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Johnny Suede Customer Reviews (1 - 3 of 9 Reviews)

An odd, unique, affecting film
JOHNNY SUEDE does what indie films do best. It presents an odd, unique vision that's tough to describe or market. (A similar oddball film is THE LAST BIG THING).

The film takes place in Brooklyn, but you wouldn't know it unless you read the credits. It's not the recognizable Brooklyn of Spike Lee, or Woody Allen, or John Travolta. With the sparse sets and anachronistic pop music costumes (of Darlette, Johnny, and Freak) I wasn't even sure about the time period. Sometimes it seems to be set in a surreal alternate realm (like STREETS OF FIRE).

Johnny is a musician who plays retro rock, but his huge pompadour hair is so buffonish, one wonders if he's not meant as a caricature, a joke that no one quite gets. Then one sees Freak Storm in the same hair, and one wonders again if we're in an alternate realm in which this is a common style. (We see the same bizarre hair in TROUBLE IN MIND, and that film was indeed set in the near future.)

Like STREETS OF FIRE, JOHNNY SUEDE draws you in. You can't try and figure out this film, you just have to accept it on its own terms and enjoy the ride.

The music is excellent. I wish they'd release a soundtrack, though it seems they never have.

I disagree with a comment that said that everyone takes advantage of Johnny. I see it as largely the other way. Johnny is a parasite and sloth. (1) Deek tries to help him with getting a real job, and even lends him money. Johnny shows no gratitude. (2) Johnny turns down a music gig because it goes against his artistic sensibility to perform without a bassist, even though the other band members are ready and willing to go ahead. Then Johnny complains that it's the others who are no help. (3) Not wanting to work, Johnny comes up with the idea of robbing a barber shop. Deek does the work of getting the gun, but Johnny flakes out. (4) Yvonne is a devoted girlfriend, cooking for Johnny, baking him a birthday cake, buying him a shirt, and Johnny only cheats on her in return. (5) Johnny is behind on his rent, so he's also taking advantage of his landlord. (6) And Johnny tries to take advantage of Darlette's music business mother. Sure, she also wants to bed him. But does that let Johnny off the hook?

Ultimately, JOHNNY SUEDE is fascinating to watch, occassionally funny (especially Freak Storm), with great music. But it's also a depressive film. These people do not live great lives, and there's no bright future ahead. All they have is their youth, which allows them to dream. What will happen when they're no longer young?

Johnny is happy only because he's too dense to know better, his vision of reality obscured by his dream world. However, there's a hint of hope at the end, in that he apologizes to Yvonne and loses his shoe (the latter perhaps symbolizing his budding maturity).

I've seen this film several times. Well worth a look for fans of oddball indie films.

Brad Pitt Sparkles as a Surreal Anti-Hero
Brad Pitt is obviously the main draw here, and although he brings his great physical beauty to the role, as in every role he plays, it is not all he brings. He is able to capture the essence of Johnny "Suede", a quiet, disconnected young man whose dreams of being an idol are much more real to him than his aimless and odd real life. You hear Brad sing too! This movie is completely weird and wonderful and Brad is so captivating. It's a wonderful hybrid of Twin Peaks meets Melrose Place. A must see, for both men and women, I think.

A haunting tale of loneliness and isolation
I stumbled across this movie by chance, when watching Australian SBS's movie of the week slot with Margaret Pomeranz. When renting the video some-time later the blurb on the back did not do the movie any justice. Johnny Suede is an original and haunting movie which touched my heart like no other. Brad Pitt is excellent as Johnny Suede. He captures all the emotions so well; alienation,loneliness,dreaminess, naivety. The catchy guitar riff at the start sets the scene so well as you drift off into Johnny Suede's idealic dreamworld. I can relate to Johnny Suede's character very well. Being an outsider with a very naive but positive outlook on the world. People using you for their own needs (eg, Darlette, Yvonne even Deek.)Also having a bizarre but unique way of thinking and saying. The shoes were great symbolism also. This movie could well be about the director himself in Tom DiCillo. It seems to be a very personal movie. I also loved the supporting cast; Deek made up his own mind on Johnny, Darlette just used Johnny for support, Was Yvonne still seeing the married guy (remember the bruises, Flip Doubt was great as the weird, possesive photographer guy, I think he was actually a nice guy, Freak storm was convincing as the con- man muso. Being a big fan of James Dean, you can see the comparisons between Pitt and Dean. Unfortunately in my opinion, Brad Pitt ended up taking the easy road playing no emotion macho types which are not really him. This movie is the closest to Brad Pitts personality - vulnerable and sensitive. Anyone could've played Tyler Durden. The bleak wasteland environment where Johnny lives demonstrates the hardships you have to endure when you follow your heart as an artist. This movie deals with issues that I struggle to accept about myself; intimacy, belonging, trying to fit in, being too nice, being a doormat. Pitt has some excellent dialogue. Some of my favourites are; These hands were not meant to hold a god-damn paintbrush, What'ya think I was doin' playing hockey! Babe..you look so beautiful right.. now, The name's suede johnny suede, With these shoes on I'm pretty light on my feet. And heaps more. Johnny Suede will touch those dark subterrannean caverns in your heart where you hardly ever visit. ....

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