Writer/Director John Hughes died Thursday morning of a heart attack while walking in Manhattan. He was 59, far too early for a guy who created so much enjoyment for so many people. For whatever reason, only Hughes was able to capture the plight of the 1980s teenager. One reason I loved his movies was the sympathetic treatment, not only of jocks and princesses, but of nerds like me. Films such as Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club and Weird Science convinced me Hughes knew what it was to be less than cool in high school.He also made other great coming of age movies that I can still relate to now like She's Having a Baby. It didn't hurt that his movies were also hilarious. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a classic teenage fantasy movie and I laughted pretty much non-stop through Plains, Trains and Automobiles. Strangely, Hughes seemed to disappear suddenly in the early 1990s, writing the occasional script, shunning media and interviews.
Rarely has an artist had his finger on the pulse of a generation. In fact, I cannot think of another like him. His passing brings back the same genuine bittersweet emotions of growing up that his films were famous for. He will be missed.
1 comment:
It's been years since I've seen it, so maybe that's coloring my memory, but was there a better movie about being in high school in the 80's than Breakfast Club?
ted
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