In the vibrant and rebellious world of 1980s punk rock, “SLC Punk!” stands out as a cult classic that captures the essence of youthful defiance and the search for identity. Directed by James Merendino, this 1998 film follows the lives of Stevo (Matthew Lillard) and Heroin Bob (Michael Goorjian), two dedicated punks navigating the conservative landscape of Salt Lake City. With its raw energy, sharp humor, and poignant moments, “SLC Punk!” offers a nostalgic yet critical look at the punk subculture, making it a must-watch for fans of countercultural cinema.
Review by Ben Dover:
SLC Punk (1998) – 4 Safety-Pinned Mohawks
Well, dye my hair blue and call me Johnny Rotten! Just when I thought the 90s couldn’t get any more self-indulgent, along comes “SLC Punk” to prove that sometimes, rebellion is just another word for “Daddy didn’t hug me enough.” That’s right I am reviewing SLC Punk!—the movie that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of rebellion and confusion of the late ’90s, like a kid throwing a tantrum in a candy store. Released in 1998, this film takes us on a wild ride through the underground punk scene in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the only thing more rebellious than the music is the dialogue. Strap in, folks; this is going to be a bumpy ride through mohawks and mayhem!
The Plot
At the center of it all is Mark “The Man” Renton—oops, wrong movie! I meant Heroin Bob, portrayed by Michael A. Goorjian, and his best buddy Stevo, played by Scooby himself, Matthew Lillard. They’re navigating the trials and tribulations of being punks in a place that’s about as punk as a Sunday school picnic. The plot is a chaotic blend of friendship, identity crises, and the struggle to find meaning when you’re surrounded by a bunch of people who seem to take themselves way too seriously.
Stevo spends more time explaining punk to the camera than actually being punk. He struts around like a peacock with a bad attitude, spouting off about anarchy and non-conformity while looking about as threatening as a kitten in a studded collar.
Lillard’s performance is more over-the-top than a KISS concert. He mugs for the camera like he’s auditioning for a Jim Carrey biopic, delivering monologues with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to a guitar. It’s exhausting, but in a perversely entertaining way.
Key Points:
- Punk Culture: A loving tribute to the punk scene and the misfits who inhabit it (like me on a Saturday night).
- Friendship: The bond between Stevo and Bob is more solid than my old couch, but just as prone to falling apart.
- Identity Crisis: Because nothing says “I’m lost” like a mohawk and a leather jacket.
The Characters
Let’s talk characters, shall we? Stevo is your classic punk with a heart of gold—a lovable goofball who’s trying to figure out his place in a world that doesn’t understand him. Then there’s Bob, who’s got more depth than a kiddie pool and a penchant for existential crisis, making you question everything you thought you knew about life. They’re surrounded by a colorful cast of characters that make you feel like you’ve stumbled into the weirdest family reunion ever.
Character Highlights:
- Stevo: A charming disaster who’s as clueless as a dog in a cat show—endearing and infuriating at the same time.
- Heroin Bob: The voice of reason in a world gone mad—if only he could take his own advice!
- The Supporting Cast: A motley crew that’s more entertaining than a circus, proving that life is best lived on the edge of chaos.
Special Effects
Now, let’s not kid ourselves—this isn’t a movie filled with special effects that’ll blow your mind. Instead, it’s all about the gritty realism and raw energy of the punk scene. The film’s aesthetic captures the essence of the ’90s underground perfectly, and the soundtrack is a rocking mix of punk anthems that’ll have you tapping your feet or reminiscing about that one time you thought you were cool.
Special Effects Summary:
- Practical Effects: Minimal, but who needs flashy visuals when you have punk rock?
- Aesthetic: Gritty and authentic, making you feel right at home in the chaos.
- Soundtrack: A killer lineup that’s like an adrenaline shot to your system—get ready to rock out!
Final Thoughts
The movie tries to tackle deep themes like identity, conformity, and the futility of rebellion, but it does so with all the grace of a bull in a china shop. It’s like watching a college freshman who just discovered Nietzsche try to explain the meaning of life after their third bong hit.
Is “SLC Punk” a raw, honest look at punk culture in the 80s? Maybe. Is it also a pretentious, navel-gazing exercise in Gen X angst? You bet your torn fishnets it is. But you know what? It’s also kind of fun, in a “I’m glad I’m not that age anymore” sort of way.
SLC Punk! is a funny at times and heartfelt exploration of youth, rebellion, and the search for identity. It’s a film that captures the spirit of a generation—one that’s still relevant today, even if the hairstyles have changed. It’s a time capsule of an era when being “alternative” was the most mainstream thing you could do.
Final Rating:
- Out of 5: I’d give this one a solid 4—it’s a wild ride that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking, like a rollercoaster that’s missing a few safety straps.
So, if you want a nostalgia trip back to the days when hair gel was a food group and safety pins were high fashion, give “SLC Punk” a watch. Just maybe keep some aspirin handy. All that youthful angst might give you a headache.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go listen to some Sinatra to cleanse my palate. After all this punk, I need something from a time when men were men and music didn’t sound like a cat caught in a blender.
So, grab your favorite band tee, crank up the volume, and settle in for a trip down memory lane (or a lane you wish you could forget). Just remember, folks, the future is what you make it—unless you’re a punk, in which case it’s what you destroy! Enjoy the show!
Notes:
Rating: R
Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes
Gross worldwide: $299,569
Budget: $ Independent and undisclosed
Stevo, Sean, Bob, and Sandy are 21 years old; Mike is 18.
Quotes:
Stevo: What do you do when your foundation falls apart? I don’t know. They don’t teach you that in school.
Stevo: Only posers die you fucking idiot!
Stevo: You see life is like that. We change, that’s all. You see, the guy I am now is not the guy I was then. If the guy I was then met the guy I am now he’d beat the shit out of me. Those are the facts.
Stevo: To be an anarchist in Salt Lake City was certainly no easy task, especially in 1985. And having no money, no job, no plans for the future, the true anarchist position was in itself a strenuous job.
Stevo: “I didn’t sell out, I bought in”
Stevo: You’re a Nazi!
Dad: Nazi, I’m Jewish, Steven, how can I be a Nazi?
Stevo: That’s the worst. Dad, look at this. What kinda, what kinda car is this?
Dad: That would be a Porshe.
Stevo: A Porshe, that you bought at a Volkswagen dealership. Volkswagen, right? For the people who designed it? Who made that possible, Let me give you a hint, Adolf Hitler.
Dad: IT’S JUST A CAR!
Critics Consensus:
Critics 62% Audience 89% Rotten Tomatoes
Merging anarchic spirit with straightforward melodrama, SLC Punk is a hit-and-miss odyssey of youthful rebellion elevated by Matthew Lillard’s dramatically potent star turn.
Trailer:
Reviewer Live Watch Notes:
Starts out Fuck America… wow.
Salt Lake looks like a shithole, Ive never been, but was unaware.
The continual 4th wall breaking WHEN UNNECESSARY is annoying.
The store scene in Wyoming is gold.
Punk is not rebellion, its fashion… rebellion is in the mind, not your clothes, hair, etc.
“Posers die you idiot”
Off to Harvard…there is no future in anarchy. You can do more in the system than outside it. I was just a poser all along.
The message isn’t “live this way,” but “look at the way you live.” There’s a little something there for all of us.
It’s actually about coming of age, growing up and realizing that the most punk thing to do is not give a shit what a bunch of punks think. Cause they’re all a bunch of fucking posers.
Ross, Penny and Crash, young… outsiders from different tribes, embark on a road trip to a huge punk show. Ross, 19, is the love child of Trish and Heroin Bob, who died before Ross was born. During their odyssey, and with the help of a healthy dose of drugs, alcohol and punk music, Ross shreds his darkly Gothic outlook and embraces life. His mother Trish, who raised Ross alone in her steam punk shop, discovers that he is in a crisis. She recruits his ‘uncles,’ Bob’s old SLC gang, to help find him. When all collide at the concert, they are forced to deal with their unresolved relationships with Bob
Thoughts on Punk’s Dead: SLC Punk 2 (2016) – 2 Expired Hair Dyes
“Punk’s Dead: SLC Punk 2” proves that sometimes, the only thing deader than punk is a wholly unnecessary sequel. It’s all just awkward and a little bit desperate
Picking up the pieces from the original film, we follow Ricky, played by Devon Sawa, who’s trying to navigate adulthood while carrying the weight of his punk past on his tattooed shoulders. The plot is a hodgepodge of nostalgia, identity crises, and a quest to find meaning in a world that’s moved on without him. We’ve got flashbacks, we’ve got soul-searching, we’ve got characters from the original popping up like whack-a-moles at a county fair. It’s like watching a middle-aged man trying to relive his glory days at a high school reunion—awkward and cringeworthy. It’s like watching a Hot Topic clearance sale hit the road.
Devon Sawa returns as Sean, formerly known as Stevo, and boy, does he look tired. Not just his character, but Sawa himself looks like he’d rather be anywhere else. It’s like watching your cool uncle try to relive his glory days at a high school reunion.
The new young cast tries their best, bless their hearts, but they have all the punk credibility of a boy band in leather jackets. They spout off about rebellion and non-conformity while looking like they just stepped out of an Urban Outfitters catalog.
Is “Punk’s Dead” a worthy successor to the original? About as much as a Nickelback cover is to a Sex Pistols original. It tries to capture the spirit of the first film but ends up feeling like a pale imitation, a photocopy of a photocopy of what made “SLC Punk” interesting. It’s missing that raw energy that made the first film a cult classic.
The movie seems confused about what it wants to be – a nostalgic trip down memory lane or a torch-passing to a new generation. In the end, it accomplishes neither, stumbling around like a punk who’s had one too many at the mosh pit. It’s like a lukewarm attempt at recapturing the magic, but ultimately falls flat like a deflated balloon at a birthday party.
So, if you’re a die-hard fan of the original and have a masochistic streak, or if you’re curious about what happens when nostalgia goes horribly wrong, give “Punk’s Dead” a watch. Maybe some Ramones or Sex Pistols. Hell, even Green Day would be more punk than this mess. Punk’s not dead, but this movie sure tried to kill it.