick (actor)
- John Hughes director’s commentary on Ferris Bueller
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off screenplay
- Home Alone (1990 film)
- Back to the Future (1985 film)
- Life Moves Pretty Fast, by Hadley Freeman (book)
- Risky Business (1983 film)
- Tangerine Dream (electronic music band)
- Paul Brickman (writer-director)
One crazy night movies
[1:06:10 -1:19:00]
Links:
- Dazed and Confused (1993 film)
- Richard Linklater (writer-director)
- Quentin Tarantino (writer-director)
- American Graffiti (1973 film)
- Everybody Wants Some!! (2016 film)
- Slacker (1991 film)
- Boyhood (2014 film)
- Before Sunrise (1995 film)
- Before Sunset (2004 film)
- Before Midnight (2013 film)
Dark teen movies
[1:19:00 – 1:25:00]
Links:
- River’s Edge (1986 film)
- Murder of Marcy Renee Conrad (inspiration for River’s Edge)
- Dennis Hopper (actor)
- Keanu Reeves (actor)
- Satanic panic (1980s moral panic)
- Over the Edge (1979 film)
- The Legend of Bill Jean (1985 film)
Teen sports movies with strong sense of place
[1:25:00 -1:32:40]
Links:
- Breaking Away (1979 film)
- Friday Night Lights, by Buzz Bissinger (book)
- Friday Night Lights (2004 film)
- Friday Night Lights (TV series)
- All the Right Moves (1983 film)
- Hoosiers (1986 film)
- Remember the Titans (2000 film)
Autobiographical coming-of-age movies
[1:32:40 -1:51:30]
Links:
- Almost Famous (2000 film)
- “Tiny Dancer” scene from Almost Famous
- Freaks and Geeks (TV series)
- Paul Feig (TV writer)
- Judd Apatow (TV producer)
- Jason Segel (actor)
- Bob Seger (singer-songwriter)
- My So-Called Life (TV series)
21st century coming-of-age movies and TV shows
[1:51:30 – 2:01:00]
Links:
- Stranger Things (TV series)
- Everything Sucks! (TV series)
- Lady Bird (2017 film)
- Greta Gerwig (writer-director)
- Real Women Have Curves (2002 film)
- Dope (2015 film)
- Love, Simon (2018 film)
- “Stranger Things: 5 Differences Between the Pilot Script and the First Episode,” by Rolf Potts
The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.
Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.