In the 1980's, Molly Ringwald reigned supreme as the "Teen Queen" of the era after starring in some of the most beloved young adult films of all time. With director John Hughes, she carved the role for herself with leading roles in Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, and The Breakfast Club, but now she's ready to pass the crown on to a teen star of the present day.
In a recent interview with CNN, Ringwald said she had recently watched a movie which she felt captured the late Hughes's spirit perfectly:
"[The John Hughes movies] were really unique and really fun and he basically got that whole teen 'thing' in a way that nobody has gotten since, except for a movie that I really love that I think is the inheritance of John Hughes. To my mind, I think 'Eighth Grade' completely gets it. Elsie Fisher's performance is incredible. I think what it really shares with the John Hughes films is the fact that it's really funny and yet it's really moving."
Fisher has received numerous accolades for her realistic performance in Bo Burnham's directorial debut, including a Critic's Choice Award. According to Ringwald, the hype is well-deserved:
"I watched part of it with my husband and he was like, 'I don't know if I can watch this.' It was so emotional because it's a father and his daughter and we had just gone through that. My daughter is now in ninth grade, so we've kind of gone through that year. I really do think it's so perfect to make a movie about eighth grade because it's really the pinnacle. It's like the worst year possible. I really think that if you can get through eighth grade you can get through almost anything."
Twitter couldn't agree more:
With teen roles far behind her, Ringwald is now starring in All These Small Moments, written and directed by Melissa Miller Costanzo.
ALL THESE SMALL MOMENTS Trailer (2019) Drama Movieyoutu.be
Ringwald was drawn to the film by its complex protagonist:
"What really moved me about this particular woman is she was just so real. She's so flawed. She's so sharp. She's in crisis. I look at her and if she can get out of bed that day and put on mascara and put her hair back, then it's a victory."
The internet hardly needed convincing to see more Ringwald!
Ringwald recently wrote in The New Yorker about her time as an 80's star and how certain onscreen moments no longer hold up in the #MeToo era. However, speaking with CNN, she wanted to make it clear she wasn't trying to tarnish John Hughes' legacy:
"I feel like I had a real connection to all of those characters in those John Hughes movies. [I've had some] really amazing feedback from people I really respect. I think for the most part people understood it was a nuanced conversation. It was also something that was difficult for me to write. I didn't want it to be misinterpreted and look like in any way I was turning my back on John Hughes or those movies because I still think they have tremendous value."
All These Small Moments is in theaters now, as well as on demand wherever you can stream movies!
