“SubUrbia” is yet another unheralded gem from the great Richard Linklater. Linklater has crafted several of my all-time favorite films. This 1996 indie packs dark humor and tales of depressing reality. Based on an Eric Bogosian play of the same name, “SubUrbia” successfully captures slacker life in the 1990s.
“Complicated or not. Life moves on.”
The film sets its focus on a group of five friends in the post-high school years. I could relate. A group of early twentysomethings that are seemingly stuck in their hometown. Its set in a fictional suburb of Austin, but could be set anywhere. The friends bond over drinking, shooting the shit, and their dead end jobs and lives.
Richard Linklater knows how to make something out of the mundane. Here, he takes a relatable premise, crafts intriguing and organic dialogue, and lets the story speak for itself. The events of the movie occur in a single night. Locals who didn’t go to college or move away, and hold resentment over the ones that did.
The dialogue heavy film is propelled by excellent acting.
It’s an ensemble cast. Giovanni Ribisi as Jeff, Amie Carey as Sooze, Steve Zahn as Buff, Nicky Katt as Tim, and Dina Spybey as Bee-Bee. Each character is fully fleshed out in a mere handful of minutes. We can understand what they are all speaking. Whether or not we like or agree with the message.
Friday night, circa 1996
Jeff is dating Sooze. Sooze wants to move to New York City to be an artist. Jeff dropped out of college and wants to change the world. Tim was honorably discharged from the Air Force due to an injury. He’s an aggressive drunk with emotional issues. “I’m a loser, and I’m a drunk. But I’m not gutless.” he scolds Jeff.
Steve Zahn is the childlike friend we all had (have). One hysterical moment depicts him stealing a cement lawn ornament from a random house. It brought laughs and literal memories. The cast continues with Parker Posey, Samia Shoaib, and Ajay Naidu in a pre-Office Space role.
Steve Zahn plays a funny drunk in “SubUrbia”
The group of slackers prepare for yet another evening of hanging out in a parking lot beside a convenient store. This time they are joined by another former classmate (Jayce Bartok) who has become a successful pop star. The dynamics are shifted once again. Hopes and dreams are pitted against the reality of failure. Is success defined by money?
Nostalgia alone makes “SubUrbia” a winner.
The opening Castle Rock graphic is enough to send chills down your spine. Clothing, music, and cars will wink at us Generation Xers. It reminds some of us how great 1996 and the surrounding years were.
Chances are, you haven’t watched or heard of “SubUrbia.” Fans of indie films, the 90s, and Richard Linklater will love it. It’s a lesson in simple but solid story telling. Richard Linklater films continue to wow me.
“SubUrbia” is available to rent on Amazon.
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