Films I would Recommend in a Heartbeat (Part II)
I have been thinking for a while now how would some classic movies look like if they were made in Korea. Would they be relevant, would people connect with them and most importantly would they still be accurate today as they were in the past when they were made in other foreign countries?
So I decided to use my imagination and cast my own Breakfast Club. For those of you who don't know, BC is about 5 high school kids who meet in detention and discover that they have more in common than they have thought. They all represent a stereotype and the problems they have to face on a day to day basis. What I really love about it, is the fact the whole movie is made of conversations between those characters who at first seem one-dimensional but by the end, you realize how much depth each of them has. It really makes you empathize with them on a whole different level.
My criteria for casting:
- the actors have to be young, as they are high school students (I always found it annoying that in Korea they pick actors over 25 who are supposed to be students).
- I tried to look for people who would fit the character descriptions and interactions.
Yeo Jin Goo as John Bender - The Criminal
"Screws fall out all the time, the world is an imperfect place."—Bender
John Bender is an adolescent with an aggressive attitude. He is subject to domestic abuse by his father which makes him behave rebelliously towards the school system. He is a lone wolf type of guy, who spends his days partying, drinking alcohol and smoking. He makes himself look tough to hide any vulnerability, fighting with teachers and students without fear. John's intimidating personality most likely comes from his father, and John fears that he is becoming like his father. He takes life as a joke putting up with a façade of not caring about anyone - but in fact, he just wants a warm hug and a person to understand and help him.
Kwak Dong Yeon as Andrew Clark - The Athlete
"We're all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that's all."—Andrew
Andrew Clark is the sporty person in the group. He is a wrestler because his dad wants him to be one as he does not want his son to be a loser because he "doesn't tolerate those in his family". He is one of the most popular guys in school and appears to be the "Golden Boy" whom everyone wants to be friends with. But in reality, he is just an adolescent who feels numb. He doesn't know what he likes, what are his passions and feels constant pressure from his father and friends to be someone who isn't himself. He bullies the "losers" in school so that he would seem "cool" but feels disgusted with himself afterwards.
Kim Min Jae as Brian Johnson - The Brain
"Like, when I step outside myself kinda, and when I, when I look in at myself, you know? And I see me and I don't like what I see, I really don't."—Brian
Brian Johnson is a typical nerd. He is part of the school's math club and several other extracurricular academic activities. He is made fun of by John Bender for his superior intellect and his belongings, such as his lunch. He is ignored by the “popular” kids like the jocks in school. He doesn’t worry about how fancy his clothes are or about his appearance. He is pressured to succeed in school by his parents and is afraid to go against their wishes. In reality, he just wants to make friends and experience life as an adolescent.
Kim Yoo Jung as Claire Standish - The Princess
"I hate it. I hate having to go along with everything my friends say."—Claire
Claire is referred to as "a princess" whose parents use her to get back each other. She comes from a rich family, drives an expensive car and always wears the latest fashion trends. She is seen as a social butterfly -everyone loves her or wants to be her. But back at home, she has to face her mother who is a drunk and doesn't really have any kind of relationship with her father who is always away with work. She seems to only care about herself and constantly makes up lies so she would seem more interesting and liked by others.
Kim So Hyun as Allison Reynolds - The Basket Case
"When you grow up, your heart dies."—Allison
Allison Reynolds is the so-called 'basket case' of the group. Initially, she is quiet, only speaking in sudden outbursts. She admits to finding her family life unsatisfying as her parents ignore her, making her constantly bored and lonely, which is why she volunteered to go to Saturday detention. Her boredom and loneliness make her reclusive to the point of being almost completely silent. She doesn't have any friends and everyone at school considers her weird, so she became an outcast. But inside her she wants to be loved and appreciated which makes her seek attention by doing unexpected things: talking about her love experience, throwing her stuff on the ground so everyone can see them.
So this is it. I hope you guys enjoyed it, and if it's received well maybe I will make others! Please feel free to give your opinion on which other actors would fit the roles in the comments.
I will leave you with a special quote from the movie:
You see us as you want to see us—in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...and an athlete...and a basket case...a princess...and a criminal. Does that answer your question?
