TWELVE MUST SEE FILMS and WHY
by Joshua TRILIEGI
AMERICAN GRAFFITI BIG WEDNESDAY BREAKING AWAY CROOKLYN
LA BAMBA THE OUTSIDERS QUADROPHENIA REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE
REPO MAN SWING KIDS THE GRADUATE WEST SIDE STORY
These 12 Classic Youth Films Express a certain Social Angst that is
still very much relevant for the Youth of Today's Current Society.
AMERICAN GRAFFITI
One of the most important films reflecting on American Pop Culture ever.
One of the most important films reflecting on American Pop Culture ever.
Produced by Francis Ford Coppola. Directed by George Lucas. Starring a cast
of new stars that have all gone on to have stellar careers in the film industry: actors, directors, producers. Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams, Suzanne Somers, Kathleen Quinlan, Candy Clark, Charles Martin Smith, Mackenzie Phillips, Bo Hopkins. A Film that holds up every time it is viewed. A nostalgic look at a time and a place in America just before we were hit with the death of the Kennedy's & other social leaders, Vietnam and a complicated world which forever changed our lives in America. This film went onto inspire the Television Show : HAPPY DAYS. As well as many teen/music films such as DAZED & CONFUSED by Independent Film Maker Richard LINKLATER. One can also see that
this film production opened the door for Alan ARKUSH's Classic Musical Teen Film:
this film production opened the door for Alan ARKUSH's Classic Musical Teen Film:
ROCK & ROLL HIGH SCHOOL.
BIG WEDNESDAY
The most authentic fictional SURF FILM ever created. Directed & co - written
by John Milius, who would go on to put a surf scene in just about every film he would ever participate in, famously: the surf scene in APOCALYPSE NOW.
This film seems to capture West Coast Surf culture with the perfect blend of the nostalgic aspects of the early days on into the more cynical ones. Friendships, initiations, love, war and growing up with the waves. Another perfect ensemble cast, an original musical score and a voice over narration that perfectly tells the story like a good book. For a full Review visit the FILM PAGE.
BREAKING AWAY
Growing up poor or middle class in an area where others are more privileged
is one of the themes running through this hilarious and charming film about
Biking, Friendship, Playing by the Rules and yes, ' Breaking Away ' from the
pack, traditions and false ideals. A story about finding & respecting yourself
in a world that refuses to do so. Dennis Quaid in an early and heartfelt performance. Directed by Peter Yates with a screenplay by Steve Tesich.
A great use of Classical Music throughout the entire production. Other cast
members include: The incredible Paul Dooley as the dad, Barbara Berrie as
members include: The incredible Paul Dooley as the dad, Barbara Berrie as
the Mom and Dennis Christopher, Daniel Stern and Jackie Earle Haley as
' The Cutters ' [ for cutting school ]. A fabulous uplifting production.
CROOKLYN
Spike Lee dishes up this family film which is loosely based on scenarios
created by his brother and sister and thier early childhood in Brooklyn.
A hilarious film that personifies the 1970's with all the pitch perfect hooks
and props, music and experiences that define the period. A heartbreaking
and yet wonderfully funny film that nails exactly what many of us went
through during our childhood experiences in America at that particular
time and place. Outstanding performances by the entire cast. As usual
Spike Lee's casting choices from Del Roy Lindo as the dad, Alfre Woodard
as the mom and a whole crop of new actors as well as Isaiah Washington,
RuPaul, Vondie Curtis-Hall and of course Zelda Harris as the young girl
who plays our lead character. With a great soundtrack, richly produced
and as usual great direction.
A musical bio that lovingly tells the story of singer Ritchie Valens, though
at the same time, tells a basic family dynamic of growing up, falling in love,
being accepted or not and dealing with life's opportunities under pressure.
A fabulous soundtrack that helped to put the band Los Lobos on the map.
This was a follow up to the success of Luis Valdez's play & film ZOOT SUIT.
With themes that describe the latino experience, musical prodigies, inter
racial love and crossing over into the mainstream American music charts.
This film, along with the Buddy Holly Story, Great Balls of Fire and the
many films on Elvis Presley,opened the door for the entire genre of music biographies that have lead up to: RAY, Walk the Line, Sid and Nancy.
Lou Diamond Phillips in his first starring role, Esai Morales in a pinnacle
supporting role as Ritchie's brother, Rosanna DeSoto as the mom and
Joe Pantoliano, Elizabeth Pena, Brian Seltzer and Tony Genaro supporting. 
The OUTSIDERS
An outstanding adaption of an S. E. Hinton novel by Francis Ford Coppola.
film that has a cast of new stars that will all go onto great careers in film:
C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, Emelio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze,
Tom Cruise, and Coppola regulars: Tom Waits, Diane Lane & Glen Withrow.
Heroic & authentic, sympathetic & rough, innocent & tough, all without
any slips in performance, style or structure, a really great film about family, friends, tribes and looking back one more time, before moving forward again. What's it like to be an American in middle America ? This is what it's like.
QUADROPHENIA
The first of several great films created by The Classic Rock & Roll Band:
the London music scene just prior to the creation of bands like the WHO.
The clash between the Mods & the rockers, not unlike the same clash we
see within the other films listed in this review: The Outsiders, Breaking
Away, Rebel without a Cause, Big Wednseday. The Who will go onto create,
The Kids are Allright & the Classic Rock opera TOMMY. Being authentic,
demanding respect from authority, rebelling against previous values and
searching for acceptance, but ultimately tossing it all away for self respect
are just a few of the themes in this great fictional film. Once again, many
of the cast members will become regulars and have entire careers and comebacks time & time again. Most notably: Ray Winstone in Sexy Beast, Timothy Spell in the films by the great Mike Leigh, Sting and of course a very young Phil Daniels, Leslie Ash, Mark Wingett, Phil Davis. Directed by Franc Roddam. With music by The WHO and the use of period music specifically Booker T and the MG's classic 'Green Onions', which is also used in American Graffiti and The Flamingo Kid [ another great film ]. 
REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE
The benchmark of all great films about growing up. There had many teen
films before, but none could ever touch it after. The fact that it was in
technicolor put it a cut above the juvenile delinquent genre that had
been mostly filmed in low budget black & white. Of course, the pinnacle performance James Dean in a role that absolutely never goes out of style.
Each generation rediscovers this film and immediately relates. His sensitivity,
his search for truth, his sympathy towards Sal Mineo and his love for Natalie
Wood as well as the need to be accepted and respected all ring true to the
kids of today's society.
The other films in this article could never have existed without the creation
and popularity of Rebel without a Cause. This is the quintessential teen film.
Although, it also speaks to the ever changing evolution from one generation
to another. A great original soundtrack, rich technicolor with realistic and dramatic performances. Supporting roles by Jim Backus [ the Voice of Mr Magoo ] and Dennis Hopper. Directed by Nicholas Ray and written by Stewart Stern based
on a story by Irving Schulman.
REPO MAN
Another small but interesting film about life in Los Angeles by director Alex
Another small but interesting film about life in Los Angeles by director Alex
the Sex Pistols Punk rock band that helped to start an entire revolution in
rock and roll music that still exists. Repo Man weaves between the new
music of the time and the different types of folks who inhabit Los Angeles.
The film is a satire on all types of people, much like the music of that time,
bands like Black Flag, The Circle Jerks, Iggy Pop, Suicidal Tendencies, The
Plugz and FEAR all made fun of society, so too does this film. With Emelio
Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton battling it out with for and among space
aliens, low riders, musicians and of course stealing back automobiles. Car
chases through the L.A. River, Low budget special effects and performances
by many real musicians such as band members of The Untouchables and
Circle Jerks make this a sort of time capsule of a time and a place. At the
time, this film was considered a cynical look at society, looking back at it
today, its almost innocent.
SWING KIDS
Music, politics and friendship collide into a whirlwind force among a group
Music, politics and friendship collide into a whirlwind force among a group
of friends in Germany during the take over of Europe. Inspired loosely on
actual events in the life of people such as Django Reinhardt. Another cast
of important actors including: Christian Bale, Frank Whaley, Robert Sean
Leonard and Barbara Hershey. Loyalty is the running theme in this music
filled portrait which starts out as a story of friendship but swiftly veers into
a political thriller of the historical variety. An outstanding sound track with
great performances by an ensemble cast. The film asks us how far will we
go to be a success in our own time and place ? Loyalty to friends, to our own
values, to our life may be more important than acceptance by the group,
especially when the group is a destructive, controlling and obvious plague
values, to our life may be more important than acceptance by the group,
especially when the group is a destructive, controlling and obvious plague
on a free society such as ours.
THE GRADUATE
A hilarious, sensitive and heartbreaking story of one young man's journey into
A hilarious, sensitive and heartbreaking story of one young man's journey into
on the map. A soundtrack that launched Simon & Garfunkle into music stardom.
As well as introducing the directing career of, up to that point, comedian Mike Nichols who with Elaine May, had a string of successful comedic albums based
on their night club act. With a screenplay co written by Buck Henry of Saturday Night live fame and career making appearances by Anne Bancroft, Norman Fell, Katherine Ross, William Daniels and Murray Hamilton uttering the now classic, phrase, " I have one word for you … PLASTICS." Which seems to personify the artificial world that Hoffman's character is thrust into. An entirely different kind
of comedy that broke the mold on controversy, humor and the sad realities that would lay ahead for an entire generation in search of truth, love and once again, breaking away from the values of those that have preceded us. A great film with
a surprise ending that still to this day, is embarrassing, exulting & entertaining. Somewhere between the sympathetic soundtrack, the innocent performances
and the heartfelt realities of life, a strange and original cinematic experience emerges. No film has ever matched this blend since. The graduate opened the
door to a slew of new films that became a sort of a new and different genre:
The Heartbreak Kid & Carnal Knowledge among them.
WEST SIDE STORY
The classic updated version of Romeo & Juliet told here in New York City,
between two rival gangs of kids from different ethnic backgrounds. This
film still holds up in every way, shape and form. Cinematography, costumes, dialogue, songs and of course the transformative choreography and music.
Leonard Bernstein developed this project for well over a decade and to this
day it is as fresh and relevant as any film about the youth of society today. Romance, violence, loyalty and the difficulty in crossing over from the folks
you were born with into the person you are in love with, are just a few of
the themes touch on here. The song lyrics are so entirely up to date, that it
is downright astounding how fresh and relevant this film is. Marijuana, Cops
and Detectives, Gangs, Social Workers, Fashion and most of all Love. This film becomes more and more impressive as time goes on. West Side Story contains performances by natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, Russ Tamblyn, David Winters,
George Chakiris, Tucker Smith and a cast of outstanding actors /dancers and
of course a soundtrack that makes it an utter and complete classic film that
will never go out of style.
[ Tap the titles below to visit links to these great classic youth films ]
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