• A different kind of coming of age film—you keep thinking it’s going to turn around and have the mood shift up, or even turn into a star-crossed lovers teen love story with the girl at the bus stop but it doesn’t – this is dark, surreal in spots—ritualistic hazing and organizational abuse—blackboards and bleachers
  • Feels like a retelling of Cool Hand Luke– anti-establishment— Altman—I’m sure the Bud Cort casting is in line with that
  • A nice take on the Spike Lee double-dolly shot with moving down the hall towards the end
  • Some great Peter Gabriel here- “I have the touch”- and then the film uses that beat a few other times throughout to great effect
  • They would never be this great again but John Glover (menacing brother Leon), Wallace Langham (evil incarnate) would be great here – Adam Baldwin is imposing as well- year before he’s in Full Metal Jacket
  • Recommend- not in top 10 of 1988