Apr 2021
These may come across as unconventional sentiments out of me, especially after a month of binging trash, but fuck it. Some Kind of Wonderful really is Some Kind of Wonderful.
It's a John Hughes written/produced movie about high school and the prospects of life beyond. It has a strong message about class that probably influenced me more than I realized.
Keith (Eric Stoltz) is the high school "outcast" here, but when I saw this movie on tv as a kid, I always thought he was so cool. Relaxed and conniving at the same time, hard working, and cool in his own right. I always wished I could be in his shoes when my turn at high school came up. He juggled work, school, family, art, and multiple women. Seems ideal, right? Well, my high school experience was nowhere near as cool as his, but that's not the point here. The point is that he was inspiring to me then, a 10 year old looking for a role model in a tv guide, and this movie stuck with me.
I also see a lot of my dad in his dad, played by John Ashton, who nags him a lot about going to college. I always told myself I wouldn't, but I caved eventually. At this point though, I still agree with Keith that school isn't a prerequisite to live a fulfilling life, but it's not about whether he does or doesn't. It's about the opportunity being out there, and only he himself can decide what he wants.
It's a definite coming of age movie with great characters:
Mary Stuart Masterson is Watts, the tomboy who hides her feelings as her best friend Kieth opposes them. Lea Thompson is Amanda Jones, like the song, who Keith decides to free from her social inhibitions. Craig Sheffer is Hardy, a great fuckin' bully who you love to hate. And finally, Elias Koteas is the punker with the heart of gold who gives me vibes of De Niro from Mean Streets. I love him!
Them and all the others are great. They're written as cliches, but the next layer of the script exposes their depth, and that's what life is about. Find the cliches and prove them wrong.
In a way though, this movie may seem like a typical 80s cliche, but it wasn't at the time. It had a message, it said it, and I think it said it very well.
It's a John Hughes written/produced movie about high school and the prospects of life beyond. It has a strong message about class that probably influenced me more than I realized.
Keith (Eric Stoltz) is the high school "outcast" here, but when I saw this movie on tv as a kid, I always thought he was so cool. Relaxed and conniving at the same time, hard working, and cool in his own right. I always wished I could be in his shoes when my turn at high school came up. He juggled work, school, family, art, and multiple women. Seems ideal, right? Well, my high school experience was nowhere near as cool as his, but that's not the point here. The point is that he was inspiring to me then, a 10 year old looking for a role model in a tv guide, and this movie stuck with me.
I also see a lot of my dad in his dad, played by John Ashton, who nags him a lot about going to college. I always told myself I wouldn't, but I caved eventually. At this point though, I still agree with Keith that school isn't a prerequisite to live a fulfilling life, but it's not about whether he does or doesn't. It's about the opportunity being out there, and only he himself can decide what he wants.
It's a definite coming of age movie with great characters:
Mary Stuart Masterson is Watts, the tomboy who hides her feelings as her best friend Kieth opposes them. Lea Thompson is Amanda Jones, like the song, who Keith decides to free from her social inhibitions. Craig Sheffer is Hardy, a great fuckin' bully who you love to hate. And finally, Elias Koteas is the punker with the heart of gold who gives me vibes of De Niro from Mean Streets. I love him!
Them and all the others are great. They're written as cliches, but the next layer of the script exposes their depth, and that's what life is about. Find the cliches and prove them wrong.
In a way though, this movie may seem like a typical 80s cliche, but it wasn't at the time. It had a message, it said it, and I think it said it very well.
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