SLC PunkIn the early 1980′s Stevo and Heroin Bob are the only two dedicated punks in conversative Salt Lake City.SLC Punk starts out entertainingly enough as a sarcastic snapshot of the punk-rock scene in Salt Lake City in 1985–complete with mohawks, moshing, and vague avowals of anarchy. But gradually, the wanderings of Stevo (Matthew Lillard from Scream) and Heroin Bob (Michael Goorjian) turn into a multilayered exploration of character and culture shock. Though he spends his days drinking and mocking the values of his parents, Stevo turns just as critical an eye on his own rhetoric and lifestyle, and comes to find that aimless rebellion may be just as hollow as the mindless pursuit of money. No character has the right point of view; there are no easy solutions. Despite lacking anything in the way of a plot, SLC Punk sustains its energy through wit, realism, propulsive editing, and excellent performances from Lillard, Goorjian, and the rest of the cast. It’s emblematic of the movie’s sophistication that Stevo’s lawyer father (Christopher McDonald, who played Geena Davis’s husband in Thelma and Louise) is treated satirically without being dismissed; though baffled by his son’s form of rebellion, he never loses hope that Stevo will go on to law school and continues to cajole Stevo and argue with him about how the world works. By its end, the constantly shifting perspective of SLC Punk achieves a surprising emotional depth. It’s also given a lot of energy by a well-chosen soundtrack of energetic but not overly familiar music of the time, including selections from Fear, the Dead Kennedys, the Stooges, and even Roxy Music. –Bret Fetzer
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(out of 225 reviews)
Review by Christine for SLC Punk
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I am not trying to insult anyone here, but I have read dozens of reviews of this excellent movie, and it seems a lot of folks miss the point.
This is a great movie, and I’ll tell you why: it is a very very authentic insight, not into the punk scene in 1980s America (which there was one, but it wasn’t very widespread or mainstream), but into adolescence and the transitions into maturity we all have to make. It is a very good study on what happens to the identities we assume for ourselves as teenagers when we discover, in our early twenties, that they no longer fit.
If you haven’t seen it yet, you may not want to read this review any further.
Stevo was a poser! I can’t say it any plainer than that. He admits it too, so anyone who wastes the energy to type “Stevo wasn’t very convincing as a punk,” or criticizes the punk scene as portrayed as not accurate, completely miss the point of this movie. They weren’t punks! They were teenagers, trying to find an identity for themselves. They knew what their parents and city were offering wasn’t for them, but they had no clue what was, so they were trying something out. And for most of them (let us not forget Mike, my favorite character) the whole punk thing didn’t stick.
If you view the movie through that lense, it was fantastic. Lillards performance was outstanding. The music was great. The script was very witty and entertaining. And yes, I imagine the punk movement in SLC, if there ever was one, was pretty lame. I know it was in the midwest where I grew up. That doesn’t take away from the movie – it makes it more authentic and accessible.
Review by Kasia Szpakowska for SLC Punk
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Being an ex-punk (my punk years were 1978-1983) I didn’t expect much from this movie. what a pleasant surprise! Rather than the fashion clones most movies portray, the punks were all individuals, no two the same. Matthew Lillard was absolutely brilliant. I agree that he is probably one of the best and most under-rated actors of his generation.The soundtrack was HOT too! They included many of the bands that were part of punk’s eclectic mix, including Roxy Music (mother of pearl at that!), all the way through the Dead Kennedy’s. The only reason I did not give it a 5 was that the punk scene was portrayed as much more violent than the one I experienced. Then again, I was in San Francisco at an earlier time – perhaps SLC punks were more into thrashing.Even the commentary on the mods was appropriate! The entire film had much more depth and was much more thought-provoking than other more “serious” films I had recently watched. One other caveat – I would have liked to see more women with short hair. Try this movie – it will surprise you!
Review by Jessica Lux for SLC Punk
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This is a coming of age story set in the 1980′s punk scene. I loved the punks in it and I won’t engage in the “Stevo is a poseur or not” battle, because that’s not what the movie is about (and Stevo gives the answer to that question in the final scene, anyway). Where is a more hilarious place to be a punk that the straightlaced Salt Lake City?
This movie has a lot of lighthearted and very comic moments, intertwined into a deeper story about finding your place in life. The relationship between Stevo and his dad is terrific, and I loved watching the scenes where Stevo railed on him for selling out from his hippie ideals. Stevo had a lot of hilarious and intelligent monologues in the movie, on what ideals are, what anarachy means and how fighting actually opposes anarchy, why UK punk music sucks, and what he plans to do with his life.
Watch this with your parents–everyone should get a kick out of seeing a post-college son struggle with opposing or embracing his father’s ideals.
Review by L. Jokubaitis for SLC Punk
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You watch the whole movie but the real message is in the last five minutes of the movie. The harder you try to be something the less you really are. Stevo tired to hard to be a punk therefore he really was not a punk, is there such a thing as a punk/anarchist? you tell me.
Review by for SLC Punk
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**This film was absolutely not what I expected. I was prepared for a simple movie littered with side-splitting laughs. Which is what SLC Punks! started out to be. Quirky, intriguing characters. Funny incidents. But then it spins off into a deep, emotional drama. This completely floored me, and I loved SLC Punks! even more because it. **I can’t say this movie told much of a story, and I don’t think it was meant to. This movie focuses on character rather than plot, which is beautifully illustrated by the non-linear sequence of events. Stevo and Bob are introduced as 1985 SLC punks, but slowly become two people searching for themselves as the film progresses. **The acting here is absolutely fabulous. Matthew Lillard(Scream) gives us a spectacular performance, complete with much facial expression. The most powerful scene in the film is undoubtedly when Stevo finds Bob the morning after Brandy’s party. He’s lost and tortured, and those tears and facial torments are so real it’s shocking. He’s lost not only his best friend, but his inspiration, I think. After all, wasn’t Bob the truest punk of them all? Michael A. Goorjian(Hard Rain) gives a fabulous performance as well, for an example watch the scene when he is confronted with the needle at the doctor’s. He played the part of the neurotic, paranoia-stricken, hardcore punk true to the last thread. I personally thought Trish, as well, was very well played by Annabeth Gish(The X-Files). **Whether or not this film’s focus is poseurs and punk depends how you look at it. Although they are undeniably important elements in the film, I drew very significant meaning from the characters themselves, not their lifestyle. Stevo’s journey through various stages in his life had a huge impact on me as a person. But I suppose “poseur” is an integral part as well. Stevo and Bob spend their whole punk life trying to be as hardcore as possible, and being called a poseur is a horribly degrading insult. This had an impact on me as well, because in trying to be so “hardcore,” maybe Stevo began to lose touch with his true character. And I think that is the beauty of him. **Watch this film. Have no expectations, draw no pretenses. Don’t worry about whether or not the film itself is “poseur.” Just let it take you where it wants to, and see if it has an impact on you. I’ll bet it will.