The Chocolate War

In my book there are about five political films (as of this writing) that I revere as the best that I've ever seen (and though some may argue with my choice, don't forget that I have not seen every political film ever made). One of those five is Kieth Gordon's, The Chocolate War.

Actually, I found myself watching this film when searching out titles starring Ilan Mitchell Smith who portrays Wyatt Donnelly in Weird Science. And, I walked away being a new fan of Keith Gordon-directed films. (For those of you who don't recognize the name, Keith played the lead in John Carpenter's Christine). His talents as a director far exceed his acting abilities. And, for those of you who have enjoyed the Chocolate War, I recommend watching Gordon's film from the early '90s drama, A Midnight Clear, another adaptation.

I never got through the Chocolate War on the first try. It was a little too gloomy for my liking. But after a full viewing on the second try, I came to love this film. It's based on the fantastic Robert Cormier novel of the same title, which was once censored reading for some public schools. It is a nearly word-for-word adaptation, but has a different ending.

Mitchell-Smith portrays Jerry Renault, a student at a private all boy's school. The acting headmaster, played the very excellent John Glover, decides that because the school is running out of money, they will hold a chocolate sale to boost the revenues. Renault doesn't want to participate, for his own reasons. But, he's the only one. And before Renault's influence can spread to the rest of the boys and cost the school their needed profits, the headmaster employs the services of a vindictive and influential secret society at the school known as The Vigils, headed by Archie (Wally Ward). Thus, the test comes down to this: in the face of intimidation, who will break?

Filmed on what looked like the dreariest days in Washington state, this is a very gloomy movie, but nonetheless presents a powerful psychological study of what people will do under pressure when alone or when in groups. I thought everyone in the movie did a fantastic job (and surprise--nearly everyone--except for maybe Adam Baldwin--looked like they were actually high schoolers). Like other commentors have posted, it is not your usual feel good eighties fun fest.

Gordon changes the ending, but does not make it a happy-ending. Instead, the vicious cycle of inhumane power-wielding structures continue to exist, but in hero-less manner different than imagined by Cormier (as it had to be, since Cormier developed a sequel to the book). It is one of the most intelligent political films and well worth watching.

Sure this film doesn't compare to the classic Cormier book but, as it is, it's not a bad film about the abuse of power and the evils of conformity. I think the reason why the producers chose to change the ending is because, face it, the book made everything so hideously, slash-your-wrists-depressing (like all of Cormier's other books) that I don't think anyone would want to see it!

Despite the changed ending, director/adapter Keith Gordon manages to make the message clear. While this is a low-budget film with obvious limitations (the school looks like it has a total of 100 students at best), Gordon never lets the film drag and he got good performances from the actors (particularly from John Glover who steals the show as the evil headmaster and Bud "Harold and Maude" Cort in a great cameo as one of the priests). The "80's soundtrack" is impressive, with excellent cuts from Peter Gabriel, Yaz, Kate Bush and more. My rating: 7/10.

This comically dark but heartfelt adaptation of the novel of rebellion is like Dead Poets Society without the "poor me" ending. The soundtrack (Peter Gabriel/ Yaz/ Kate Bush) eclipses any John Hughes movie collection and lifts some scenes that are a little rough around the edges, budgetarily-speaking (this was a real, pre-Sundance indie film). Keith Gordon's debut feature is an ode to the pain of puberty, fitting in, finding a sense of self, and all those other things that twisted your stomach in a knot in high school. Low budget with big emotions and some brutally funny, painful, and original

This film was not along the same lines as the ordinary (David conquers Goliath) high school film of the 80's. And for that respect was probably appreciated by anyone who had experiences of being bullied when they were growing up. Though it has been said that the film was not as good as the actual book, I think the adaption made its point and the lesson was learned. Many of the young people in this world who are fornunate enough to see it, even if by accident, will understand that they are not alone. There are others who are having an even harder time as they grow up, and that "their own life" isn't so bad after all !!!

Ilan Mitchell-Smith does not agree to sell chocolate for his parochial school. Because this is something that is absolutely voluntary, the wrath of the teachers and the upper-class gang called the Vigilants descend on him.

There is something in every teen movie that strikes me as depressive; probably because most of the conflicts seem trivial in retrospect but earth-shaking at the moment. Add in the lack of girls at this school, and the mendacious way that teacher John Glover has of maintaining control, and you have something that smacks of Purgatory, with only graduation, transfer, or death offered as ways out.

The performances are good, even though most of the students seem to be in their 20s.