Best Movie Ever: Ferris Bueller's Day Off
The antic, ground-breaking and genuinely touching John Hughes masterpiece makes its way to Blu-ray this week. And we declare it is the best movie ever
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By Jordan Hoffman August 2, 2011 |
A Righteous Dude |
You don't get adored by the sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies and dickheads for no reason. It only happens if you are a helpful guy (luckily, appearing in WarGames was all the training needed to become the school's best computer hacker, getting kids out of sumer school and whatnot) and a fun guy.
Bueller's recital of "The Blue Danube Waltz" in hacking coughs probably sold as many synthesizers as A-ha.
Do You Have A Kiss For Daddy? |
This little deception, followed by Rooney's "So that's how it is in their family," is probably the most widely accepted joke about incest in American cinema.
Beat City |
Ferris Bueller's Day Off isn't just wacky antics, it is a celebration of freedom.
With his girlfriend, best pal and nine zillion dollar car our hero zooms off into destiny in the big city.
I get a rush every time Cameron's head pops up from the back seat, Ferris tosses his cool chapeau, the camera cranes up and The Flowerpot Men go into their jangle-y Devo-esque one-hit wonder.
Insert Orson Welles' Third Man "Cuckoo Clock" Speech Here |
A wonderful element not just in Ferris Bueller's Day Off but in many of John Hughes' films is an air of melancholy.
These are teens, after all, and no one is better at being depressed than they. This moment atop of the Sears Roebuck Tower, then later at the floor of the COMEX and again at the Art Institute, there are artful glimpses of sadness and frustration.
Where better than 100+ stories high than to see a vague reflection of yourself?
Depeche Mode |
You could spend a lifetime reading up on John Hughes' influence on fashion, but let's take a moment to reflect on just how COOL these wacky kids look.
Add to this the jump-cutting and fourth-wall breaks and you could argue that Ferris Bueller's Day Off is the most mainstream French New Wave movie ever made.
