Review of Speedway Junky (1999) by Rich B — 30 Aug 2005

Speedway Junky (1999) ? ?I?m starting to have serious doubts about whether or not I?m going to Charlotte. Seems like maybe it?s not worth going through all this just to get there.? ? Johnny.

A naïve, runaway, 18-year old racer wannabe looks to build up extra cash to finance a trip to Charlotte by investing in the slot machines at a Las Vegas hotel. He?s robbed while distracted and suddenly finds himself neck-deep in the cold, cruel world. Johnny (Jesse Bradford) roams the streets and in very short order is inducted into the world of the street kids.

The film sports a sweet soundtrack and it is loaded with fine young talent (e.g. Jordan Brower), but the story rolls like a lop-sided ball. I'm even baffled at how the movie title relates to the script. I thought that Gus Van Sant directed, but after watching the film, I checked a little closer and discovered that Nickolas Perry wrote and directed the film. Thanks to Gus (the Producer), Perry had some great talent to work with. Jonathan Taylor Thomas (Home Improvement) is unrecognizably awesome, but his character is badly mismanaged.