A Reel Opinion: THE BREAKFAST CLUB Criterion Edition

One of the more interesting debates to come out of the film world this week stems from the announcement from The Criterion Collection, which is set to release a new edition of John Hughes’ 1985 classic THE BREAKFAST CLUB. The release will be a new 4K digital restoration with a truck-load of special features, archival interviews, commentary, and over fifty minutes of never-before-seen deleted and extended scenes. The announcement has sparked some discussion about Criterion going with a popular, mainstream release, as opposed to their usual style of arthouse or rare and obscure films.

Criterion has been in the business of releasing “important classic and contemporary films” in new packaging with hard-to-find extras since 1984, and in recent years has earned a reputation for being the source to discover films that have flown under the radar of the average cinema person. They have also had a focus on international films, and using the best source materials, have been one of the leaders in restoring old movies to pristine condition. For some people, the inclusion of THE BREAKFAST CLUB into the Criterion clubhouse is like letting a guy in flip-flops into an exclusive black-coat-and-tie dinner.

In the past, Criterion has published major mainstream movies as a way to fund their future efforts to publish the obscure titles which require extensive restoration; Michael Bay’s action-flicks ARMAGEDDON (1998) and THE ROCK (1996) come to mind right away. They’ve also done the sci-fi cheesefest ROBOCOP (1987), and Kevin Smith’s goofy CHASING AMY (1997). Every one of these releases can be questioned if they deserve the Criterion treatment, but the company does need to keep the lights on…and if ARMAGEDDON pays for the restoration of high-end cinema, we’re the better for it.

This also comes down to the old question of what is art, and who gets to say if it is or not. Film-snobs seem to think they have the final say on what should get into the Criterion club, and by extension, decide if something is art or not. Maybe Criterion went with those mainstream releases because they see artistic merit and cultural impact in them, and not just dollar signs. The fact that the question can even be asked says there is something to at least be considered. The language of cinema was always meant to explore new territory, and to shut the door on any film without consideration is the opposite of what Criterion, and filmmaking stands for. And from a viewing point, this Blogger has always believed that films play out better for us when we don’t segregate them in our heads.

As for THE BREAKFAST CLUB, it is a film which not only defines the 1980’s, but to this day is the definitive film about life in high school. It may be over 30 years old, but it seems timeless outside of the pop-music selections, and a kid born after 2001 can easy relate to the characters and story. It’s a film that has proven its worth over time, and as this Blogger has always believed: longevity is the true test of any film. And that is the type of product Criterion should always be stamping their name on.

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THE BREAKFAST CLUB Criterion edition will be released January 2^nd.