Thursday Movie Picks: The New Kid at School

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This week's theme at Wandering Through the Shelves is about the new kids at school. I never had to be that kid. Sure, I started schools for the first time, but never alone. I never had to move to a new city or attend a new school right in the middle of everything. These kids had to in some capacity

 1) Morris from America
Morris is an American living in Germany where his father takes a job. He dreams of being a rapper but has trouble fitting in. I really loved this movie and seeing a different side of Craig Robinson. 

 2) The Perks of Being a Wallflower

 So Charlie doesn't technically qualify as being a new kid, seeing as he did know some of his classmates, but I couldn't resist using him. Without his best friend, and a sister that ignores him, he was truly alone until Patrick and Sam took him in. 

3) Au Revoir les Enfants 

 Unlike Morris and Charlie who just have trouble fitting in, Jean is a new kid at a French boarding school because he's hiding from Nazis. This is one of my favorite films to come from the Blind Spot series. It's also up there with one of my favorite French films of all time. 

Comments

  1. joel65913September 6, 2018 at 8:51 AM

    I haven't seen the first and wasn't that wild about the second, though it had its moments.

    Hey we match!! And on a great film too. Au Revoir les Enfants is so beautifully put together and profoundly moving .

    This wasn't as easy as I expected since a couple of the films I had planned to use I couldn't get my hands on to see so it made me root around a bit more but I'm happy with what I ended up with.

    Lord Love a Duck (1966)-Pretty, pert and madly ambitious Barbara Ann Greene (Tuesday Weld) is the new girl at Consolidated High (overseen by Principal Harvey Korman) who befriends outsider prodigy Alan "Mollymauk" Musgrave (Roddy McDowell) who is dazzled by her and sets out to make all her dreams come true. That begins innocuously with her admission to an exclusive girls club within the school but rapidly escalates to far more formidable plans calling for drastic measures which her eager acolyte gleefully pursues. The blackest of black comedies with a cast including Ruth Gordon and an excellent Lola Albright as Barbara Ann’s cocktail waitress mother this study in absurdity’s skewed viewpoint isn’t for everyone.

    My Bodyguard (1980)-New kid in school Clifford Peache (Chris Makepeace) a shy, quiet teen becomes the target of bully Melvin Moody (Matt Dillon). Nearing the end of his rope Clifford approaches fellow student, gentle giant Ricky Linderman (Adam Baldwin) to be his bodyguard. Though initially reluctant Ricky agrees and while offering protection the two disparate boys form a friendship until circumstances put a strain on their bond. Compassionate film with a great message and wonderful naturalistic performances.

    Au Revoir les Enfants (1987)-When three new students, including Jean Bonnett (Raphael Fejto), arrive at his French boarding school during WWII Julien (Gaspard Manesse) doesn’t take much notice of them thinking they are no different from the other boys. What Julien doesn't know is that they are Jews passing as Gentiles trying to evade capture by the Nazis. While headmaster Père Jean (Philippe Morier-Genoud), works to protect the boys from the Holocaust the at first antagonistic Julien and Jean develop a tight bond. Louis Malle’s deeply moving film captures the idiosyncrasies of boyhood, structured education and the fear of a creeping menace.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 6, 2018 at 1:23 PM

      I'm glad we match! That rarely happens. It's such a good film. I haven't seen the first two of yours though.

      Delete
    2. Ted S. (Just a Cineast)September 6, 2018 at 6:04 PM

      So multiple other people picked Au revoir les enfants.

      Delete
    3. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 7, 2018 at 8:00 AM

      I'm glad! It's a good film.

      Delete
  2. Courtney YoungSeptember 6, 2018 at 11:41 AM

    I remember watching the trailer for Morris, but I never saw it!! I don't think it got a theatrical release...at least not by me :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 6, 2018 at 1:22 PM

      It must have been really limited. I watched it on DVD as well after the Spirit Nominations were announced.

      Delete
  3. thevoid99September 6, 2018 at 4:53 PM

    Ah, Au Revoir Les Enfants. Why didn't I think of that? I love that film as I never thought of it as the new kid in school kind of pick. I still haven't seen Morris from America but I have heard amazing things about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 7, 2018 at 8:00 AM

      Morris is great. I especially love Craig Robinson in it.

      Delete
  4. SeanSeptember 6, 2018 at 9:28 PM

    I haven't seen Morris from America or Au Revoir les Enfants but it sounds like I should!

    ReplyDelete
  5. BirgitSeptember 7, 2018 at 8:21 PM

    You are the second person who picked your first film which I would like to see. I don’t know the second film but your 3rd is one that has been on my wish list for ...forever.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 8, 2018 at 7:29 AM

      Morris From America is a great film, I highly recommend. (Really, I highly recommend all three of these)

      Delete
  6. DellSeptember 7, 2018 at 10:00 PM

    Yay, another pick for Morris From America. I didn't pick it, but it is a wonderful little movie that I happened to stumble across one night. Glad I took a chance and watched it.

    The Perks of Being a Wallflower is fantastic. Nuff said.

    Au Revoir les Enfants is popular today. I guess I need to watch it.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Chris WiddopSeptember 9, 2018 at 3:55 PM

    Never heard of Morris from America. That sounds interesting. Loved Perks of Being a Wallflower though. Nice pick there, Brittani.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 9, 2018 at 8:42 PM

      Thanks! You should check out Morris. Great little film.

      Delete

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