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I have to confess that when I saw the title Permanent Record I thought I would be in for a John Hughes type movie about that old shibboleth of my school days the Permanent Record. But if the movie was so named to get an audience to see a film about teen suicide than a bit of deception was worth it.

Keanu Reeves stars and for the first third he's channeling Theodore 'Ted' Logan into his performance. That same goofball charm is there for a third of the film then it gets deadly serious when his best friend and fellow musician Alan Boyce commits suicide by jumping off a cliff. How Boyce's demise effects the rest of the cast is the rest of the film.

Thirty years after Permanent Record was made there are still no real answers. There were hints in Boyce's statements to those around, but how do you tell teenage angst and jitters at that stage you are entering the adult world. But we all feel that, I sure did.

Permanent Record is a most worthwhile film, one for eternity. And this goes out to those who died young for whatever reason leaving songs left unsung.

When I saw this movie in the video store, I thought, "Gee, this ought to be good for a few laughs." Well, I was right to some degree, since there is some humor in the movie, but I didn't count on the compelling story and even the fine performances. The movie is about a kid named David, who seems to have the perfect life. He has a loving family with a little brother who adores him, he is accepted to a great college, he is a musical director for the school's drama production, and his band just got the opportunity to record some of their songs. But he feels very pressured, and his best friend, played by Keanu Reeves, tries to get him to lighten up a little. What nobody knows is that David feels that he can't handle the pressure anymore. One night, at a party, David goes off to the cliffs by the ocean alone. Keanu follows, but when he goes to the area where David was just standing, David has disappeared, with nowhere he could have gone but down. Keanu's life starts going down the tubes, as he is the only one who knows that David didn't die in an accident, and that information is eating him up inside. When he finally tells David's parents, he thinks that things might start to go back to normal, but, suddenly, he is taking on the responsibilities that David has left behind, including writing the music for the band. The situation is at it's worst when Keanu is driving drunk and almost runs over David's little brother. As David's father is screaming at him for being so reckless, Keanu grabs him, starts hugging him, and, tearfully, says that he was David's best friend and should have been able to stop him. This scene literally brought me to tears, and I never would have thought that Keanu Reeves would ever be able to make me cry, even though I am a big fan of his. I think this is Keanu Reeves' best performance since "River's Edge". His portrayal of this character is basically the same as his portrayal of Ted Logan in the "Bill and Ted" movies, but with much more emotion and depth. The dramatic scenes, like when he throws a book through the principal's window, are done to perfection. He is completely believable as a confused teenager who suddenly finds himself alone without a best friend. The movie itself is an accurate reproduction of the effects of suicide on the people who are left behind: David's parents, brother, and friends. This is not a lighthearted film, but it is absorbing and actually makes you care about the characters. A definite must see.

Ok so it is a 80's flick and it shows, but all in all it is a great movie. I am a big fan of Keanu Reeves, I rented every movie the guy did. This movie is hard to find, but it is worth a search to find. It is a great heart catcher. And for all the girls who love Keanu will rewind over and over again to see the heart wrentching scene of him crying. I loved every bit of this movie.

I first saw this film in the early '90's and found it to be one of Keanu's hidden acting treasures. I think the guy got a bit typecast with the BILL & TED thing. But as a man who's lost several loved ones to suicide, I found this film very true to form in its point-of-view of choice... focusing on the survivor. Another viewer who described the film as 'terrible' I think missed the point by looking for an 'explanation' for the suicide. After 23 years since my own mother's death to suicide, I can tell you that you never really know 'why'. I thought PERMANENT RECORD to be a bit of subtle brilliance in its focus on the stages of healing survivors go through... those of guilt, anger, shock, and finally acceptance. The film was made for a modest budget but, I felt, showcased some wonderfully understated and powerfully touching moments. Suicide is an emotionally perplexing issue. I salute the filmmakers for tackling it with such compassion and dignity

This film was way ahead of its time. In this day and age, teenage suicides happen often, and appear in the press. This is a movie, set in the 80s, and really has a powerful effect on you. To start with, I was trying to figure out why the main character decided to kill himself. It never really says. But the movie concentrates more on what David's close friends feel on his suicide. The film focuses heavily on Keanu Reeves character, Chris. He features in some of the film's most powerful scenes, and although he plays his Ted character, goofy and gangly, he really acts his socks off. He also features in an almost painful crying scene.

There's a terrific song, which unfortunately isn't available. It's worked on throughout the film, but it really comes to light towards the end. It's called "Wishing On Another Lucky Star", performed by J.D. Souther.

This is a very powerful movie, although it didn't leave much of an effect on me. I was expecting it to leave me with something at the end of the movie, but this kinda movie has been done better in recent years - The Virgin Suicides for example.