SubUrbia (1996)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Richard Linklater

Writers (WGA):

Eric Bogosian (play)
Eric Bogosian (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 February 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A group of suburbian teenagers try to support each other through the difficult task of becoming adults. Loosely based on the life of Eric the scriptwriter of the film.

Plot Keywords:

Rock Star | Convenience Store | Suburban | Cigarettes | Public Nudity

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jayce Bartok	...	Pony
Amie Carey	...	Sooze
Nicky Katt	...	Tim
Ajay Naidu	...	Nazeer Choudhury
Parker Posey	...	Erica
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Jeff
Samia Shoaib	...	Pakeesa Choudhury
Dina Waters	...	Bee-Bee (as Dina Spybey)
Steve Zahn	...	Buff
Kitt Brophy	...	Sooze's Mom
Jonn Cherico	...	Shopping Channel Host
Keith Preusse	...	Officer Chip
Eric Park	...	Officer Gary
William Martin Hayes	...	Scuff
Bill Wise	...	George the Limo Driver

Also Known As:

subUrbi@

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language including sex and drug references, teen drinking and brief nudity.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Australia:M | Spain:13 | UK:18 | USA:R | UK:15 (video re-rating)

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

Sonic Youth wrote "Sunday" for this film in 1996. A re-recorded version of this song appears on their 1998 album "A Thousand Leaves."

Quotes:

Jeff: It would suck if you had to go back to rehab.
Bee-Bee: Yeah, it would suck big time. I'd kill myself first.
Jeff: It was pretty bad, huh?
Bee-Bee: It was like hell. With windows.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Death Proof (2007)

Soundtrack:

Peaceful Day

Too harsh for the masses...

If you like 90 minute movies (over the course which each character becomes a better person), characters with whom you can deeply sympathize, complete resolution of all conflicts, and happy endings, don't rent this. subUrbia is too harsh, too honest, and too painful.

Ribisi and Katt are amazing. Katt was great as the wisecracking "Stacy" in the movie The Limey, a role similar to his in subUrbia (Tim). Overall, the characters are too angry, poisonous, and disillusioned to be likeable. I didn't find this to be a bad thing, however.

Adding to the numbing ache of the movie is the fantastic score- Sonic Youth's droning guitars and a nihilistic soundtrack all add to the depression in Linklater/Begosian's Burnfield. Enjoy. Or not.