FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH
Release Year: 1982

A funny, heartfelt, observant, wise-before-its-time script by Cameron Crowe and crisp, thoughtful direction by Amy Hecklering make Fast Times at Ridgemont High the best teen film of the eighties. Period.

Cameron Crowe was 22, but still looked like a teenager when came up with the idea to pose undercover as a high school student and write about his experiences. He had been writing for Rolling Stone magazine as a freelancer for a few years, but now wanted to tackle a book. After Simon & Schuster bit at the idea and awarded him a contract, Crowe moved back in with his parents and enrolled at Clairemont High School in San Diego as Dave Cameron.

The novel Fast Times at Ridgemont High: A True Story came out in 1981, but was optioned for a film even before publication. Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the film, was released in 1982, featured no big-name stars, and lacked the backing of its studio. Nevertheless, it became a hit in late summer just due to word of mouth of teenagers that snuck into theatres to see it.

 Fast Times at Ridgemont High launched the careers of some of the previously unknown actors, including Jennifer Jason Leigh, Eric Stoltz, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, and Anthony Edwards. Additionally, its cast boosted three future Oscar-winners: Nicolas Cage (using his birth name, Nicolas Coppola), Forest Whitaker, and Sean Penn (a two-time winner). Crowe himself would go on to be nominated for writing Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous and winner for the latter.

Fast Times is really the story of two freshmen, Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and Mark Ratner (Brian Backer) and their struggles to get together, as several obstacles (namely, their friends) get in the way. Stacey’s older friend Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates) is sexually experienced and dates college guys, and Rat’s older friend, Damone (Robert Romanus), is a know-it-all wise guy ticket scalper who nearly ruins several lives and their friendship. The film’s subplots involve Stacey’s brother, Brad, “the fast food king,” Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn), the almost always blazin’ surfer, and of course, Mr. Hand (Ray Walston), the history teacher whose time will NOT be wasted. Plus, "Somebody's baby" by Jackson Browne

A little more than a decade later, Amy Hecklering would direct (and write) another teen classic, 1995’s Clueless.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. - Psalm 37:23