Review of Slacker (1990) by Gary R — 04 Apr 2004

[font=Impact][size=3]One Word: Neat[/size][/font].

[font=Tahoma][size=3]Plot: I don't think there really is one. A day in the life of some of Austin Texas' twenty-somethings. An experimental post-film school project.[/size][/font].

[font=Tahoma][size=3]Who Would Like it: People who liked "Dazed and Confused", film geek fan boys, people who need sleep [/size][/font].

[font=Tahoma][size=3]My Thoughts: I had always wanted to see this film in the mid 90's. One reason being is that I enjoyed Linklaters "Dazed and Confused". I heard that the film was about kids just hanging around and not doing anything. At the time, I couldn't beleive that it was that simple. Well, guess what? That's basically what it is. It starts with the director playing a guy getting off of a bus and gettting a ride in a cab. He talks about some dream that he had to the cab driver who pays no heed to him. He gets out of the cab, walks down the block, and the camera slinks back and starts to cover another character. We get to know that character for a couple of minutes, and just when it gets interesting, somebody else walks by and the focus changes to them. And so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on. Get the point? At first glance, it all seems pointless, but there are some characters along the way that are sort of interesting. One being the guy who is a JFK assasination conspiracy expert and another guy who is a television addict. There are some pop culture references like Madonna and the Smurfs but are somewhat dated. You may get some other references, and there are some that are obscure and may not get if you have never seen any foreign films. [/size][/font].

[font=Tahoma][size=3]The experimental convention tires fast and there isn't any cohesive line that links all of the characters together. I thought that there was going to be a big revelation at the end that ultimately wraps everything together, but I was wrong. As a viewer, you are wisked from one character to another as if you were a fly on the wall peeking in to all that is goin on. The voyeur aspect may titilate some and in the age of reality tv may seem old to others. [/size][/font].

[font=Tahoma][size=3]Of all of the different characters, you will like some and will dislike others. You may even relate to some of these characters. Some are dull, some are painfully hip, some are just dumb. But they all talk as if they have high IQs. I read a review that said the film was "highly-literate" and most of the characters reflect this. [/size][/font].

[font=Tahoma][size=3]But what does this all add up to? Not much really, but maybe that's the point.[/size][/font].

[font=Tahoma][size=3]Bottome Line: I liked the film if not for the experimental factor, but for the fact that a film like this was actually made. It is different than anything you are likely to ever see. I hate to say that it is an "art" film, but it does fit the bill. Neat little film with lots of characters, but with not any developement. It doesn't go any where and I think that is my major hang up with Slackers. It may make you think while you are watching it, and it may even make you think why you are watching it, but you will watch it.[/size][/font].

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