SubUrbia (1996)

A group of suburban teenagers try to support each other through the difficult task of becoming adults.

Director:

Richard Linklater

Writers:

Eric Bogosian (play), Eric Bogosian (screenplay)

Stars:

Giovanni Ribisi, Steve Zahn, Jayce Bartok

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jayce Bartok	...	Pony
Amie Carey	...	Sooze
Nicky Katt	...	Tim
Ajay Naidu	...	Nazeer Choudhury
Parker Posey	...	Erica
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Jeff
Samia Shoaib	...	Pakeesa Choudhury
Dina Spybey-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

Storyline

Five young losers spend their days and nights wasting their lives away, hanging out in parking lots and occasionally mentioning that they might want to make something of themselves... someday. On this particular night, they are visited by an old high school friend who has escaped their suburban town to become a pop star.

---

Plot Keywords:

pubic hair | male pubic hair | male nudity | public nudity | male frontal nudity | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 July 1997 (Germany)

Also Known As:

subUrbi@

Filming Locations:

Taylor, Texas, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$69,365, 9 February 1997, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$726,207

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castle Rock Entertainment,Detour Filmproduction

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Giovanni Ribisi and Richard Linklater had some dispute over Ribisi appearing nude in the film. Linklater eventually convinced him that it was "in his Moya character". Ribisi agreed.

---

Quotes

Jeff: Idealism is guilty middle-class bullshit.

---

Crazy Credits

Filmed entirely on location in Burnfield, USA (Burnfield was the fictional city.)

---

Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Dante's Peak/SubUrbia/The Beautician and the Beast/Rosewood/The Whole Wide World (1997)

---

Soundtracks

Salvation
Music by Bill Carter
Lyrics by Eric Bogosian
Performed by Jayce Bartok

User Reviews

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.