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Coming of Age Movies

post #1 of 39
1/25/09 at 6:58pm
Thread Starter 
After seeing Slumdog Millionaire, I thought it would be interesting to talk about the whole "Coming of Age" brand of comedies and dramas. You know the type. It's the kind that's usually set 2 or 3 decades previous to the year it was released. Usually involves kids or teenagers. Almost always involves first love but sometimes it could be some tragic event that makes the protagonist grow up in a short time. The most interesting wrinkle (and what's making me feel fucking old) is that the coming of age movies of today are being set in the 80's or even the 90's. Some of my favorites......

Cinema Paradiso
Stand by Me
A Christmas Story (although I don't know if this qualifies or not)
American Graffiti
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post #2 of 39
1/25/09 at 7:06pm
The Wackness along with Y tu Mama Tambien are two of the best coming of age movies I've seen.
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post #3 of 39
1/25/09 at 7:20pm
I always enjoyed SUMMER OF '42. Lucky kid got to fuck a war widow.
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post #4 of 39
1/25/09 at 7:27pm
MY GIRL 2:

Austin O'Brien gives a steamier, more sexually aware performance than Macauly Culkin does in the original MY GIRL.
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post #5 of 39
1/25/09 at 10:31pm
RUSHMORE and PERSEPOLIS are two good bildungsromans that immediately come to mind. But usually it's a genre I care little for.
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post #6 of 39
1/26/09 at 4:27pm
Would either Rebel Without A Cause or East of Eden fit in this category? Both movies seem to take James Dean's character into a place of rising from youth to adulthood.

"Rebel" moreso, perhaps.
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post #7 of 39
1/26/09 at 4:48pm
Does LITTLE DARLINGS count? (I like my 'coming of age' films with a bit of an edge )
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post #8 of 39
1/26/09 at 5:35pm
Maybe a little arrested-development-delayed coming of age, but The APATOW-verse, The John Cusack comedy resume, and THE MUPPET MOVIE.

If my examples are too old, then...
Quote:
Originally Posted by dynamotv View Post
Cinema Paradiso
Stand by Me
A Christmas Story (although I don't know if this qualifies or not)
I'd like to add MILLIONS and SON OF RAMBOW.
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post #9 of 39
1/26/09 at 5:39pm
'Say Anything'. The relationships in this movie resonated with me. Finding out that your Dad is fallible is a big deal.
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post #10 of 39
1/26/09 at 6:22pm
Dazed and Confused.

Also, Say Anything is a great pick.
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post #11 of 39
1/26/09 at 6:38pm
Thread Starter 
One movie I've been thinking of checking out but was turned off by the marketing at the time is "One Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon" with River Phoenix in the title role. I hear it's a great underrated gem. Can anyone confirm?

I use coming of age pretty loosely but it's one of those you know it when you see it kind of things. In that list, I'd include The Breakfast Club and 16 Candles. Heck, even Porky's would fit in my opinion.
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post #12 of 39
1/26/09 at 6:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jona View Post
Dazed and Confused.

Also, Say Anything is a great pick.
Dazed and Confused is a great pick. It's been way too long since I've seen that one.
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post #13 of 39
1/26/09 at 6:44pm
A favorite of mine that not too many other people seem to have seen, Last Summer.
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post #14 of 39
1/26/09 at 6:51pm
Left-field choice: The Jungle Book
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post #15 of 39
1/27/09 at 12:18am
Ginger Snaps
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post #16 of 39
1/27/09 at 12:25am
I'm assuming you're counting Brigitte as the one who comes of age? Maybe she doesn't have the literal, physical changes that Ginger does, but the end is definitely about Brigitte giving up on all their bullshit. And it's part of why I love the movie.
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post #17 of 39
1/27/09 at 12:39am
Smooth Talk with Laura Dern.
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post #18 of 39
1/27/09 at 12:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainZahn View Post
A favorite of mine that not too many other people seem to have seen, Last Summer.
I ordered this off of Amazon on your recommendation in another thread. Looking forward to checking it out.
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post #19 of 39
1/27/09 at 3:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainZahn View Post
Smooth Talk with Laura Dern.
Good call. Such a quiet and unnerving movie.
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post #20 of 39
1/27/09 at 3:38am
Vision Quest with Matthew Modine as the coming-of-ager.
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post #21 of 39
1/27/09 at 7:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dynamotv View Post
One movie I've been thinking of checking out but was turned off by the marketing at the time is "One Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon" with River Phoenix in the title role. I hear it's a great underrated gem. Can anyone confirm?
I can, and have no idea why CBS/Fox thought it would be a good idea to promote a '60s period film with '80s Tiger Beat artwork. It's a sharp, profane, angry little movie, loaded with terrific actors known and unknown (Louanne, anyone?). Reportedly, the director's cut, entitled Aren't You Even Gonna Kiss Me Goodbye? surfaces from time to time.

I have a soft spot for The River Rat, which is basically a modern-day distaff Huckleberry Finn starring Martha Plimpton in her debut. Tommy Lee Jones is her ex-con dad and Brian Dennehy a nasty parole officer. It's quietly mythic.
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post #22 of 39
1/27/09 at 9:14am
I'd go along with many of the above choices, especially those involving John Cusack.

I've been looking forward to Adventureland since the trailer hit. Devin's recent comments are very encouraging.
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post #23 of 39
1/27/09 at 10:58am
Does anybody else on this board find himself competely unable to relate to coming-of-age movies?
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post #24 of 39
1/27/09 at 1:36pm
Robin Williams Triple Feature of:

WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP
DEAD POETS SOCIETY
GOOD WILL HUNTING

And with his variable-quality manchild series (MORK & MINDY, JACK, JUMANJI, HOOK, TOYS) pressing its nose against the window.
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post #25 of 39
1/27/09 at 1:43pm
Persepolis and Son of Rambow are two excellent coming of age movies that I saw recently. And although Son of Rambow should be more up my alley, it's Persepolis that left the biggest impression on me. Funny, sweet, ironic and at times impossibly sad. I can't recommend it enough.

Thinking further back I'd say Empire Of The Sun and Stand By me stand out on first thought.
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post #26 of 39
1/27/09 at 1:45pm
I think Speed Racer is a good example.
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post #27 of 39
1/27/09 at 2:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quarant View Post
Does anybody else on this board find himself competely unable to relate to coming-of-age movies?
Me. I enjoy most of the films mentioned on here, but relate to them? Not at all.
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post #28 of 39
1/27/09 at 2:18pm
I am taking a modern literature class focused on the bildungsroman, and we have, in addition to reading Catcher in the Rye, watched Rebel Without a Cause and Splendor in the Grass.
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post #29 of 39
1/27/09 at 3:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Quarant View Post
Does anybody else on this board find himself competely unable to relate to coming-of-age movies?
I'm with you. I enjoy those kinds of movies but wouldn't say I relate to them. After all, a good 90% take place in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. I guess we have to wait until the films that take place in the 80's and 90's take hold for relatability.
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post #30 of 39
1/27/09 at 3:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dynamotv View Post
I'm with you. I enjoy those kinds of movies but wouldn't say I relate to them. After all, a good 90% take place in the 50's, 60's, and 70's. I guess we have to wait until the films that take place in the 80's and 90's take hold for relatability.
That was 'Say Anything' for me, but I hear where you're coming from.
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post #31 of 39
1/28/09 at 3:41am
The Man in the Moon with Reese Witherspoon in her film debut.
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post #32 of 39
1/28/09 at 8:14am
Eraserhead.
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post #33 of 39
1/28/09 at 11:31am
It's not a movie, but I just finished the first season of Dexter, and it definitely fits the bill here. Also, I can't believe no one has brought up Shaun of the Dead yet.
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post #34 of 39
1/28/09 at 12:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AeglosIstarion View Post
It's not a movie, but I just finished the first season of Dexter, and it definitely fits the bill here. Also, I can't believe no one has brought up Shaun of the Dead yet.
Well, I did link to a whole nother thread, where it's mentioned a few times:
Quote:
Originally Posted by DARKMITE8 View Post
Maybe a little arrested-development-delayed coming of age, but ...
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post #35 of 39
1/28/09 at 12:45pm
And like that, my confidence in this fine community is restored ;-)
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post #36 of 39
1/28/09 at 1:14pm
Malena?
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post #37 of 39
1/28/09 at 11:27pm
Mischief -- best known for showing Kelly Preston boobs and bush
Joshua Then and Now
The Virgin Suicides
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post #38 of 39
1/28/09 at 11:42pm
American Pie
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post #39 of 39
1/28/09 at 11:47pm
This Boy's Life
What's Eating Gilbert Grape
My Life as a Dog
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