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FilmWeek

FilmWeek: ‘Insidious: The Last Key,’ ‘Blame,’ ‘The Strange Ones’ and the evolution of high school movies

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - DECEMBER 09: Actress Lin Shaye attends Brazil Comic Con (CCXP) 2017, Insidious: The Last Key Panel  attends Brazil Comic Con 2017 on December 9, 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Raphael Dias/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - DECEMBER 09: Actress Lin Shaye attends Brazil Comic Con (CCXP) 2017, Insidious: The Last Key Panel attends Brazil Comic Con 2017 on December 9, 2017 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Raphael Dias/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
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Raphael Dias/Getty Images for Sony Pictures
)
Listen 48:57
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire and Wade Major review this weekend’s new movie releases. The Criterion Collection's new Blu-ray release of "The Breakfast Club" also has us discussing the development of high school movies throughout the years.
Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire and Wade Major review this weekend’s new movie releases. The Criterion Collection's new Blu-ray release of "The Breakfast Club" also has us discussing the development of high school movies throughout the years.

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire and Wade Major review this weekend’s new movie releases. The Criterion Collection's new Blu-ray release of "The Breakfast Club" also has us discussing the development of high school movies throughout the years.

FilmWeek: ‘Insidious: The Last Key,’ ‘Blame,’ ‘The Strange Ones’ and more

Listen 28:58
FilmWeek: ‘Insidious: The Last Key,’ ‘Blame,’ ‘The Strange Ones’ and more

Larry Mantle and KPCC film critics Christy Lemire and Wade Major review this weekend’s new movie releases.

Critics' Hits

Christy: "Blame"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXTs55teDwE

Wade: "Goldbuster"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gDhRgtr1Pk

Mixed Feelings

Christy: "Insidious: The Last Key"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acQyrwQyCOk

Wade: "Sheikh Jackson"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsijix35ORE

Misses

Christy & Wade: "Stratton" & "Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFoBq-oOqUs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGTI89YV4bM

Guests:

Christy Lemire , film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?”; she tweets

Wade Major , film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com

From the brain to the basket case: a look into the evolution of high school movies

Listen 18:55
From the brain to the basket case: a look into the evolution of high school movies

This week, the Criterion Collection released a revamped Blu-ray of John Hughes’ “The Breakfast Club,” a film that has wooed fans for over three decades, and it had us thinking: how have high school films developed over time?  

From “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” to “Sixteen Candles,” Hughes’ affinity for movies about teenagers undeniably set the cinematic tone for not only his peers, but future filmmakers as well. It’s not difficult to find his quintessential, teenage misfit themes in films like “10 Things I Hate About You,” “Superbad,” “Dazed and Confused” and most recently, Greta Gerwig’s 2017 hit “Lady Bird.”

Pre-1980’s movies about high school seemed to convey different tones than their later, Hughes-influenced counterparts. Take “Rebel Without A Cause” and “Carrie,” both sobered, tortured and filled with allegorical meaning and moral-defining characters.  

So has there been a shift in how high school is portrayed? Are some themes more popular now than they were twenty years ago? And what are some of the films that helped relieve your worst teenage blues and pimpled-fuelled angst?

Call us at 866-893-5722.

Guests:

Christy Lemire , film critic for KPCC, RogerEbert.com and co-host of YouTube’s “What the Flick?”; she tweets

Wade Major , film critic for KPCC and CineGods.com