Heckerling High: 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' (1982), 'Clueless' (1995), and 'Loser' (2000)

Emilio, Madeline, and Julian finish off their cycle on High School Movies with a "Close-Up" on the great director Amy Heckerling, and a selection of her school-based films. The trio kick it off with 1982's "Fast Times at Ridgemont High," Heckerling's directorial debut and an unforgettable ensemble comedy/drama with a Cameron Crowe-penned script and career-defining performances from many of its stars. To follow, they then take a look at 1995's "Clueless," Heckerling's mid-90s, Beverly Hills-set adaptation of Jane Austen's "Emma," and a trendsetting masterpiece influential to many later movies set in high school and beyond. And to finish off, the trio shed some light on 2000's "Loser," a college film to punctuate the episode cycle, and one that may have done better critically and at the box office had Amy Heckerling been allowed more autonomy in its production. If you enjoy our podcast, please consider writing us a positive review on your podcast platform of choice. It really helps us find new listeners! Send us an email at sleeplesscinematicpod@gmail.com, and follow us on IG and TikTok @sleeplesscinematicpod On Letterboxd? Follow Julian @julian_barthold and Madeline @patronessofcats