Some Kind of Wonderful
Originally published on social media on August 24th, 2022
I’ve procrastinated writing this review for a long time, not because I didn’t want to share this film, but because of writers block. Well, I think I found my words.
Is it incredibly cheesy to say that “Some Kind of Wonderful” has something kind of wonderful about it? Yes, but it’s accurate. This film has its own distinct tone that differentiates it from any other film I’ve seen. The color scheme and lighting are unique, especially in comparison to other John Hughes films. The best way I can describe the lighting is realistic and accurate to real life, but not low quality like a home video. I say all of that, and yet also believe this is John Hughes’ most artistic film. If I could pinpoint the reason for this, it would be director Howard Deutch. He truly captured the tone that Hughes alluded to in his script because he felt it. With that, did you know that Howard Deutch and Lea Thompson met and fell in love on this film? You can see it in the way he has the camera capture her beauty, and how he highlights the emotional turmoil in all the characters. The set design, especially during the date scenes, allude to the emotional state of the characters in a beautiful way.
Another element that significantly contributes to this artistry is the soundtrack. Never have I ever seen a soundtrack fit a film better than this one. My favorite songs are “She Loves Me”, “Cry Like This”, and “Miss Amanda Jones”. Although I must say, I LOVE the classical score. However, it breaks my heart that the score is not included on the soundtrack anywhere. You can only listen to it on lower quality youtube videos and this one person’s random website. Therefore, you must watch this film or at least the last half if for no other reason than to listen to the score. It’s so emotional and captures the feelings of love and the sadness that can come with unrequited love. It’s magic.
Earlier I mentioned the realistic quality of this film, and its not just in the lighting. The story itself is realistic. John Hughes is famous for capturing the essence of real 80’s teenage angst, and this is his magnum opus.