Suburbia
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Movie Reviews of Suburbia
Movie Review: "What are you all dressed up for? Where's the war?"
Summary: 3 Stars
Disinfected youth...er, I mean disaffected youth...for each generation there seems to be a film out there to relate the rebellious, discontented, estranged, insurgent, anarchistic elements within said generation...the 50's presented us with Marlon Brando as The Wild One, the 60's came forth with Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda in Easy Rider, the 70's brought us Roller Boogie with Linda Blair (okay, maybe that's not the best example, but then the 70's were pretty lame), and the 80's brought Suburbia (1984)...written and directed by Penelope Spheeris (The Decline of Western Civilization, Wayne's World), the film stars Chris Pedersen (Night of the Comet), along with a bunch of people you've probably never heard of who's only acting credit is this film (Spheeris used a lot of `real life kids' instead of actors, assumingly to present the story as realistically as possible). There's one other notable person appearing in that of a very young Flea (a wee flea? I know, I know, that's pretty lame), from the band The Red Hot Chili Peppers, credited as Mike B. The Flea (his real name is Michael Peter Balzary).
The film begins with a pretty shocking scene that seems to have little to do with anything (later we'll see it's sort of a metaphor, as there's quite a few throughout), and then cuts into a scene of a teenage boy named Evan difficulties within his home life that lead to him running away (moms is an angry drunk), wandering the streets of L.A. Evan soon falls in with a group of homeless teens who call themselves T.R., short for The Rejected, lead by Jack Diddley (Pedersen), at least he appears to be the leader as he seems the oldest and the only one with a car. The teens live among a condemned series of houses, and survive by begging or stealing what they need from residents in nearby populated neighborhoods (here's a tip if you live in L.A. near the airport...keep your garage door closed, as an open door is an invitation to roving gangs to come in and take whatever isn't nailed down). The tax-paying residents, who are feeling the frustrations stemming from the effects of Reaganomics (various plants have closed down, forcing many out of work), are growing increasing angry at the kids and their antics, and also at the police for their ineffectual manner in dealing with the situation (the residents do have a valid argument in this, as the police in this film really don't seem to do much of anything). As a result, the more redneck elements of the residents decide to take matters into their own hands, trying to scare off the homeless kids with forceful tactics, with pretty predictable consequences (i.e. someone gets killed).
This isn't a happy film...there are a few funny moments, but there's an overall nihilistic sense to the story. As the movie progresses, we get some insight on where the kids come from, the circumstances that led them to where they're at now, along with the antagonistic attitudes they must face on a daily basis of a society that doesn't want them, and doesn't know how to deal with them. They don't appear to be bad, as they formed their own little family unit, relying on each other for some basic needs, but more products of circumstances out of their control, left to their own devices, surviving anyway they can (much like the wild dogs that roam the area where the kids live)...the style of direction matches the attitude of the material on the screen very well, appearing very raw, unfocused, lacking the polish one would normally see theatrical release. As I said, many of those appearing are not professional actors, so the performances may appear amateurish, but I think that's the intent. The dialogue is pretty simplistic, but then this also serves to further highlight the pragmatic nature of the story. There's no candy coating interpretations, no buffoonish characterizations, only a raw, warts and all, glimpse into a world many of us would probably not have had a chance to experience. I've read some opinions that state you really need to be a fan of punk rock (there's some great performances by bands like T.S.O.L., The Vandals, and D.I.) to appreciate this film, and while I think it would really help, I don't necessarily agree with the exclusivity of those sentiments (I was actually indoctrinated to punk music back in the late 80's when I found a Dead Kennedy's cassette for sale at a used record shop). I think most all can enjoy a good film, especially one that offers viewers a chance to understand a segment of the population that appears so completely foreign. You may not gain any real insight, or even develop a liking where there might have originally been a disliking (people often despise what they don't understand), but I think one can appreciate, at the very least, the effort to give a voice to those who few would listen to otherwise.
I really wanted to give this release 4 stars, but the picture quality, presented in full screen (it states `digitally remastered' on the case), pan and scan format looks pretty rough, much like that of a VHS tape. It would have been nice if someone had sprung to clean it up a bit, and release it in the original aspect ratio, but this is a Roger Corman release, and he seems not so inclined to spend any more than necessary than he has to (cheap b@stard)...the DVD does contain a few interesting special features, including a commentary track by writer/director Spheeris, along with brief biographies of Corman, Spheeris, and Pedersen, original and alternate theatrical trailers (the film was originally titled Rebel Streets), and some trailers for other Corman releases including one for Saint Jack (1979) and Piranha (1978). If you liked this film, check out a movie called Over the Edge (1979), featuring Matt Dillon in his first, feature role, not yet on DVD.
Cookieman108
Movie Review: One person's version of 80's punk and L.A.
Summary: 3 Stars
Before I became a christian, this movie was like my mantra of life. Im not kidding, this movie was that important to me at age 14/15 back in 1985. However, now that I am 32 and it's no longer the 80's, it's the year 2004, I'll say some stuff about this film. This movie depicts a story of kids in the LA area in the early 80's, who due to family problems end up running away and becoming punks. These characters are "rescued" in different ways by a group of punk kids called "TR"-"the rejected"..they live in a house in the middle of an abandoned suburban neighborhood "out by the 605" freeway in Downey, CA (which is actually a predominantly latino community in real life)..these kids are punks with spiked hair, leather jackets, ripped army surplus clothes and run down cars with the names of punk bands spray painted on them...in other words, they dont look like others. They're opposed by local "redneck" type adults who seem to have it out for the TR kids, until a showdown..in between are various concert performances from 80's LA punk bands DI, the Vandals, and tsol...a very young Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers is in the movie as Razzle, a kid who shoots cockroaches with his slingshot and loves his pet rat. Also in the movie is Chris Petersen as Jack, one of the main characters, and an actor who's only other role was a small part in Oliver Stone's Platoon
I will say that this film is not entirely realistic...it's a somewhat "punk rock romanticized" version of LA. Southern Cal in this movie is seen as this place where wild dogs run around like coyotes and people sit by bonfires at night..as if LA in the early 80's was some sort of wild west frontier. Also, anyone in this movie who's not a punk rocker has no fashion whatsoever...all the non punks in the film wear random polo shirts and slacks from the discount section of Mervyn's. There's no breakdancers, pop lockers, mods, low riders, or any other style of person to compete with the punk lifestyle (styles that actually were around in real life in LA at the time)-it's either punks or t.v audience-looking "maniquins"...in a way, it's a teenager's view of the world, there's me and my group, and then there's everyone else.
However, Suburbia shows the value of being a friend to others, and shows the problems of prejudice and dysfunctional families, which is somewhat the moral of the film..It's not 100% realistic as some feel, but it will show Penelope Sheris's vision of 80's punk culture-- before it was turned into the "MTV Jackass/Blink 182" "corporate version" of punk that exists now
Movie Review: Great Movie But Poor Transfer To DVD
Summary: 3 Stars
Suburbia does an excellent job of capturing the spirit of the hardcore punk scene of the early 1980's. All of its music and fashion (long before the goth look became trendy) is accurately portrayed. Whereas in SLC punk where you had actors portraying punk rockers, the kids in Suburbia were actually part of the hardcore music scene.My biggest disappointment with this DVD though is it's quality. As this was one my favorite movies from my teen years, I was hoping that the DVD would be a nice clear print of the film. Instead, it looks like the film was transferred from a VHS tape. Very poor sound and video. The commentary by director Penelope Spheeris is also lacking in that she should have included some of the "punk" actors. It would have been interesting to hear their take on this film (and the hardcore scene) 20 years later.
I would have given this DVD 5 stars but have subtracted two points for the poor quality of the transfer.
Movie Review: your punk........what and you havent seen this yet!!!!!!!!!
Summary: 3 Stars
this by far is what it was like when I was growing up a suburbian punk in the 80's I lived a lot of this movie running away with friends sleeping in a shack or on someones floor taking in runaways into my house hiding them from the rents going to concerts every week begging for change to get in underage drinking basically living a ill spent adolecence of rebellion .the acting is what it is and thats makes it more realistic so if you don't like this movie then you were or never will really be punk.......OI!Movie Review: Good Movie, Bad DVD
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought this movie because I saw it on sale at the local Farm & Fleet. It was actually a very good movie and I enjoyed it, I don't care too much about content of the movie itself because I'm sure everyone else will already be reviewing it. I just cared about the DVD itself. The sound and picture is really bad and looks like it was just copied from an old VHS tape. I would expect DVD quality from a movie that has just been rereleased