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SLC Punk

SLC Punk

List Price: $19.94
Your Price: $15.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Meandering events vaguely resembling a plot... and yet...
Review: ...it's still a solid, fun film. Even tear-jerking at times. The characters are a handsome rainbow of wry stereotypes; they're pretty to look at to boot.

However, my main point in adding ANOTHER review to the 187 that exist: WHO CARES IF IT'S PUNK!!!! Or, for that matter, if it isn't! All of these reviewers who bother to whine and moan about how "not punk" the movie is... why? Didn't the characters and the film itself seem to mock the ever-present "punk/not punk" war? SLC Punk doesn't try to be hardcore. It doesn't really appear to TRY to be anything, aside from a lovely look at the confused nature of any radical philosophy: the blind rush for money and prestige as well as aimless rebellion.

For that matter, who cares if it's an "accurate portrayal" of the punk scene of the time? It's not a documentary, it's a fictional movie.

Oh, and everyone... spell "poseur" correctly, please!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This movie explains wat i am
Review: I am a pun,kk and this movie kicks @$$ I CAN RELATE TO IT WITH MY 8 INCH HIGH MOWHAWK.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: punks for idiots
Review: This is by far one of the greatest movies ever made. The whole concept of punks, anarchy and staying true to your beliefs is intresting to follow. Stevo believes in anacrhy so much that he lives his life by it but soon figures out that hes been contercepting his self the whole time because he doesnt believe in rules and there he is folling the anarchy rules. To finally figure this out he goes though situations that test his view of life. By the end of the movie you the viewer and stevo see things in a whole other light. This is an educational and interesting movie to see if your a punk, poser or just some one who follows the government.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This film is great
Review: This was an intelligent and fun romp through the Salt Lake City Punk scene from the Mid-eighties. It is the story of Steve-o, essentially the "poster boy" for left wing punks in the SLC area, but also essentially believed to be one of the more intelligent people in the area too.

Steve-O is played by Mathew Lillard of "Scream" or "Scooby Doo" fame (he played Shaggy). No. This is NOT your typical Mathew Lillard performance, though his zany personality DOES come out some in his character.

The first time I saw this movie in any way, shape or form, I started watching near the end of the movie and it was one of the more confusing, worthless movie experiences I've EVER had and it really turned me off to the possibilty of this being a good movie. Then I moved in with a roomate who owned the Video and was "forced" to watch the movie.

It's a great flick about politics, "punks", society, love, and life. I really like the characters, the way the film shows the growth of all the characters, and I feel the side bar things, such as narratives and explanations of scenes (the fight scene with the rednecks being what I'm referring to) are great for showing a point, moving the plot and also justifying some scenes to punch up the movie a bit.

Well worth your time, this small film is definitely a film to watch. Some of the scenes are nearly stolen by the man who plays Lillard's dad, as he has a great performance too.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Matthew Lillard shows he can act-- a rarity!
Review: SLC Punk! (James Merendino, 1999)

Matthew Lillard, in the main, makes mediocre movies. So when I stumble upon something like The Curve or SLC Punk!, I find myself pleasantly surprised. The boy IS capable of acting, he just doesn't seem to do it all that often.

SLC Punk! is the deceptively simple tale of two punks, Stevo (Lillard) and Bob (indie film favorite Michael Goorjian) trying to survive in the counterculture of perhaps the country's most boring metropolis, Salt Lake City, Utah. Professing a belief in anarchy and a general confusion about such heavy topics as drugs, the opposite sex, and what punk really is, the two, coupled with various fringe players, spend long hours cooking up ways to take down the system without ever actually doing so. That is, when they're not partying.

While Lillard and Goorjian are the centerpieces, some of the fringe roles are just as well-acted and engrossing. Star Trek cutie Jennifer Lien plays Stevo's on-again off-again soulmate, while Bob falls in love with X-Files' Annabeth Gish. Christoper McDonald, forever branded with the stigma of having played Tappy Tibbons in Requiem for a Dream, does a minor but wonderful turn as Stevo's dad. James Duval, Summer Phoenix, Devon Sawa, and a host of others all also pop up in minor roles.

Like its main characters, the movie seems to have no direction at first, but ends up being more than just your typical slice-of-life flick. There is meat to these bones, and it's quite fine. Recommended for more than just the novelty of seeing Matthew Lillard actually act, for once. *** ½

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great movie!
Review: So many reviews on here are talking about how "un-realistic" this movie is to the "real" punk scene in SLC, you guys need to get over youselves, this is a great movie. Obviously you missed the last five minutes of the film because it totally proves that this movie's intentions were not to be "realistic".

Overall, this is a great movie. It'll make you laugh, perhaps it'll make you cry, but overall it'll make you think. It's very funny and clever, a great watch if you're lookin' for a movie to rent. However, I must agree in the fact that it's probably not worth the 18 dollars that most websites and Hot Topic want you to shell out.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: SLC Punk
Review: While this is a wonderful film and I thought it was greatly entertaining, most people reviewing this film seem to be reviewing the accuracy of the subject. Well, the accuracy and whether or not it was "punk". Well, that really wasn't the point of the film. It wasn't a documentary, it was a comedy-drama about a "punk" (which is debatable) who must decide whether to conform and persue a good career or continue his life as an anarchist out to destroy modern society. It was very funny and entertaining, but most people watch it judging it as a "punk" movie for the "punx". For example, one girl remarked that straight-edge should have been a subject in the film. Well, I'm guessing she's an emo-kid because they are the only ones who seem to think that straight-edge was the most important thing that happenned during the early era of punk. If you were into the PUNK scene, you would know that it straight-edge was a movement popularised by A Minor Threat in the late 70s in Washington DC. Of course, since they listen to EMO and not PUNK they think that Dischord was the most important thing to happen to the scene (since it relates to emo), and basically everything that was important about the scene was washed into the background. If you're going to critisise the film based on accuracy, at least know what your talking about. With that aside, I would recomend this film to everyone, because it is a funny and interesting film.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Beware- this is for locals only.
Review: I grew up in Salt Lake in the mid to late 80s. This really is not the best of movies, but it was extremely cool for me because it paralleled so many experiences that I had. It was a thrill to be reminded of seeing bands like the Circle Jerks back at the Speedway. It should in no way be used to compare with any movements existing today. For a lot of us it was a fresh and vibrant scene that died by 1990. Society has changed too much. I feel like it is a fairly accurate depiction of a lot that was going on in SLC back then. Salt Lake counter culture likes to rebel against the mormon stereotype and the punk scene was a perfect format for this. There was a lot of posers back then and a lot of kids who did not internalize what they were expressing, they just followed the stereotypes. The acting is good, the soundtrack is excellent beginning right of the bat with the Exploited. Stevo concludes that it is best to change society from the inside out and this conclusion is a real gem and makes the movie worth seeing for anyone.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: God bless America...they're going to need it.
Review: Set in the year 1985, SLC (Salt Lake City) Punk stars Matthew Lillard as Stevo, one of two punks caught in the heart of conservatism in Salt Lake City, or Salt Lake Sh*tty, as they would say.

Never being a big fan of Lillard (Scooby Doo, Wing Commander, Scream), I waited nearly two years before picking this movie up. I have to say I was impressed by his portrayal of Stevo, along with the rest of the movie.

Many of the ideals of punk are explored, a lot of times in narrative, such as anarchy, rebellion, fighting, drugs, changing the system, sell outs, poseurs, music, and random chaos. I really didn't get a sense of the true punk scene, not like I did with Sid and Nancy, but this movie was entertaining.

Basically the movie follows Stevo and his friend, Heroin Bob around and documents their existence. We get a view into their politics, social circles, lifestyle, relationships, and their difficulties in being a part of the counterculture in conservative America. The film tends to bounce around somewhat erratically, but that seemed in line to me with the subject matter. There are a number of very funny scenes, including one involving a trip to Wyoming for alcohol. Utah sells alcohol, but the sale of such spirits is highly restrictive. I especially enjoyed the ending, even though I did see it coming, but Lillard's performance during the scene really helped to make it work.

A good supporting cast, an excellent music score, and fine direction work together to make this movie worth looking into, especially if you have any interest in the punk scene in America during the 80's. I didn't get a sense that it was completely representative of the movement, but maybe it's not supposed to be...I don't know.

There are some decent extras, including a commentary track by the director and some of the stars, an isolated music score, a couple of trailers, production notes, and an SLC comic book (not an actual comic book, but one you can view on the screen). Oh yeah, if you are easily offened by the liberal use of profanity, you might skip this one as the cursing comes fast and furious.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: SLC Punk (Salt Lake City Punk)
Review: I'll be the first to admit that though this movie may include alot of stereotypes and exaggerations, it's funny and witty. The ending is good. That's pretty much one star in my point of view. Another star for comedy, and one more for some slaps in the face. I reccomend you see it, but you won't miss too much if you don't.


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