If "Dazed and Confused" was the 'high' then "SubUrbia" if most definitely the 'down'. It's basically the flipside of "Dazed and Confused", where youthful hedonism has been replaced by 20-something boredom. It's a post-college movie where characters have found themselves unfulfilled in every capacity. It's a pack mentality, where you hang-out with the same gang from high school only to find you've out grown each other and resent one another's ambitions because you know you yourself lack the impetus to do anything constructive with your life. These characters are losers in every respect, clinging on to their high school way of life, reluctant to take initiative and move on. They constantly put each other down, bicker and make efforts to humiliate, yet the depressing thing is they have no one but each other. This is a quality film that remains one of Linklater's most under appreciated efforts. No one has the ability to present young characters with the insight, skill and craft Lanklater possesses. He is truly one of America's finest filmmakers working today and "SubUrbia" is a great film that still holds up.
93 Reviews
Too harsh for the masses...
RawMutton23 October 2000
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.
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.
Before midnight
jotix10028 October 2004
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.
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.
Dead-on accurate
Scoopy22 October 1998
Linklater is treading in some of his familiar water ... one night in the night of a group of adolescents dealing with that difficult period at the end of high school, when one stops being what one must be and starts being what one chooses to be.
This film is not "Dazed and Confused", however, except that the two films share a spot-on accurate portrayal of familiar American characters. This movie is darker, preachier, deeper.
This time, instead of the rituals of the last night of high school, the film centers around the return of a former crony who has made it really big as a rock star. He's their friend, and the nicest guy in the world - just a former geek who struck it big and realizes how lucky he is - nobody could hate him.
And yet some do. Some hate him because he is a winner in the roll of the dice, and several of the gang are on their way toward becoming losers, and they know it. Their life consists of hanging around outside a convenience store.
For all its concern with the accuracy of its portrayals, the film has a curiously innocent denouement. The most simple and naive members of the group end up heading off to look for their dreams, and the cynical and jaded can see that their lives will repeat infinitely in their home town. In a sense, the succcess of the gentle stoned guy injects an almost impossible hopefulness in an otherwise despairing ending. As Graham Greene once wrote, baseless optimism is so much more appalling than despair.
Still, that was the choice of the filmmaker, and it wasn't an unfair one. Sometimes things do work out like that in real life, and this movie is all too close to real life. So close it can make you feel uncomfortable when you see yourself reflected in one character or another.
This and "Dazed" establish Linklater as an outstanding filmmaker with an uncanny eye for real situations and characters. One hopes he will soon realize his great potential with something better than The Newton Boys
This film is not "Dazed and Confused", however, except that the two films share a spot-on accurate portrayal of familiar American characters. This movie is darker, preachier, deeper.
This time, instead of the rituals of the last night of high school, the film centers around the return of a former crony who has made it really big as a rock star. He's their friend, and the nicest guy in the world - just a former geek who struck it big and realizes how lucky he is - nobody could hate him.
And yet some do. Some hate him because he is a winner in the roll of the dice, and several of the gang are on their way toward becoming losers, and they know it. Their life consists of hanging around outside a convenience store.
For all its concern with the accuracy of its portrayals, the film has a curiously innocent denouement. The most simple and naive members of the group end up heading off to look for their dreams, and the cynical and jaded can see that their lives will repeat infinitely in their home town. In a sense, the succcess of the gentle stoned guy injects an almost impossible hopefulness in an otherwise despairing ending. As Graham Greene once wrote, baseless optimism is so much more appalling than despair.
Still, that was the choice of the filmmaker, and it wasn't an unfair one. Sometimes things do work out like that in real life, and this movie is all too close to real life. So close it can make you feel uncomfortable when you see yourself reflected in one character or another.
This and "Dazed" establish Linklater as an outstanding filmmaker with an uncanny eye for real situations and characters. One hopes he will soon realize his great potential with something better than The Newton Boys
Linklater stumbles with this film
The_Void13 November 2005
I'm a big fan of Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, as well as the excellent, yet little known 'Tape' - but this film, SubUrbia (silly 'U' in the title), doesn't live up to the high standard of the latter mentioned films. Linklater obviously has respect for drama and dialogue, but he's let himself down here because a lot of the action and words in the film are silly, and delivered by a bunch of caricatures. We've got the irritating feminist, the famous guy trying to hang out with his old friends, a rich bitch with a heart of gold, a drunk who cant take his beer, a drunk who can, a girl out of rehab and a guy who holds everything together, simply by being more drab than the rest of them. The cast try their best with their characters, and the film isn't 'boring' - but it stinks of a decent film striving for greatness, and it never even nearly achieves it. The plot is basically about a bunch of Americans 'kids' that hang around parking lots, as they have nothing else to do. The film takes place around the same time that some guy they used to know, now a big rock star, is coming home to 'hang out' with them.
Not much of this film is really believable. I don't think that Giovanni Ribisi's character would ever go out with the irritating feminist, for example, and a series of things like this make the film really difficult to get along with. The film is based on a play by Eric Bogosian, so it's unfair to blame Linklater (who I actually like) for the film's shortcomings with the characters; but to be fair, his direction is lethargic and doesn't really get along with the hip style that the film feels like it should have. Most of the characters are annoying rather than likable, and this means that by the time of the ending; you really don't care what happens. This is made worse by the fact that this is one of those 'ambiguous' films that leaves itself wide open at the end. Writers really need to learn when to, and when not to, use an ending like this. Ambiguous endings simply don't work when it doesn't matter what happens, and rather than making you think as the writer intended; it just turns you off. I appreciate this film a little because I like dialogue; but to be honest, there isn't a lot I can recommend it for. I do like the song, "A Town Without Pity", used in the opening credits though.
Not much of this film is really believable. I don't think that Giovanni Ribisi's character would ever go out with the irritating feminist, for example, and a series of things like this make the film really difficult to get along with. The film is based on a play by Eric Bogosian, so it's unfair to blame Linklater (who I actually like) for the film's shortcomings with the characters; but to be fair, his direction is lethargic and doesn't really get along with the hip style that the film feels like it should have. Most of the characters are annoying rather than likable, and this means that by the time of the ending; you really don't care what happens. This is made worse by the fact that this is one of those 'ambiguous' films that leaves itself wide open at the end. Writers really need to learn when to, and when not to, use an ending like this. Ambiguous endings simply don't work when it doesn't matter what happens, and rather than making you think as the writer intended; it just turns you off. I appreciate this film a little because I like dialogue; but to be honest, there isn't a lot I can recommend it for. I do like the song, "A Town Without Pity", used in the opening credits though.
doesn't really work
cherold22 March 2005
I would be curious to compare this with the original play, which I've never seen. Bogosian is a great writer and Linklatter seems like an odd choice to match with a strong dialog writer, since he goes for this numbly, seemingly improvisational style. That style fits this subject matter perfectly well, and he does capture that bored, pointless bitterness, but I'm wondering if a different director with the same script might have managed to make something that felt a little more intense. This movie just sort of ambled along with interesting little bits of drama here and there. It's all sort of interesting, the performances seem pretty good, but I was never drawn into this and I never cared about the characters, although they were convincing.
A long time favorite...
ReesaTree19 November 2005
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!
How Does Anyone Make it Out Alive from Suburbia?
leftbanker-125 August 2020
Just look at the man-made landscape where these kids live and you start to understand how lost they are. I grew up in a similarly horrible place and the only thing that kept me alive was knowing that I was going to get out of there as soon as I could. There isn't anything remotely charming or worthwhile about this franchise-controlled hellhole. Cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol is about all entertainment they can imagine.
Everyone who has half a brain leaves these terrible places never to return. What does this say about the cities we have created? This place could be anywhere in the USA from California to New York to Florida. Suburbia is all the same and it's all soulless.
The biggest problem these kids have is that they don't know how bad they have it. They think they live at the center of the universe because they don't know any better. They've never been anywhere.
He never really addresses this point in the film, the man-made landscape where so many of us were born. We've made our cities so incredibly unlivable that kids either stay, hate it, and have more kids, or they move to NY or LA or some place less hopeless.
Everyone who has half a brain leaves these terrible places never to return. What does this say about the cities we have created? This place could be anywhere in the USA from California to New York to Florida. Suburbia is all the same and it's all soulless.
The biggest problem these kids have is that they don't know how bad they have it. They think they live at the center of the universe because they don't know any better. They've never been anywhere.
He never really addresses this point in the film, the man-made landscape where so many of us were born. We've made our cities so incredibly unlivable that kids either stay, hate it, and have more kids, or they move to NY or LA or some place less hopeless.
Great film...
kohl_caked22 February 2005
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?
Solid film hampered by bad ending///may be spoilers.
BloodTheTelepathicDog16 April 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Well written by Eric Bogosian, but the ending leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It seems that the moral of this film is to stab your friends in the back and to sell out to succeed in life.
Nicky Katt's Tim is my favorite character in cinema history. He brilliantly portrayed an ex-soldier with gallons of hatred stored up inside. I saw a lot of myself in that character, and it was quite a wakeup call.
The actor's did a great job, especially Katt, Giovanni Ribisi and Ajay Naidu. I couldn't stand Amie Carey's character, and applauded Nicky Katt every time he told her off. This is the best film for the Gen-X crowd ever made, as Bogosian perfectly creates these youthful characters who are too old to be young and too young to be old. I find myself reciting Giovanni's rants on society often.
I highly recommend this film, but the ending may disappoint you.
Nicky Katt's Tim is my favorite character in cinema history. He brilliantly portrayed an ex-soldier with gallons of hatred stored up inside. I saw a lot of myself in that character, and it was quite a wakeup call.
The actor's did a great job, especially Katt, Giovanni Ribisi and Ajay Naidu. I couldn't stand Amie Carey's character, and applauded Nicky Katt every time he told her off. This is the best film for the Gen-X crowd ever made, as Bogosian perfectly creates these youthful characters who are too old to be young and too young to be old. I find myself reciting Giovanni's rants on society often.
I highly recommend this film, but the ending may disappoint you.
A movie that overestimates it's effectiveness...
MC4-224 July 2001
Wow, what a preachy mess.
Instead of being subtle, Eric Bogosian lays it on thick with impossibly silly and stupid characters. When it's all said and done, Bogosian thinks he can make the moral of the story sound less preachy if a Pakistani clerk delivers it.
It fails on every level.
Instead of being subtle, Eric Bogosian lays it on thick with impossibly silly and stupid characters. When it's all said and done, Bogosian thinks he can make the moral of the story sound less preachy if a Pakistani clerk delivers it.
It fails on every level.
Superb SubUrbia
strangerdave-213 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
According to Thoreau, the masses lead lives of quiet desperation. Which in turn leads to a paralyzing self absorption or self pity that most of us don't recognize until it's too late, if at all. And that is the theme of this extraordinary film.
The plot revolves around a group of middle class suburban kids a couple of years removed from high school. Jeff (Giovani Ribisi) is a college dropout who lives in his parent's garage. Tim (Nicky Katt) is a former high school football star who did a brief stint in the Air Force before chopping of part of a finger to get a disability discharge. Buff (Steve Zahn) is a stoner who's life revolves around his next buzz and his next sexual conquest. The trio whiles away their aimless lives drinking at their old high school hangout - a convenience store now run by Pakistani immigrants. In addition, there's Jeff's girlfriend Sooze (Aimee Carey), a budding artist; her friend BeeBee (Dina Spibey), a recovering alcoholic; and an old high school buddy named Pony (Jayce Bartok), now a major rock star who drops by the old stomping grounds while in town for a show. Of the group, only Pony and Sooze have any ambition in life - Pony is well on his way to achieving his dream, and Sooze is preparing to move to New York to pursue her career.
Except for those two, and the convenience store owner who is studying to become an engineer, every character in the film suffers from a kind of inertia that prevents them from taking charge of their lives and achieving any meaningful success or happiness. Tim has seen the third world, but has no sympathy for its inhabitants or appreciation for how good he has it. Buff is mired in perpetual adolescence. BeeBee lives vicariously through Sooze, and, despite her own sordid history, cares little for the substance abusers she tends to as a nurse's assistant, .
Then there's the liquor store clerk whose life revolves around the local high school football team, and Pony's slutty manager (Parker Posey) the rebellious poor little rich girl who went into the music business against daddy's wishes. Jeff is the one character in the film who is truly sensitive to the plight of others, but he is immobilized by his own self-pity. That is, until one night on the town with Pony when he realizes that he indeed controls his own destiny, and decides to strip away his shackles (represented by his clothes) and move to NY with Sooze. But, ironically, it's too late... Sooze hooked up with Pony while he was experiencing his revelation.
At the end of the movie, the Pakistani store owner belittles Jeff and his buddies for being so stupid as to throw away all of the opportunities they are afforded by living in the greatest, most prosperous country on earth. But he, like everyone else, is blind to the desperation of those around him. Desperation that can engulf even the lives of those in the land of plenty. Thanks to the mesmerizing script by Eric Bogosian, the outstanding direction by Richard Linklater, and the performances of the stellar cast, the audience gets the message loud and clear.
The plot revolves around a group of middle class suburban kids a couple of years removed from high school. Jeff (Giovani Ribisi) is a college dropout who lives in his parent's garage. Tim (Nicky Katt) is a former high school football star who did a brief stint in the Air Force before chopping of part of a finger to get a disability discharge. Buff (Steve Zahn) is a stoner who's life revolves around his next buzz and his next sexual conquest. The trio whiles away their aimless lives drinking at their old high school hangout - a convenience store now run by Pakistani immigrants. In addition, there's Jeff's girlfriend Sooze (Aimee Carey), a budding artist; her friend BeeBee (Dina Spibey), a recovering alcoholic; and an old high school buddy named Pony (Jayce Bartok), now a major rock star who drops by the old stomping grounds while in town for a show. Of the group, only Pony and Sooze have any ambition in life - Pony is well on his way to achieving his dream, and Sooze is preparing to move to New York to pursue her career.
Except for those two, and the convenience store owner who is studying to become an engineer, every character in the film suffers from a kind of inertia that prevents them from taking charge of their lives and achieving any meaningful success or happiness. Tim has seen the third world, but has no sympathy for its inhabitants or appreciation for how good he has it. Buff is mired in perpetual adolescence. BeeBee lives vicariously through Sooze, and, despite her own sordid history, cares little for the substance abusers she tends to as a nurse's assistant, .
Then there's the liquor store clerk whose life revolves around the local high school football team, and Pony's slutty manager (Parker Posey) the rebellious poor little rich girl who went into the music business against daddy's wishes. Jeff is the one character in the film who is truly sensitive to the plight of others, but he is immobilized by his own self-pity. That is, until one night on the town with Pony when he realizes that he indeed controls his own destiny, and decides to strip away his shackles (represented by his clothes) and move to NY with Sooze. But, ironically, it's too late... Sooze hooked up with Pony while he was experiencing his revelation.
At the end of the movie, the Pakistani store owner belittles Jeff and his buddies for being so stupid as to throw away all of the opportunities they are afforded by living in the greatest, most prosperous country on earth. But he, like everyone else, is blind to the desperation of those around him. Desperation that can engulf even the lives of those in the land of plenty. Thanks to the mesmerizing script by Eric Bogosian, the outstanding direction by Richard Linklater, and the performances of the stellar cast, the audience gets the message loud and clear.
interesting indie loses tension after Pony
SnoopyStyle17 May 2015
It's the suburban neighborhood of Burnfield in Austin, Texas. Slackers hang out behind the convenience store that is operated by the Choudhurys. Jeff (Giovanni Ribisi) is dating Sooze (Amie Carey). She wants to go to NYC to do alternative art but he refuses to do anything. Jokester Buff (Steve Zahn) works at the pizza joint. Tim (Nicky Katt) is ex-military with anger issues. Bee-Bee (Dina Spybey-Waters) is Sooze's friend. They come looking for Pony who was Jeff's friend and is now famous. A confrontation with the Choudhurys scatters the group. Pony (Jayce Bartok) shows up with publicist Erica (Parker Posey) and find the group. Jeff holds some resentment as he has a different memory of the start of Pony's band.
It's one rambling night in the burbs written by Eric Bogosian and directed by Richard Linklater. It has some good actors. For some reason, I keep thinking of 'Waiting for Guffman'. In that movie, Guffman is a red herring and it works better. This movie turns aimless after Pony arrives. He's the goal and the movie loses its emphasis. The movie would be much better to climax with his arrival and end with a complete blowout with Jeff in that parking lot. The last half loses all the tension for me. The movie is 2 hours and could easily lose some of the second half.
It's one rambling night in the burbs written by Eric Bogosian and directed by Richard Linklater. It has some good actors. For some reason, I keep thinking of 'Waiting for Guffman'. In that movie, Guffman is a red herring and it works better. This movie turns aimless after Pony arrives. He's the goal and the movie loses its emphasis. The movie would be much better to climax with his arrival and end with a complete blowout with Jeff in that parking lot. The last half loses all the tension for me. The movie is 2 hours and could easily lose some of the second half.
disappointing
stellar727 December 1998
My friends and I watched Dazed and Confused and loved it. When Suburbia came out, we noticed these two movies shared the same director. Suburbia was very disappointing, all the characters are ignorant and think they aren't. This movie portrays the fight for status among a group of idiotic young americans. The only smart person in the movie is the foreign "jiffy store" owner. The acting is fair. Parker Posey has definitely the most likeable character, and she plays her part well. Steve Zahn highly reminds me of Jim Brewer, and he does basically the only funny action in the entire movie. This movie had great potential, but the characters are unwilling to listen to reason. If you want to see a similar movie, watch Dazed and Confused. If you want to see one a little more mature, watch Swingers. I have to say I wasted $3.00 renting Suburbia.
The burning clock of time.
Halocaust23 May 2003
First of all, this is NOT a comedy. Not in the least sense of the word. I heard that people say that it's black humour. Personally, I've seen alot of black comedies in my days, and Suburbia is definitely not black humour. This is tragic, and it is tragedy at it's best.
The plotline is really about nothing at all, which is exactly what the characters lives are about as well. The "big rockstar" Pony comes to meet with the good ol' guys (our supposed protagonists), but he isn't exactly met with open arms. Both Nicky Katt (Tim) and Giovanni Ribisi (Jeff) deliver great acting. Although their roles may seem simple and plain, but I doubt greater actors could have gotten more out of their roles. I just finished watching Suburbia for the fourth time, and it still manages to bring me down. If you're looking for a movie to lift your spirit, this is not it. I talked to a friend of mine earlier and since he's feeling a bit down all in all, he was really, really, reluctant to watch Suburbia.
"Suburbia" went straight to video in Sweden, and I can easily say it's the best straight-to-video flick I have ever seen. If you want to see a movie whose hopelessness stays with with until you got to sleep, and maybe the next day as well, Suburbia's the one to get. A depression wetdream.
The plotline is really about nothing at all, which is exactly what the characters lives are about as well. The "big rockstar" Pony comes to meet with the good ol' guys (our supposed protagonists), but he isn't exactly met with open arms. Both Nicky Katt (Tim) and Giovanni Ribisi (Jeff) deliver great acting. Although their roles may seem simple and plain, but I doubt greater actors could have gotten more out of their roles. I just finished watching Suburbia for the fourth time, and it still manages to bring me down. If you're looking for a movie to lift your spirit, this is not it. I talked to a friend of mine earlier and since he's feeling a bit down all in all, he was really, really, reluctant to watch Suburbia.
"Suburbia" went straight to video in Sweden, and I can easily say it's the best straight-to-video flick I have ever seen. If you want to see a movie whose hopelessness stays with with until you got to sleep, and maybe the next day as well, Suburbia's the one to get. A depression wetdream.
Rebels without a clue.
=G=9 March 2001
"SubUrbia" shows us a night in the lives of a bunch of California suburban young adults who coalesce to share their comradery in a minimart parking lot. Everyone in the group of temporarily lost youths are brooding, angry, depressed, and/or rebellious. A plotless drama and character study en masse, the film offers some good performances by some talented young actors and little else. "SubUrbia" shows us nothing new and in the end the audience may feel a little masochistic for having sat through two hours of drinking, puking, cursing, expostulating the futility of life, etc. with no apparent purpose, point, or meaning.
Dope
brad-main9313 February 2019
I don't need a limousine to know who I am. At least I know I don't know
SubUrbia
jaredmobarak12 November 2006
Always having been a fan of Richard Linklater's work, it confounded me that his film after indie darlings Dazed and Confused and Before Sunrise has never been released on DVD. SubUrbia is the kind of movie you hear that fans of his work love, but never found a place in cinema history. Flipping through the movie channels on TV, I happened across the film and could not stop watching until it was over. Much in the same way as his other work, the movie is dialogue driven and concerning a small group of people talking about life and what comes next for them. He has compiled a very nice cast, all of who take their character and roll with it. It is a scary thing, post high school, deciding what to do with one's life. Having been stuck in the suburbs for so long, one begins to wonder if they can survive outside it.
The compelling thing for me in Richard Linklater films is the general waxing philosophic feel they all seem to have. These are kids that are college age who have things to talk about, questions to have answered, and are not afraid to ask them when they are surrounded by those they trust. This group of friends is caught at a crossroads, not knowing if what they are doing is the right way to go. Many have tried their hands at something, but ultimately gave up to continue loitering around their corner convenience store. When one of their friends, who found success in leaving the small town of Burnfield becoming a rockstar, happens to come home for a show, the group's equilibrium goes off-kilter as they face what could be. Some feel that if they had applied themselves they could have been successes as well, while others see the shell of a man their buddy has become after being sucked into the machine. The return home opens everyone's eyes to the situation they are in and for better or worse changes the way they decide to continue living their lives.
While a drama, there are many funny scenes. When a few of them begin talking about the reason Pony became a rockstar, to be able to tell the world his thoughts, to have someone listen to him, they say how rough it is to feel like no one can hear what they are saying. Through the entire conversation Giovannu Ribisi's Jeff is trying to be heard chiming in with his own ideas. The irony of the situation may be a bit heavy-handed, but it is also very true to form. Ribisi shines in this role as an intelligent youth who has never applied himself, always being content with hanging around his troubled friends. He soon realizes that the freedom he has is more important than selling out for fame and fortune, it is the people he cares about that keep him going, not the material things in life he could have. Steve Zahn is again brilliant in one of his earlier roles. He plays the idiot comedian to perfection while also evolving into someone who uses his cheery disposition for success. You begin to see that he knows exactly who he is and is in control at every moment. It's a shame he now only gets roles that are one-dimensionally that stupid guy there for laughs. It is also a pleasure to see Office Space alum, Ajay Naidu in a good role, touching on the bigotry of American small town life. The success his character is having, while not being American, prays on the jealousy of those who feel their heritage should entitle them to happiness. The lazy toughs around town would rather pick on the foreigners for working hard instead of doing the time themselves.
Rounding out a very good cast is Dina Spybey and Nicky Katt. Spybey is great in a tough role. She is the lackey friend of one of the main group members and tries to fit in. It seems that every time she begins to connect, she is ultimately left alone. The depression her character feels comes through at all times; the despair of someone that troubled around you without knowing how to help is tough. There is so much going on this night that her anguish gets pushed aside until there is no turning back. Then there is Nicky Katt who makes the film. He is an intellectual trapped in the body of a jock who has partied and been king of the town for too long. He sees the world around him for what it is and hates himself for living amongst the grime. Toying with the emotions of his best friends, he seems to have a death wish to just end his suffering. No longer the star football player, the character of Tim can't apply his intellect constructively and instead uses it to help the others while self-destructing himself.
Linklater is one of the most consistent directors working in and on the fringe of Hollywood today. His films always seem to have a message coming through them, trying to uncover a truth of life. Every one of his characters is true to themselves and connecting with humanity at every step. SubUrbia is so much like his other smaller films that I was surprised to see it was written by and based from a play from Eric Bogosian. I am a fan of his acting work, but after seeing this I might finally wipe the dust from my copy of Oliver Stone's Talk Radio and check it out. Also, maybe I will turn on the movie that started it all for Linklater, Slacker, and see the true evolution he has taken. Hopefully SubUrbia will find its own way to DVD, maybe even the Criterion Collection will release it to join the other Linklater masterpieces it already has.
The compelling thing for me in Richard Linklater films is the general waxing philosophic feel they all seem to have. These are kids that are college age who have things to talk about, questions to have answered, and are not afraid to ask them when they are surrounded by those they trust. This group of friends is caught at a crossroads, not knowing if what they are doing is the right way to go. Many have tried their hands at something, but ultimately gave up to continue loitering around their corner convenience store. When one of their friends, who found success in leaving the small town of Burnfield becoming a rockstar, happens to come home for a show, the group's equilibrium goes off-kilter as they face what could be. Some feel that if they had applied themselves they could have been successes as well, while others see the shell of a man their buddy has become after being sucked into the machine. The return home opens everyone's eyes to the situation they are in and for better or worse changes the way they decide to continue living their lives.
While a drama, there are many funny scenes. When a few of them begin talking about the reason Pony became a rockstar, to be able to tell the world his thoughts, to have someone listen to him, they say how rough it is to feel like no one can hear what they are saying. Through the entire conversation Giovannu Ribisi's Jeff is trying to be heard chiming in with his own ideas. The irony of the situation may be a bit heavy-handed, but it is also very true to form. Ribisi shines in this role as an intelligent youth who has never applied himself, always being content with hanging around his troubled friends. He soon realizes that the freedom he has is more important than selling out for fame and fortune, it is the people he cares about that keep him going, not the material things in life he could have. Steve Zahn is again brilliant in one of his earlier roles. He plays the idiot comedian to perfection while also evolving into someone who uses his cheery disposition for success. You begin to see that he knows exactly who he is and is in control at every moment. It's a shame he now only gets roles that are one-dimensionally that stupid guy there for laughs. It is also a pleasure to see Office Space alum, Ajay Naidu in a good role, touching on the bigotry of American small town life. The success his character is having, while not being American, prays on the jealousy of those who feel their heritage should entitle them to happiness. The lazy toughs around town would rather pick on the foreigners for working hard instead of doing the time themselves.
Rounding out a very good cast is Dina Spybey and Nicky Katt. Spybey is great in a tough role. She is the lackey friend of one of the main group members and tries to fit in. It seems that every time she begins to connect, she is ultimately left alone. The depression her character feels comes through at all times; the despair of someone that troubled around you without knowing how to help is tough. There is so much going on this night that her anguish gets pushed aside until there is no turning back. Then there is Nicky Katt who makes the film. He is an intellectual trapped in the body of a jock who has partied and been king of the town for too long. He sees the world around him for what it is and hates himself for living amongst the grime. Toying with the emotions of his best friends, he seems to have a death wish to just end his suffering. No longer the star football player, the character of Tim can't apply his intellect constructively and instead uses it to help the others while self-destructing himself.
Linklater is one of the most consistent directors working in and on the fringe of Hollywood today. His films always seem to have a message coming through them, trying to uncover a truth of life. Every one of his characters is true to themselves and connecting with humanity at every step. SubUrbia is so much like his other smaller films that I was surprised to see it was written by and based from a play from Eric Bogosian. I am a fan of his acting work, but after seeing this I might finally wipe the dust from my copy of Oliver Stone's Talk Radio and check it out. Also, maybe I will turn on the movie that started it all for Linklater, Slacker, and see the true evolution he has taken. Hopefully SubUrbia will find its own way to DVD, maybe even the Criterion Collection will release it to join the other Linklater masterpieces it already has.
talented cast in depressing comedy
jaybob16 February 2001
This film is about a group of 20 yr olds who hang out in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant, waiting for there friend who has become a rock star. the entire cast seem to be down & depressed. & thats what hurts this very well acted film It is based on a play by Eric Bogosian & it definitly is stagy.
The leads are Giavonni Ribisi, Steve Zahn, Parker Posey & others
who all give top notch performances,
But for a comedy It is far too long,& the people are a sad lot.
I will recommend it though for the fine acting only, & for the music score
as always
Jay Harris
The leads are Giavonni Ribisi, Steve Zahn, Parker Posey & others
who all give top notch performances,
But for a comedy It is far too long,& the people are a sad lot.
I will recommend it though for the fine acting only, & for the music score
as always
Jay Harris
Suburban youth despair and disillusion, 1990s style
wavecat1326 July 2022
Director Linklater and writer Bogosian do a fine job with the film version of the latter's stage play. I wish he would write some more plays and/or screenplays. This is a robust slice of 1990s suburban disaffection/conflict/despair, focusing on a group of 17-22 year olds who hang around outside a convenience store. There is a little mini-genre of these kinds of stories.
Main character Jeff's life is not going anywhere, and he appears to be on the verge of losing his artist girlfriend, who is planning her escape to New York City. Tim is the dark, tough drunkard of the group, Buff is the clown, and poor Bee-Bee is very depressed. They clash with Nazeer, the serious young Pakistani who manages the store. Things get turned upside down with the arrival (in a limousine) of Pony, who has left hanging out on the corner behind for success as a rock star. Tensions grow and some kind of violence seems imminent - but in the end, the only kind of destruction that goes down is self-destruction. The acting is very good (e.g. Check out Zahn's stunts) and the story grows more powerful and interesting as it goes along.
Main character Jeff's life is not going anywhere, and he appears to be on the verge of losing his artist girlfriend, who is planning her escape to New York City. Tim is the dark, tough drunkard of the group, Buff is the clown, and poor Bee-Bee is very depressed. They clash with Nazeer, the serious young Pakistani who manages the store. Things get turned upside down with the arrival (in a limousine) of Pony, who has left hanging out on the corner behind for success as a rock star. Tensions grow and some kind of violence seems imminent - but in the end, the only kind of destruction that goes down is self-destruction. The acting is very good (e.g. Check out Zahn's stunts) and the story grows more powerful and interesting as it goes along.
Combination Youthful Comedy and Social Commentary
gpeevers15 April 2019
Based on a play by Eric Bogosian this film directed by Richard Linklater deals with one night in the lives of several young people 'trapped' in an American suburb. The film features a cast of virtual unknowns with the exception of the so called 'Queen of the Indies' Parker Posey, though Nicky Katt, Giovanni Ribisi and Steve Zahn would all go on to considerable success.
Our group of characters have finished with high school but have as yet not decided what to do with the rest of their lives with the exception of the successful rock star, so they spend their nights outside the local convenience store. There are lots of issues and problems raised, discussed and analyzed here but the central theme is the 'American Dream' and its corruption for disassociated youth. The suburbs it seems are a breeding ground for many of the social problems of its day.
Good performances though some of the characters are surprisingly one dimensional while others are more fully realized. As a stage adaptation there ends ups being a lot of dialogue and it also ends up being fairly static.
Our group of characters have finished with high school but have as yet not decided what to do with the rest of their lives with the exception of the successful rock star, so they spend their nights outside the local convenience store. There are lots of issues and problems raised, discussed and analyzed here but the central theme is the 'American Dream' and its corruption for disassociated youth. The suburbs it seems are a breeding ground for many of the social problems of its day.
Good performances though some of the characters are surprisingly one dimensional while others are more fully realized. As a stage adaptation there ends ups being a lot of dialogue and it also ends up being fairly static.
A must not see
Shimazu31 May 1999
I have often said that the only thing that I look for in a movie is that after I am done watching it I don't think to myself that it was two hours of my life I wasted. In the case of SubUrbia I felt as if I had lost years of my life. The title seems to say it is a picture of life in the suburbs of America, it is not, I should know for I live there. The dialogue is a sad imitation of Clerks, Mallrats, and Singles, the characters are poorly drawn one sided and not at all likeable. Going through this movie I had the deep feeling that the writer has never lived in the suburbs and is trying to mold the generation X with high school kids and adding a pot head, and a biker. The bottom line is avoid this one.
One of the most reflective young adult films I've ever seen.
triple828 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILERS THROUGH:
It's seldom that movies about teenagers have the depth that this one does. SubUrbia deserves to be up in the top of the heap in that respect as I can recall few other movies of this type that get the accuracy of youth in suburbia so absolutely RIGHT. The people, the dialog, the issues-it was all there. In addition the movie was actually interesting.
As in movies like "Clerks" and "Breakfast Club" this film takes place in a short period of time, one night actually. I'm not going to get into reviewing the whole plot as that's not my thing but I will comment on the essence of the movie and on just how vividly the characters are brought to life on screen. This is a much darker movie then the above mentioned two and an unflinchingly honest Picture. Deserves not just good but excellent status.
For anyone who has experienced their own days of hanging out in suburban parking lots there will be a lot to relate to. It's almost inevitable for anyone with a past to be able to find aspects of themselves or a fellow suburbanite or two, in many of the characters. Sometimes it's a little uncomfortable to watch as it may feel less like watching a movie and more like eavesdropping on yourself and your friends. This isn't a "fast times" type of picture, this reflects the darker aspects of youth.
This movie really did remind me of "Clerks" a lot in that the whole film took place in a night and because of the "slice of life" aspect of the movie. Then again there's a tad bit of "River's Edge" in this as well(a must see if one hasn't seen it.) There have been few movies since "Rivers Edge" that have so effectively captured the inertia and Disconnect of growing up suburban and this one does. It's a fantastic picture.
I don't necessarily see these characters as people who don't have dreams. Rather in some aspects they seem to dream far more then many. And when Pony, another suburbanite who had the same dreams which just happened to come true, returns to town, resentment is almost inevitable.
I'd recommend the movie but maybe not when one is in a bad mood. It's one of the most reflective young adult films I've ever seen and is a must see for anyone who likes a dose of reality and poignant story to their films. This is a 9.5 out of 10.
It's seldom that movies about teenagers have the depth that this one does. SubUrbia deserves to be up in the top of the heap in that respect as I can recall few other movies of this type that get the accuracy of youth in suburbia so absolutely RIGHT. The people, the dialog, the issues-it was all there. In addition the movie was actually interesting.
As in movies like "Clerks" and "Breakfast Club" this film takes place in a short period of time, one night actually. I'm not going to get into reviewing the whole plot as that's not my thing but I will comment on the essence of the movie and on just how vividly the characters are brought to life on screen. This is a much darker movie then the above mentioned two and an unflinchingly honest Picture. Deserves not just good but excellent status.
For anyone who has experienced their own days of hanging out in suburban parking lots there will be a lot to relate to. It's almost inevitable for anyone with a past to be able to find aspects of themselves or a fellow suburbanite or two, in many of the characters. Sometimes it's a little uncomfortable to watch as it may feel less like watching a movie and more like eavesdropping on yourself and your friends. This isn't a "fast times" type of picture, this reflects the darker aspects of youth.
This movie really did remind me of "Clerks" a lot in that the whole film took place in a night and because of the "slice of life" aspect of the movie. Then again there's a tad bit of "River's Edge" in this as well(a must see if one hasn't seen it.) There have been few movies since "Rivers Edge" that have so effectively captured the inertia and Disconnect of growing up suburban and this one does. It's a fantastic picture.
I don't necessarily see these characters as people who don't have dreams. Rather in some aspects they seem to dream far more then many. And when Pony, another suburbanite who had the same dreams which just happened to come true, returns to town, resentment is almost inevitable.
I'd recommend the movie but maybe not when one is in a bad mood. It's one of the most reflective young adult films I've ever seen and is a must see for anyone who likes a dose of reality and poignant story to their films. This is a 9.5 out of 10.
People liked this movie?
horrorflicklover30 November 2012
There isn't one single likeable character in this film. I have to say that it made me feel like the old man complaining about "kids these days". It represented a demographic in the worst way. It's just like "Reality Bites". It's not a "coming of age" film if it's just as one-dimensional at the end as it was in the beginning.
There's no lesson here. There's no growth or change for any of the characters. The plot overall is generally uninteresting. And it's certainly not helped by the fact that as I said, every single character is wholly unlikable.
Now, I don't believe that every film needs a lesson. This isn't a "very special episode" of Blossom. But this film drifts completely aimlessly in lieu of having any lesson (or growth, or even just interesting dialog).
When you watch a film like "Kids", there is no lesson. But the film worked so well because it was implied heavily as to the dangers of what those characters were doing to themselves or others. Kids also dealt with some very heavy drama, and it stood on its own. That's not to say that the emotional problems that the characters in subUrbia deal with aren't real. But they certainly did a lousy job convincing me that I should care.
Likewise, take a look at "Clerks". Another film that takes place entirely in one day. Another film dealing with frustrated main characters trying to navigate through young adulthood. But Clerks gave us dynamic, likeable, and/or relatable characters. It did have a lesson as well, which I think this film could have certainly used. And overall, it was just much more interesting and engaging.
SubUrbia is just straight up shallow. To it's credit, I wouldn't say it's necessarily boring. And I do think it succeeded in representing the frustration of the characters. But the one-dimensional characters and generally aimless plot kill it for me.
It's not even that I'm a bitter, out of touch old man. I hated this film when I was 17, and I hate it now. In fact, I was younger than the characters in the film when I first saw it. And even at that age, I thought that they were insufferable. And I was *17,* I had a lot of growing up to do myself. But I certainly wanted to apologize to anyone who had to deal with my adolescent whining after I watched this steaming pile! Sure, the characters are relatable, but this film is obnoxious and crappy for the same reason that "Reality Bites" was. And I *never* understood how that one became acclaimed.
There's so many better films that represent youth disaffection, sexual frustration, feelings of inadequacy, and jealousy than this one does. Films that have real depth and good characters. You can certainly skip this one.
There's no lesson here. There's no growth or change for any of the characters. The plot overall is generally uninteresting. And it's certainly not helped by the fact that as I said, every single character is wholly unlikable.
Now, I don't believe that every film needs a lesson. This isn't a "very special episode" of Blossom. But this film drifts completely aimlessly in lieu of having any lesson (or growth, or even just interesting dialog).
When you watch a film like "Kids", there is no lesson. But the film worked so well because it was implied heavily as to the dangers of what those characters were doing to themselves or others. Kids also dealt with some very heavy drama, and it stood on its own. That's not to say that the emotional problems that the characters in subUrbia deal with aren't real. But they certainly did a lousy job convincing me that I should care.
Likewise, take a look at "Clerks". Another film that takes place entirely in one day. Another film dealing with frustrated main characters trying to navigate through young adulthood. But Clerks gave us dynamic, likeable, and/or relatable characters. It did have a lesson as well, which I think this film could have certainly used. And overall, it was just much more interesting and engaging.
SubUrbia is just straight up shallow. To it's credit, I wouldn't say it's necessarily boring. And I do think it succeeded in representing the frustration of the characters. But the one-dimensional characters and generally aimless plot kill it for me.
It's not even that I'm a bitter, out of touch old man. I hated this film when I was 17, and I hate it now. In fact, I was younger than the characters in the film when I first saw it. And even at that age, I thought that they were insufferable. And I was *17,* I had a lot of growing up to do myself. But I certainly wanted to apologize to anyone who had to deal with my adolescent whining after I watched this steaming pile! Sure, the characters are relatable, but this film is obnoxious and crappy for the same reason that "Reality Bites" was. And I *never* understood how that one became acclaimed.
There's so many better films that represent youth disaffection, sexual frustration, feelings of inadequacy, and jealousy than this one does. Films that have real depth and good characters. You can certainly skip this one.
A very deep comedy!
flowasis3 January 1999
I'm not big on comparing movies, so in watching this movie I abolished the fact that some of the same people who worked on Dazed and Confused did this movie. Depending upon what you expect of this movie determines what exactly you will think of it impressionably. Suburbia is a comedy, but more so a strong story delivered by great actors. Its moral is one of those undefined feelings that will never truly be diagramed, and then again that's not its point. Suburbia unleashes characters that are filled with life and dimension beyond the threes' parallel. It's a story about not caring, about doing, and becoming. It leaves you with a decision in your own self. Deep for a comedy, but simply an excellent movie!
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