#1075: HECKERLING, Amy: Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)

HECKERLING, Amy (United States)
Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982)
Spine #1075
Blu-ray


The wild world of adolescence has rarely been captured with as sharp an observational eye as in this refreshingly smart, frank spin on the teen comedy by director Amy Heckerling and screenwriter Cameron Crowe -- for each of whom it kicked off a hugely successful film career. Based on Crowe's experiences going undercover at a Southern California high school, Fast Times at Ridgemont High blends hormone-fueled hilarity with an almost sociological examination of the 1980s teen experience: the shopping-mall hangouts, fast-food jobs, buzzkill teachers, awkward dates, and first experiences of love and sex. This pop-culture touchstone launched to stardom practically an entire cast of unknowns -- including Jennifer Jason Leigh, Phoebe Cates, Judge Reinhold, Forest Whitaker, Anthony Edwards, Eric Stoltz, and Sean Penn as stoner icon Jeff Spicoli -- and broke new ground in its raw yet sensitive depiction of the realities of coming of age.

89 minutes
Color
5.1 surround
1:85:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2021
Director/Writers


Screenplay by Cameron Crowe, based on his book.
Amy Heckerling was 28 when she directed Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

The Film

A

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Twenty-four page booklet featuring an introduction by Crowe and an essay by film critic Dana Stevens.

Commentary

From 1999 featuring Heckerling and screenwriter Crowe.

Television version

Of the film from the eighties, featuring deleted and alternate scenes.

Conversation

With Heckerling and Crowe, moderated by filmmaker Olivia Wilde.

Reliving our “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”

A 1999 documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew.

Audio discussion

From 1982 with Hecklerling at the American Film Institute.

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

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