Review of Johnny Suede (1991) by Jutamanee J — 28 May 2006
Tom Dicillo has his own uniquelly smart and entertaining way of being left of center. In this film there is is a minimalist aesthetic which seems like maybe it was his creative way of dealing with the budget constraint.
The affect is a desolate urban landscape existing in a slightly altered universe from reality akin to what Jim Jarmusch or Hal Hartley portrays. A young Brad Pitt and Catherine Keener are both odd and delightful together.
Keener's jaded-girl movie personae seems to have first appeared here. Pitt's pompodour is purposefully exaggerated as is everything about this guy who really is more of a dream character held together a by a very specific set of symbols rather then a personality, though, Pitt plays this with a child-like innocence that is endearing.
It seems also that this was the young Pitt having the instinct to send up his teen idol good looks in a similar way to what Johnny Depp did in John Water's 'Cry Baby'.
This review of Johnny Suede (1991) was written by Jutamanee J on 28 May 2006.
Johnny Suede has generally received mixed reviews.
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