Johnny Suede

Now, personally, I would give this movie a 7. But from a viewing perspective, and general public take, I would give it a 5 or 5.5. It tells the story of a young man who is aiming to become a big shot musician. He is struggling to reach that state, and it is clear he is not trying very hard to get his career running. He meets a few girls along the way, performs with his band, meets some good industry connections, and then there's something about a suede shoe. It's a good movie, and definitely a movie that's all Brad Pitt. 6 Stars

There is this continuous misuse of the word "comedy" as a substitute for quirky, off-beat, different, strange, weird, etc. This is the case here. The film is not funny. It is not a comedy in any way. Comedy means inducing laughter. There are very few laughs here, not because this film tries some jokes that fail to hit the mark - the film doesn't try because it's not a comedy. The film is a light-hearted take on a wannabe rock star - his financial problems, love life, band issues and music career. It attempts to be light-hearted but it is actually sad and depressing. Abject poverty, terrible, dirty apartments, hopeless music career, you name it. The story itself isn't that interesting and the film is not really fun to watch. It's really low-budget, apparently $500k, but I think they spent it all on celluloid and actor salaries, because it looks like it was filmed on a $5k budget. The music is good, but it's not enough to save this dud of a film.

Tom Dicillo, after Living in Oblivion and Box of Moonlight, has proved himself to be one of the best writers and directors in the business. This, his feature film debut as director, is a nice tale which is solid entertainment but not as good as his later films. Brad Pitt looks a bit too pretty throughout the film (watch Living in Oblivion, the James LeGros character is a parody of Pitt) but there is a good supporting cast, and the film has some very good moments. Definitely worth watching. 7 out of 10

Definitely my favorite Brad Pitt movie, very cool. This film has a great humour all of its own that bounces against the bleak environment. Was good to see Nick Cave's cameo here, he is cool too. I very much appreciated the whole thing with the relationships with the first girl who soon dumps him and Yvonne who is now offering everything but unfortunately he has been scared. This film truly is a cross between Eraserfead and James Dean if you ask me, it has that Lynchian quality to it. This film got me laughing out loud which was great. Some good music in here too, timeless good music. this is a very entertaining film, it has the right tempo to keep you watching.

JOHNNY SUEDE is a very early role for Brad Pitt (he had just finished THELMA AND LOUSIE). yet he delivers a surprisingly nuanced performance as a clueless and childlike hipster. Many films of this nature boast a character who is in love with his own hipness, and delights in educating his contemporaries to this fact. Nothing can be farther from this than Pitt's take on Johnny. His reading of the character is so hesitant and tentative, as to be almost "challenged". Catherine Keener's character (who is introduced much too late in the film) becomes the driving force in the film, and attempts to show this carefully coiffed dandy what it might mean to be a man. A proper release of the film was held up because backers weren't sure his performance would connect with fans who were expecting a more polished Hollywood Heart Throb. Quirky and Mind-bending indeed. Excellent Commentary by Tom DiCillo.

This is one of the very early films in which Catherine Keener appears, and if you are among her growing population of admirers, this film is amust see. Keener has never been better, except maybe in "Living in Oblivion". Aside from that, this film is about as forgettable as an offbeat film can be. Annoying at times, there are some bright spots in this film that make it worthwhile as a whole.

"Johnny Suede" is a slice of life flick which tells of a peculiar fictitious character, Suede (Pitt), who has a 10 inch pompadour, worships Ricky Nelson, is a wannabee musician/star, is naive or stupid or both, and has little else worthy of mention. The slice the film presents (the story) is off-beat and creative in the minutia and anticlimactic in the whole. Pitt and Keneer and Levels work well in their roles but can't make up for a story which is about as satisfying as a baloney sandwich on Thanksgiving Day. A no brainer for channel surfers.