SubUrbia

If you like 90 minute movies (over the course which each character becomes a better person), characters with whom you can deeply sympathize, complete resolution of all conflicts, and happy endings, don't rent this. subUrbia is too harsh, too honest, and too painful.

Ribisi and Katt are amazing. Katt was great as the wisecracking "Stacy" in the movie The Limey, a role similar to his in subUrbia (Tim). Overall, the characters are too angry, poisonous, and disillusioned to be likeable. I didn't find this to be a bad thing, however.

Adding to the numbing ache of the movie is the fantastic score- Sonic Youth's droning guitars and a nihilistic soundtrack all add to the depression in Linklater/Begosian's Burnfield. Enjoy. Or not.

I consider this one of Giovanni Ribisi's greatest acting roles... because it is so real. The entire cast portrays this in the way that I think many 20-something-year-olds can relate. I know that when I had all of my friends watch it, they could see themselves in many of the characters. It showed us that we are not the only young adults, living in suburbia and our mother's houses... thinking about the things that we'll never do with our lives. Steve Zahn gave his usual comedic act, without taking away from the seriousness of the film. I believe that this is much easier to relate to than the earlier Dazed and Confused, because it shows the American Dream in action... that series of hopes that are easier said than done. What is wrong with us?

I first saw subUrbia in probably 1997, and since then I have shared it with countless people and watched it plenty myself. Its not the sort of movie that you can put in, and then not really watch, to me it requires a bit more concentration. At th same time, the events that unfold for the characters in this movie always strike me. Another major bonus with this film is the issues it takes the time and consideration to cover, sexism, racism, classism, urban sprawl, the third world, and more... Its not a movie for people that don't want to see that ugly side of humans, but then all too often in day to day life the suburbs serve to show the ugly side of humans. Not a movie for children, and I wouldn't watch it with my grandma! Its a powerful and real story of life past high school, but not dealing with college. Of life feeling stuck, trapped, sometimes defeated in your current place, here suburbia. Its not a movie that offers a ton of hope, but its a powerful movie nonetheless!

Eric Bogosian has written and performed extensively for the theater. I have seen him as a solo performer, as well as his plays "Talk Radio" and "SubUrbia". Having admired his work on the stage, one wondered what kind of treatment those plays would get. Luckily, he was able to adapt them to the screen, himself. I had seen this movie when it came out, so when it showed on cable recently, I decided to take another look. While it's a work that perhaps was marketed as a comedy, this work is much more than that. This film dares to take a look at one of the most prevalent problems in the American society.

Richard Linkletter was perhaps the right choice for directing "SubUrbia" since he has a keen eye for the "slackers" in our society. These individuals are perhaps puzzling to a lot of other cultures, but it appears there's a trend among young people all over that come from homes where parents and children inhabit different worlds.

The phenomenon of the American suburban youth is well presented in this movie where there is no parent authority around to supervise what these kids are doing. The culture of hanging out without any purpose, or meaning, is a problem in that in most cases, leads into drugs, sex, and alienation from what is known as normal society, thus creating people like the ones this movie is portraying.

In a way, Hollywood films have added to this anti hero sub culture, so prevalent in the country. When there are no strong figures either at home, school, or government, young people tend to gravitate toward friends who they feel comfortable with, shying away from reality and responsibility.

It is the convenience store owner, a Pakistani, who puts things in perspective. While these kids are wasting their time, he is working on his degree and will make something out of himself, which is a theme that has been explored by other great American writers, like Arthur Miller, in "A Death of a Salesman". The same American dream, where everything is possible, is wasted in these young people. At the same time, it's the immigrant who wants to make that dream a reality in his life because he has experienced hard times in his own country.

Mr. Linkletter's choice of a cast is brilliant. He gathered the talents of Giovanni Ribisi, Parker Posey, Amie Carey, Nicky Katt, Steve Zahn, Jayce Bartok, Dina Spybey to give life to these lost souls in search of identity in the heart of the American counter culture that is generated by the boredom of the suburbs and the erosion of the family in this country.

This is a great story with a great cast of indie icons. Giovanni Ribisi does a convincing and sensitive portrayal of his troubling character and Steve Zahn continues to satisfy with his venue of off-the-wall characters. Indie queen Parker Posey pops up halfway through the movie, and even though, she's not in it that much, she still maintains her magnetic screen presence. Eric Bogosian's dialogue is a key element to making this film fantastic.