So if you grew up in the eighties,you probably remember a novel by the name of "The Chocolate War" that was like (at least in my schools) one of the most popular novels for teens at that time. I never read it (which wont shock my wife,she thinks the extent to my reading is magazines anyways). I had always meant to read it back then but my busy social life kept me from doing so (if my wife reads that...shes probably yelling BULLSHIT!!). I had heard it was a really good read,never knew that there was an actual film based on it.
Well,I was going through the movie channels last night,and came across this on The Movie Channel (love that channel). Its a 1988 flick,and its actually very well done. Plus its the only other movie I've ever seen that has Wyatt from "Weird Science" in it.Seriously....I know Anthony Micheal Hall kinda disappeared for awhile,and Robert Downey Jr,was busy as hell getting fucked up.But what the hell happened to this dude??*
If you were to take the feeling of "Dead Poets Society" and throw in the teen angst of an 80's John Hughes film minus the really funny comedy,and add a really good soundtrack with Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush among the artist...you get "The Chocolate War"
Its the first movie directed by Keith Gordon,who was the quintessential dorky dude/son in most of the early 80's films,including,"Dress to Kill,"Christine,and so on....he was in a lot of shit....I'm surprised he actually hasn't done more theatrical films after watching this (it appears he has settled into directing tv,which is cool),but I was really impressed with his direction in this film.
The story concerns a catholic high school with a domineering Father running things with an iron fist played by that perennial 80's asshole John "I Should Have Had Hart Bochners Asshole Role In Die Hard" Glover....this dude was great at playing a prick in EVERY movie.He does so again in this one. Anyways the school is terrorized by the secret student group called the Vigils. This group is led by the dude that plays the science dork in CSI (the original,not one of the 30 spin offs) and Adam Baldwin (who has been in everything,and by the way was like 27 years old when he made this...the dude was the bodyguard in frickin "My Bodyguard" back in 1980). Oh the lil fucker who was Percy in "The Green Mile" is also a Vigil,and he isn't as much as a creep/asshole as usual....
Anyways Glover is running his annual chocolate sale,in which each student is to sell 50 boxes of chocolates. This is evidently a big frickin deal. The Vigils have each underclassmen have to do some assignment/prank when called upon.Dork ass CSI guy assigns Wyatt from "Weird Science" to not sell chocolates for 10 days.This causes a lot of problems with Herr Glover,until he finds out its a prank and that after the 10th day Wyatt from "Weird Science" is supposed to accept selling chocolates.Well after the 10th day,Wyatt still refuses.And Herr Glover pressures the Vigils to try to pressure Wyatt from "Weird Science" to sell those fucking chocolates.
This is a very good movie,and too be honest,doesn't feel dated at all.The soundtrack is great,and the film feels like the independent type flicks that are made nowadays that get raves and usually star Zoey "Don't Be A Mopey Gus" Deschannel and/or the kid from "Third Rock"....Its a very good film....its narrative is not always straight forward,but its a very well done movie.Glad I caught it last night.If you get a chance,check it out.
* Come to find out Wyatt....uhm I mean Ilan Mitchell Smith quit acting in 1991 and is now a History professor at Texas A and M. Nice job dude!!!
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