Best Adolescent Angst Films - Page 2

No one mentioned Breaking Away?

I still watch Quaid's performance in that and there's a little monologue his character gives near the start of the film while they're sitting on the field above the IU Football stadium watching the team practice about how there is always going to be a new, hotshot QB and it's never going to be him...I always say to myself "....and that's why that motherfucker is still working today".

Quaid is one of those guys who always had natural ability but just never quite got there. Solid actor, some great performances but something was just always missing.

I know it was already mentioned, but Harold & Maude deserve another shout-out.  Also, River's Edge is pretty f*cked up.

Sure, they're arguably more comedy than drama, but ADVENTURELAND, BETTER OFF DEAD, SUPERBAD (and tangentially, LICENSE TO DRIVE), and 16 CANDLES are some of my faves.

MYSTERY TEAM had a surprisingly refreshing lack of teen angst in it (for the most part). And as much as I like NAPOLEON DYNAMITE (yeah, I know there are haters round these parts), it's not really a good example due to the fact that main character's not angsty per se (or is he?), but "vegetatively quirky", so nevermind.

ALMOST FAMOUS is certainly "coming of age", but the angst isn't a widespread theme and only comes about during moments.

Can't Hardly Wait - underappreciated little gem about navigating that time right as high school ends. Suddenly, that moment you've talked about is upon you and holy shit, it's terrifying (those moments, not the movie). Some great comic moments from Seth Green and Peter Facinelli, and the kid from Hook is in it! I was...I dunno? 16 or 17 when it came out and maaaan, that movie just got it.

What I liked about FREAKS AND GEEKS is it does a great job of balancing it all out. There are varying levels of angst amongst the groups, but showing other moments of joy, awkwardness, and many other pubescent emotions made it all so relatable for me.

And you want angst??? Angst didn't pass Scott Howard by. It landed on his face.

adventureland is a great movie,  the story is perfect and it really captures the highs and lows of young love amidst the absurdity of a shit job.

Every time I watch that film it reminds me that being young, free and having just enough money to buy beer, gas and weed is often as good as any life will ever get.