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Mumsnet webchats

Webchat with Hadley Freeman, Tuesday 26th May, 9-10pm

94 replies

SandyMumsnet · 21/05/2015 17:07

We're delighted to announce that Guardian columnist and author Hadley Freeman is joining us for a webchat this Tuesday 26th May from 9-10pm.

Hadley will be chatting about her new book, Life Moves Pretty Fast, a love letter to the American films of the 1980s. In the book, Hadley discusses how the 80s flicks once seen as “junk” - Dirty Dancing, Ferris Bueller, When Harry Met Sally – were a formative influence on her ideas and way of thinking, and explores the life lessons that can be learned from them.
Join us on Tuesday evening at for the webchat, or post your early-bird question now!

Once you've marked the date in your diary or posted your question on the thread take a look at Mumsnet Films. You'll find threads on all the best of the 80s movies so you can jog your memory, or feel free to start one of your own.

Webchat with Hadley Freeman, Tuesday 26th May, 9-10pm
OP posts:
cornflakegirl · 22/05/2015 21:10

Hadley, I love your writing and read your columns every week. Despite being the same age, I feel that my film education was woefully lacking in comparison with yours. However, I am attempting to remedy this, and have just bought Steel Magnolias because of your column.

Please keep writing forever!

LaundryFairy · 22/05/2015 21:16

Hi Hadley - I love your writing in the Guardian and I 'm looking forward to reading your book.

I was a teenager in the 80s and very influenced by the music from 80s films. I'd like to know how important you think those soundtracks were to the success of the films and what legacy have they given the film and music industries.

P.S. - whenever I here a present-day song that John Hughes might haved used (like Echosmith's 'Cool Kids') I wish that he was still around and making great films about being a teenager.

StupidBloodyKindle · 22/05/2015 21:33

Evening Hadley

Enjoy your articles. Sorry you didn't get the Oscar party gig this yearWink

In no particular order

  1. Princess, athlete, brain, basket case, criminal...which were you?


  1. Did you really want a hyper-feminine nail-painting ghostbuster or were you just trolling?!


  1. Ghostbusters aside (and I am trying to reserve judgement but omfg why are they doing it Grin) which 80s flick/teen movie would you like to see remade (or God forbid, 'reimagined') ?


Good luck with the book. I am probably your demographic Wink
StupidBloodyKindle · 22/05/2015 21:35

Ooh laundry Cool Kids would be perfect. Star Let's go and remake Pretty in Pink but with an alternative ending Grin

southeastastra · 22/05/2015 21:36

in the 80s i watched all those films and wondered why my school life was nothing like those portrayed in these films. I did realise that I lived in Watford.

i was watching pretty in pink the other day and noticed that the working class kids had a separate recreation area than the richer kids and i read that rich kids wanted to go to the local 'public' schools so they could enjoy proms etc. is that true or bollocks?

choccyp1g · 22/05/2015 21:44

Hadley, I have enjoyed your writing for many years. Where does your name originate? I recently learned that Ernest Hemingway's first wife was named Hadley and wondered if you have a connection to her?

LaundryFairy · 22/05/2015 21:47

Count me in, StupidBloodyKindle!

And can we also use the fantastic song 'I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You' by Black Kids?

southeastastra · 22/05/2015 21:52

the US had the breakfast club in the UK we had gregory's girl Grin

the american films were pretty self-indulgent pap

StupidBloodyKindle · 22/05/2015 22:05

Well, what do you know, the alternative ending was the original ending before test sheep audiences went baaa boo! Still, there's always Some Kind Of Wonderful.

BadgersArse · 22/05/2015 22:07

I LOVE OL' HADDERS
i love her taking down of fashun ponces.

well done

StupidBloodyKindle · 22/05/2015 22:09

Oh Laundry you are good at this. Had never heard that one but just listened to it on the Tube of You and it is perfect.
Flowers

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 22/05/2015 22:12

I went to uni with her sister. Which is utterly irrelevant, but it makes me like her more as her sister is lovely. Book sounds v interesting.

southeastastra · 22/05/2015 22:21

i really want to write a reply to this book, a view from a 16 year old londoner in 1984. the american film portrayal was very glossy compared to the real life most of us lived in 1980s britain.

StupidBloodyKindle · 22/05/2015 22:32

southeast most teens ARE self-indulgent Wink Don't know much about american prep vs state school systems but you might have a point as some colleges apparently did banquets instead. But most do proms as fundraisers now,
according to my lame and lowly wiki sources! Maybe Hadley can enlighten us including diffs between prom and homecoming. Don't know about you, but I always think of Sissy Spacek.
Even in the UK prom seems to have entered the lingo, along with the limos, in my day it was a 'leaver's do'.
Prep (Curtis Sittenfeld) would make a great movie.

StupidBloodyKindle · 22/05/2015 22:40

Astra I was born 71, council estate, playing on the swings. But spent my teens watching betamax Grin and worked weekends in a video shop (excellent job, got free videos).
I suspect our lives' depiction would be somewhat different, yes. Gregory's Girl, Ptang yang kipperbang, Mike Leigh's life is sweet, Brassed off (I was in a mining town)...I do draw the line at Rita, Sue and Bob too though.
Actually, having had a flashback to youth club Friday disco singing in unison. Ashford and Sinpson's Solid, solid as a COCK Grin maybe we were a bit crass.

StupidBloodyKindle · 22/05/2015 23:13

Simpson's...

ptang yang was set in 1948
wish you were here was set in the fifties
mike leigh ken loach did not really focus on coming of age movies
Hmm...am struggling to think of a British equivalent to John Hughes. There wasn't one.

But I would also read a book about growing up in 80s Britain astra. I cannot think of many 80s British films that influenced the young me...aside from shitting myself at an american werewolf in London. Oh, and Educating Rita. I loved Educating Rita. And cried my eyes out at Merry Xmas Mr Lawrence.
Letter to Brezhnev was good. Castaway. Highlander. James Bond. But even working in the video shop, most of my popcorn fodder was American.

Hadley's book, if based on her 80s club website, covers different American movies though...dirty dancing, ghostbusters, steel magnolias, tootsie, big, heathers, parenthood etc...not just teen genre. I don't know if she mentions Arnie or any of the vietnam blockbusters though!

MorrisZapp · 22/05/2015 23:21

Solid as a cock EVERY TIME.

Hadley you're a fab writer, why do you (or your editors) persist with the irrelevant question at the beginning of your column? They might as well all say 'Hi Hadley, can you write a column based on this weeks biggest fashion story please? Cheers!'

Is it to retain the Ask Hadley thing? I just find it annoying, soz.

HelenaDove · 23/05/2015 00:21

Heathers knocks Mean Girls out of the park.

Trills · 23/05/2015 11:56

What do you think is the ideal age to watch Dirty Dancing?

I first watched it aged 19 and I was too old.

I suspect that it is only any good if you are 14 or younger when you first see it, which is a bit of a problem as it's a 15 certificate.

Yarp · 23/05/2015 16:45

Hi Hadley

Thankyou for your wise funny columns

What is your opinion of models, and other grown women in the 'fashion arena', who stand with their toes turned in in photographs, like 5 year olds? Is it setting a good example?

JuniDD · 23/05/2015 18:27

Hi Hadley, I am a huge fan of yours and love your interviews. I read the Michael J Fox one when I'm feeling sad.

Do you get to choose who you interview? The Judy Blume one was so wonderful. Do you try to find the best in people even if they aren't as nice as you make them seem?

Warm hugs!

Devora · 23/05/2015 21:15

Hi Hadley, I really like your columns but feel the Guardian could make more of you, getting you to write longer pieces on wider issues. Give em a nudge, can't you?

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SwedishEdith · 23/05/2015 21:24

Hi Hadley

I really enjoy your writing. Who did you think should win Eurovision? I imagine it's right up your street.

bryte · 24/05/2015 09:11

I'm looking forward to reading your book. I'm currently reading the young adult novel (despite being 40ish) Eleanor and Park. It's beautifully written and the characters seem to me like they'd have fit into a John Hughes film. Have you found any modern films that I can encourage my daughters to watch in their teens (almost there) which include the themes and characters of those films of the 80s?

StupidBloodyKindle · 24/05/2015 12:29

Thought of some more, seeing as it's a bit quiet (but feel free to ignore, if Tuesday there are too many questions)

  1. As a journalist, what is your opinion on injunctions/super injunctions?
  2. I also asked this Jon Ronson when he was on, do you think the Elm House investigation will ever be truly uncovered?
  3. Which of your Guardian colleagues do you read/get on with the most?


Back to the thread in question

  1. Can a man and woman ever be Just Good Friends if both single, straight and like-minded/similarly attractive?!
  2. Which is your LEAST favourite 80s film and why? Which film didn't make it into your book?
  3. Which film, in your opinion, has aged the most badly on re-watching?
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