John Hughes tribute

John Hughes: director, writer, producer, was a extremely talented artist and I was saddened to hear of his untimely death in August 2009. This is my own tribute to him. It's not since his death that I have come to fully appreciate just how gifted this man was. This creative output during the 1980's and early 1990's is very impressive, including classics such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Home Alone, the later being the most commerically successful film which he wrote and produced. But his 1980's teen comedies should not be overlooked. The two which I have seen, The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, are both superb. He wrote the script for both films and he seems to be able to powerfully articulate the thoughts and feelings of teenagers: the angst, uncertainty, search for identity, strained relationships with parents and authority figures. Although set in the 1980's the themes are universal and can speak to young people from any generation. The Breakfast Club delves more deeply into these issues, although it has comic moments. Ferris Bueller in general is more lightheatred and fun but has a few poignant and powerful scenes which hit home. The Breakfast Club made me think about my own high school years. In case you don't know The Breakfast Club is about five teenagers who have to spend Saturday morning and some of the afternoon (maybe it should have been called The Brunch Club) together in detention at their high school. The five teenagers fall into different high school social niches: the jock/athelete, the princess, the basketcase, the criminal and the brain. It made me think about what group I belonged to in high school. On reflection I think I was a bit of all five: I was very good at sports but definitely not a jock, people seemed to like me but I was not part of the popular crowd nor did I have many real friends, I was different from most others in my tastes and behaviour but not quite an oddball, I got into some fights and clashes with authority but I was not a menace to society or bad person (although Jackie would disagree), and I did study hard and achieve some good academic results but I was not labelled a brainbox. I guess it is a homage to John Hughes that his films make you think about these things. His last film as a director was Curly Sue, which I've never seen, and apart from writing scripts for one or two films he moved to Illinois and lived as a farmer until his death. John Hughes died of a heart attack in Mahattan, New York while visiting family. Even though he kept a low profile and rarely gave interviews he will be sorely missed. One of my new years resolutions was to marry Rachel McAdams. The other was to watch more John Hughes films and it is something I look forward to greatly. John Hughes 1950 - 2009. Rest in peace.