Johnny Suede (1991) User Reviews

A quiet, oddly captivating slice-of-life comedy-drama

[mattymatt4ever · 7/10 · 13 September 2001]

"Johnny Suede" is not a film for all tastes. Not because it's a very strange piece, but because it's not an example of that in-your-face cinema that many are accustomed to. This is Tom DiCillo's directorial debut. I saw one of his recent films, "The Real Blonde," and I found it to be very impressive. So I felt quite curious about checking out his early work. There's not even a hint of flashy direction, and it's obvious throughout that the makers of the film were running on a low budget, but I didn't worry about those things.

Brad Pitt (before he became a household name) is great--and perfectly cast--in the lead role. Next to his role as Tyler Durden in "Fight Club" I would say this is one of the best performances of his career. I just felt, in every aspect, he was made to play this character. Even the pompadour looked perfect on him, and I couldn't imagine any other actor wearing it better. His character, Johnny Suede, is so utterly likable that you feel obligated to scurry along on his little journeys. Johnny is not the smartest guy on Earth, not the classiest either and certainly not the most successful. He lives a pretty simple life in a ratty apartment, listening to vintage records by rock and roll legends. He has dreams of becoming a rock and roll legend himself, and is the leader of a band. However, the band never quite takes off. None of that "I dream of becoming a rock and roll star and the next minute I'm staring at crowds of screaming fans chanting my name" garbage we see repeatedly on VH1 as one of the "Movies That Rock." This is the life of a real struggling artist, who does have talent and potential, but can't quite get off the ground. Well...not yet. His love life isn't all too successful, and that's what's hindering his ability to proceed in his daily endeavors. First he falls in love with a beautiful girl whose current boyfriend likes to beat her. He has every right to believe that the sparks are flying between them, but suddenly she just blurts out, "I don't love you, Johnny." Then he falls in love with Catherine Keener. Things go well between them at first, but like in his previous relationships things also get shot to hell eventually. And we feel sorry for this poor guy. He may not be smooth or unusually charming, but that's the point. He's a nice, unpretentious average Joe who seeks true love and quite frankly he's doing everything in his power to make these relationships work. I've always admired Brad (A.K.A. Mr. Handsome), but I considered this performance especially unique. Though he's just as handsome as he was in "Legends of the Fall" and "Meet Joe Black," he's not on screen to portray his now-proclaimed status as the "Sexiest Man Alive." He just plays a normal guy, living a normal life and seeking a normal relationship. Though we may not all go for the "pompadour" look or listen to classic oldies on an old record player, we can all relate to his character in some sort of way. And speaking of music, I love that line where he says, "Real music has no time." When you listen to great songs by great artists like Bill Haley and the Comets or Ricky Nelson, you don't think about what time period they came from because they're timeless. At first, I thought this movie might've been set in the 1950's, but in all actuality it just involves a man who happens to be fascinated by the trends of the 50's, and I'm down with that.

Don't expect a plot, because this is strictly a character-driven effort. And with a strong central character like Johnny Suede, I felt amazingly captivated and had an unspeakable urge to keep on watching. I guess you can call it a slice-of-life comedy-drama. I highly suggest people check out this overlooked gem. You'll laugh. You'll have fun. You'll have a good ol' time.

My score: 7 (out of 10)

an odd duck of a movie, not laugh out loud but not fully dramatic, in a weird nether-region in the middle

[Quinoa1984 · 7/10 · 6 September 2010]

Johnny Suede is like underground-filmmaking lite. It comes almost around the end of that era of New York City filmmaking that started many years before with more radical types like Andy Warhol and Jack Smith, and continued on with Jim Jarmusch (whom director Tom DiCillo worked for at one time), Betty Gordon and the guys that made New York Beat Movie. It's something about the beat of the street that DiCillo is interested in, at least in some part. But at the same time his lead figure is played by Brad Pitt, and it's like the slightly dim-witted rockabilly version of Henry from Eraserhead. It's nowhere near as bizarro as that, but DiCillo does try to be sure. He even has his intrepid would-be lady's man walking around a downtown NYC that looks as run-down as could be at the time, right before the city got a little more gentrified. It's a place with oddball rock n' rollers and street bums, midgets and painters, and oddball types of other varieties.

If it isn't entirely great it's because the film inhabits a strange region where it's not entirely underground, and could never be something mainstream despite its young star (who had just finished being female eye-candy in Thelma & Louise). Pitt is very good in the role though, taking up a character who isn't quite as stupid as he looks, but not intelligent enough to live in the "real" world. He's more into being a kind of hunky rockabilly guy, Ricky Nelson his idol, his huge pompadour the envy of anyone except for Nick Cave's character Freak Storm, also with an impressive head of hair. Like a real 'indie' movie there isn't too much of a plot: Suede gets a pair of shoes that kind of define him, tries to make a band that doesn't work out, paints to make ends meet, falls in love with one girl who dumps him for another and dates another (Catherine Keener) whom loves him dearly but who he treats badly.

What we have then is a movie without much of a story, and without much of a character that is iconic in ways that these indie films need to be. So why praise it so? Because of DiCillo's vision, and because Pitt does give the character what he needs as far as being real and raw enough to be taken seriously. He's a lunkhead, but not a bad person, kind of innocent and at his most vulnerable like a little puppy who needs help finding a woman's privates. It's a heady mix of grungy romance and some delirious dreams, some more touching than others. It could even be considered like a more "conventional" cousin to Eraserhead, where dreams and reality sometimes are indistinguishable to its protagonist, and whose direction in love and life is uncertain. If it's a little too light in the loafers to be fully embraced it may be expected as a first feature.

It's a fine jumping-off pad artistically for both its director (later to do the great Living in Oblivion) and of course its star, not to mention a very beautiful Catherine Keener and a perfectly weird Nick Cave.

Brad Pitt before he was famous

[Eels14 · 7/10 · 27 October 2007]

There is something about this movie that is enjoyable and from time to time a movie such as Johnny Suede can be more appealing than a smash hit at the box office.

Movies that depict a certain character and their surroundings I find very appealing and even if there isn't much of a story you can still appreciate the idea of the director.

Just like a number of other movies Johnny Suede is known for it's characters before they were famous - Brad Pitt, Samuel L Jackson and Catherine Keener. Brad Pitt delivered a great performance as a young and inspiring musician. Calvin Levels as Deke and Nick Cave added to Brad Pitt's character as people he met along the way in his journey and of course the girls he dated played by Catherine Keener and Alison Moir.

Toward's the end of the movie you will be wondering where this is all heading and during the end credits you will probably still be wondering the same, but I guess that can only be answered by the director.

Anyway, Johhny Suede I found enjoyable based on the story being unique and one of it's kind.

Poor Little Fool

[wes-connors · 6/10 · 4 October 2008]

Big hair-pieced Brad Pitt (as Johnny Suede) moves to a large American city, from North Dakota; he wants to become a Big pop music star. He has everything except "Black Suede Shoes". One evening, he discovers a woman being roughed up in an alley/alcove. While in a nearby phone booth, calling for help, Pitt is practically hit over the head with his blessed "Black Suede Shoes". Then, he feels he is on his way. Pitt is hampered by an underwhelming singing voice, and poor material; but, due to his muscular good looks, he is successful with women. Pitt has several sexy underwear scenes; and, he slips under the sheets with quirky Catherine Keener (as Yvonne) and alluring Alison Moir (as Darlette).

Pitt idolizes Ricky Nelson (who certainly would have gotten a *kick* out of this movie). For the record, the most frequently played song, Rick Nelson's "Teen Age Idol" could not have been turned over to play "Travelin' Man", as Pitt does in an effective scene with Ms. Moir. The two Nelson hits were on different Imperial singles. The record album hanging on Pitt's apartment wall is the excellent "Ricky Sings Again" album. "Midtown" is the best of the "original" tunes; it has some of the breezy feel evident in Nelson's early Decca material.

Moir, Ms. Keener, and Calvin Levels (as Deke) perform very well. Keener won an "Independent Spirit Award"; but, Moir and Mr. Leeds are also very impressive. Tempting Tina Louise (as Mrs. Fontaine), from "Gilligan's Island", has a leggy cameo; and, Nick Cave is a "Freak Storm". Debuting director Tom DiCillo's "Johnny Suede" is filled with style and good intentions.

****** Johnny Suede (1991) Tom DiCillo ~ Brad Pitt, Catherine Keener, Calvin Levels

7 out of 10

[Ween · 17 June 1999]

Tom Dicillo, after Living in Oblivion and Box of Moonlight, has proved himself to be one of the best writers and directors in the business. This, his feature film debut as director, is a nice tale which is solid entertainment but not as good as his later films.

Brad Pitt looks a bit too pretty throughout the film (watch Living in Oblivion, the James LeGros character is a parody of Pitt) but there is a good supporting cast, and the film has some very good moments. Definitely worth watching. 7 out of 10

some most unusual roles vs the most common

[lee_eisenberg · 7/10 · 12 September 2010]

Several years before his roles as the leader of a fight club, a backwards-aging man, and a Nazi-slaughtering redneck, Brad Pitt played the title role in Tom DiCillo's "Johnny Suede". Johnny is man on skid row with ambitions to be the next Ricky Nelson. He already has a band, and even starts up a relationship with young Darlette (Alison Moir). But as his music career goes nowhere, she leaves him. Upon meeting the offbeat Yvonne (Catherine Keener), Johnny starts to wonder if maybe there's more to life than trying to be a rock star.

I didn't find this movie to be any sort of masterpiece, but I still thought that it was worth seeing. More than just an early vehicle for Pitt - sporting an absurdly large pompadour - and Keener, it shows Johnny's eventually having to recognize reality, especially given the world that he inhabits (the movie doesn't present a flattering look at Brooklyn).

There are also two supporting cast members playing roles totally the opposite of their most famous ones. Tina Louise, far removed from Ginger Grant, plays Darlette's manipulative mother. Samuel L. Jackson plays one of the band members. Ginger Grant co-starred with the guy who said "mother---king snakes on a mother---king plane" (although they don't share any scenes).

Anyway, I recommend "Johnny Suede". A look at lost dreams - much of the movie is in fact made to look dreamlike, probably stressing the contrast between Johnny's fantasies and reality - along with some very surprising stuff. Nick Cave appears as another man with a crazy hairdo. Tom DiCillo later directed "Living in Oblivion", starring Steve Buscemi as a man going through hell trying to make a movie.

Not Too 'Keen' On This Story

[ccthemovieman-1 · 3/10 · 12 July 2006]

This was a strange kind of film about a low-lifes in New York City and centering around a main character (the title name, played by Brad Pitt) who thinks he''s a Ricky Nelson-type musician, except he has no real talent.

It's kind of fun to watch until a profane tough New York City-type woman with horrible accent enters the picture and takes over. That ruined the film for me. It must have been Catherine Keener, who usually plays tough and garbage-mouthed women.

The hairdo on Pitt - an exaggerated Pompadour - was fun to look at. I can picture Johnny Depp playing this role better. One last note: it odd to hear a film made in 1992 (other than Woody Allen's) with just mono sound.

It's Good

[michaeltrivedi · 6/10 · 6 July 2017]

Now, personally, I would give this movie a 7. But from a viewing perspective, and general public take, I would give it a 5 or 5.5.

It tells the story of a young man who is aiming to become a big shot musician. He is struggling to reach that state, and it is clear he is not trying very hard to get his career running. He meets a few girls along the way, performs with his band, meets some good industry connections, and then there's something about a suede shoe.

It's a good movie, and definitely a movie that's all Brad Pitt.

6 Stars

Off beat and unsatisfying

[=G= · 5/10 · 28 July 2001]

"Johnny Suede" is a slice of life flick which tells of a peculiar fictitious character, Suede (Pitt), who has a 10 inch pompadour, worships Ricky Nelson, is a wannabee musician/star, is naive or stupid or both, and has little else worthy of mention. The slice the film presents (the story) is off-beat and creative in the minutia and anticlimactic in the whole. Pitt and Keneer and Levels work well in their roles but can't make up for a story which is about as satisfying as a baloney sandwich on Thanksgiving Day. A no brainer for channel surfers.

Johnny Suede, Likable But Shallow

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 2 September 2007]

Johnny Suede finds Brad Pitt in a character study of a would be rock and roll superstar who just can't quite get his career off the ground. In a homage to a famous Twilight Zone episode He finds a pair of classy suede shoes that seem to complete the look he keeps trying to obtain. Unfortunately it takes more than just a look and some talent to make a star.

Brad's Johnny is a likable if shallow character. He can't seem to get a career goal in focus and some things beyond his control seem to be defeating him. Nevertheless he persists and even finds some true love in the end in the person of Catherine Keener, though he nearly blows that situation.

That exaggerated pompadour was absolutely unreal, it must have been close to a foot high. It so obviously a wig yet it did seem to match Brad Pitt's natural coloring. He must have gotten a migraine headache just wearing it around.

Johnny Suede is a film made on the cheap. I will say I liked the choice of location shooting in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. Around that time the area was starting to become gentrified. Now some of those loft apartments and reconverted brownstones are starting to match the more swanky sections of Brooklyn if not yet at Manhattan levels.

In the supporting cast I did like Calvin Levels performance as Pitt's best friend and confidante who finally decides to leave him because he's tired of waiting for Pitt's dream band to become reality.

Johnny Suede is not a great film, but it does give full display to Brad Pitt's natural charisma and talent and clearly shows the star he was to become.

Not a "comedy" and ultimately not good

[a-16895 · 3/10 · 4 February 2017]

There is this continuous misuse of the word "comedy" as a substitute for quirky, off-beat, different, strange, weird, etc. This is the case here.

The film is not funny. It is not a comedy in any way. Comedy means inducing laughter. There are very few laughs here, not because this film tries some jokes that fail to hit the mark - the film doesn't try because it's not a comedy.

The film is a light-hearted take on a wannabe rock star - his financial problems, love life, band issues and music career.

It attempts to be light-hearted but it is actually sad and depressing. Abject poverty, terrible, dirty apartments, hopeless music career, you name it.

The story itself isn't that interesting and the film is not really fun to watch.

It's really low-budget, apparently $500k, but I think they spent it all on celluloid and actor salaries, because it looks like it was filmed on a $5k budget.

The music is good, but it's not enough to save this dud of a film.

Keeps you smiling all the way through.

[hipcheck · 8/10 · 7 October 1998]

This movie really comes out of nowhere, and stays fresh and intriguing from the first shot to the last. I couldn't stop smiling for a moment, it was so wonderfully weird!

The story centers around a pair of snazzy shoes, that are found by Pitt's character Johnny, then change his entire life. There isn't a great deal of plot, which is fine, because the story is driven by the bizarre people in Johnny's life, and the way in which he reacts to them.

The best thing about "Johnny Suede" is that you really don't know what people are going to say or do next. The most 'normal' person in the story is Keener's character, who is strange just for liking Johnny so much.

The photography and sound is fairly minimal, due to budget, but in a way, it really adds to the ambience of nothingness in Johnny's life. The directing of actors is really first-rate, and the script is a gem. Oh, and the hair is a must-see.

If you're in the market for something out of left-field, then this hits the spot!

Strange but Fun

[subscriptions-97 · 7/10 · 22 August 2009]

This movie was a delightful find one late night on cable. I've since purchased the movie on DVD, which includes an extra scene with Johnny and "Freak Storm" played by Nick Cave. For Brad Pitt Fanatics, this movie is a must-see as he plays quite the unique role in this one.

Johnny can't find "it". Everyone else has "it" and he knows "it" must be out there. This is the story about what happens when "it" finds him. The viewer is left to decide what "it" is.

Probably best labeled a romantic comedy, there's a good dose of tongue-in-cheek humor in both the plot as well as the imagery. Camera work is simple, but there are tons of bleak scenes captured which seem to summarize the life of the lead character. There's a ton of symbolism in the movie as well for those who like a more artistic twist in movies.

If you like movies that are a little "off", a little strange, a little odd, you'll probably like this one. If you're looking for high-budget production, fast action, laugh-out-loud fun, this isn't for you.

Horrible

[tomlindh · 1/10 · 25 April 2001]

This is absolutely the worst movie I've seen all year.

First, I will say that the acting was very good, and by all of the cast.

This was apparently meant to be very offbeat, and in that regard it succeeded. By the same token, the story revolves around a self-centered wannabe, who is a clueless, talentless chronic liar, whose source of self confidence comes from a pair of leather slippers.

This was worse than watching a car wreck.

but don't you step on my black suede shoes

[RainDogJr · 19 March 2012]

It's been quite a while since filmmaker Tom DiCillo came to my radar. Once his LIVING IN OBLIVION was a must-wanted for me, and the searching for it was damn worthy. I remember being better informed of everything DiCillo when the Anchor Bay DVD of his debut film JOHNNY SUEDE was released than today. It wasn't available in my city and then as time went by I lost track of DiCillo. A couple of years ago his documentary about one of my all-time favorite bands, the Doors, wasn't a blast for me, actually I began to think again in his first one only until recently and it was thanks to Brad Pitt. I'm not one of those who watched -or will watch- this film just because of the appearance of a young Brad Pitt, as the title character. But definitely the recent buzz for Pitt and his Oscar nomination made me ran across an article dealing with Pitt's evolution as an actor, or something like that, and also some really nice drawings of many of his characters, including Johnny Suede. So I realized I still had a pending encounter with DiCillo's debut film; and unlike four years I have now an ebay account so the DVD came in my mail some weeks ago.

After watching this film I read about filmmaker Jim Jarmusch's involvement in it. According to wikipedia, Jarmusch's involvement wasn't anything more than giving to his good friend DiCillo positive feedback on the fourth draft of it. With this, JOHNNY SUEDE sort of reminded me Jarmusch's very own first feature PERMANENT VACACTION. And not just because DiCillo himself was the cinematographer of that film, but also because my approach to both debut films is quite similar. Both are strange films and not fully successful. I have seen only once PERMANENT VACATION; that happened years ago and I don't really plan to revisit it soon. I'm pretty sure the same will happen with JOHNNY SUEDE. Still I must say this is much less of an "experimental" kind of film than Jarmusch's. It's a more accessible vehicle, but nevertheless there is some really strange stuff going on here; the actual tone of the film is quite strange, just like the hair of Johnny Suede and that character played by Nick Cave – having a musician like Cave acting here is certainly pretty darn cool (just like having original music by Link Wray) and it also makes me think in Jarmusch, because of his collaborations with music legends like Tom Waits and Iggy Pop.

It's a character film. One would think of this as a film about music; seeing Pitt in the DVD cover, for example, with his guitar and his pompadour hair can make you think that. For me it's really nice in that regard. The character Johnny Suede, a not-really-extremely-talented young guitar man who loves musicians like Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley (here I think again in Jarmusch, thanks to his MYSTERY TRAIN!), will be sort of appealing to anyone who wants to be a full-time musician. For Johnny many things interrupt his guitar playing, like finding money for the rent. The film is actually more about all of this than about music. Johnny's relationship with two different women has the most important role in the film to be more precise (Catherine Keener is here playing one of them). It was definitely good to finally check this one out even that, and just like its title character, sometimes is not quite likable. Pitt was a really nice choice for this role as he, like Johnny, was still very naïve. In the end, it's really not the best way to begin checking out DiCillo's bodywork, so if you don't really know this filmmaker I recommend you to begin with LIVING IN OBLIVION.

*Watched it on March 04, 2012

Overlooked Pitt Gem

[vincentvega94 · 7/10 · 24 September 2008]

Combining hard-edge cynicism with compassion, Johnny Suede looks like a cartoon, but it's serious enough to raise intriguing questions, specifically men's deep fear of women. In a role that makes one think of James Dean, Elvis Presley, and Ricky Nelson, the director crafts a lyrical portrait of a wannabe, a good-natured poseur mythically named Johnny. Mixing sight gags with deadpan humor, Johnny Suede works its magic as a fairy tale about a man who has to lose one shoe in order to find his true identity. Pitt is sensational and delivers one of his greatest performances. He could have made his character cartoony, but his subtleness is perfect. Not to mention his decent singing skills. Catherine Keener is great too, and Sam Jackson makes an appearance as well. Definitely worth a viewing if you are in the mood for a character driven picture, or are a Pitt fan.

On forgetting Eisenstein

[alpha-73032 · 5/10 · 24 May 2015]

This film is two movies, its scenes including Catherine Keener, and its scenes excluding her. The link is the iguana, now a symbol of Eisenstein's dialectical idealism montage theory of cinematic art, indicating Keener's pseudo-intellectual influence on this cinematic production. Soviet Cinematographer Sergei Eisenstein responded to the Soviets' perverting Hegel's "phenomenology of mind" into what they called dialectical materialism by calling his Zen koan approach to cinema dialectical idealism. And, since then, emulating his use of discordant montage has been a right of passage for cinematographers and directors. But Keener's dialectic detracts from the iguana's. HITRT

The struggles of an aspiring , clueless & unknown pop star

[gozef · 10/10 · 6 October 1998]

It's very refreshing to see a quietly offbeat indy flick that isn't tripping over itself trying to be odd. This movie is a bit ragged around the edges, but rather then detract, this actually lends an enduring quality. Great acting throughout and the songs are funny and inspired, hitting just the right note of naiveté. You've got to love a guy who won't have a" band with no Bass", and it's got Tina Louise to boot! An all around great movie.

Very cool little film.

[Hey_Sweden · 8/10 · 18 September 2012]

Independent filmmaker Tom DiCillo made his debut here with this hip, refreshingly quirky character study, with Brad Pitt scoring as the central character. He plays Johnny Suede, aspiring musician who idolizes Ricky Nelson and occupies a fairly run down apartment in Brooklyn. The film follows Johnny around as he alternates between reality and his own dream world. His relationships with women are a focal point, first as he hooks up with Darlette (Alison Moir) whose mom (Tina Louise) has connections to the music business. Then he chances to meet schoolteacher Yvonne (Catherine Keener) and falls for her hard enough to be ready to make some changes in his life. DiCillo injects some moments of amusing surrealism into his film while still basically handling his material in a straightforward manner, never going for stylistic choices when it isn't necessary. The dialogue is sometimes quite funny, and really comes to life in the hands of these talented actors. Among the other people in Johnny's offbeat life are his friend and bandmate Deke (Calvin Levels); Samuel L. Jackson has a brief, one scene part as the bass player in his band. The brightest moments belong to real-life music star Nick Cave, playing a character named Freak Storm; his scenes with Pitt are fun. DiCillo does a good job with visual detail, right down to the clothes that his characters wear. The story, as has been pointed out, is about so much more than just a specific kind of music (although the music is wonderful throughout) - it goes to great lengths to depict this amiable, ordinary guy struggling not just to make it as a musician but to adjust to the highs and lows of everyday life. Pitt shows here, as he has on so many occasions, to be more than just a pretty face, and an actor of range and depth. You like Johnny and want to see him find happiness. And at the end you can't help but sympathize with him. Overall, this is an endearing little gem, one in which DiCillo refrains from giving in to predictability and finds a realistic centre amid the more offbeat aspects to the world he creates. Well worth a look. Eight out of 10.

What is Reality?

[The-Sarkologist · 8/10 · 17 May 2013]

This is an independent American film which stars Brad Pitt. This is before Brad Pitt's rise to fame but from here we can see that he is a pretty good actor. The movie is about a man, Johnny Suede (Brad Pitt), who finds a pair of Suede shoes, and with these shoes he believes that he is complete. In the end though he is not. It seems at the beginning of this movie that every thing is going to go his way, but in the end it does not.

The movie follows two relationships that Johnny has. The first is with a young rich girl whose mother owns a recording studio. This is a relationship made in heaven as it seems that everything Johnny ever wanted has landed in his lap. Her mother likes him and it looks as if he is going to become a star. His friend warns him though that if a woman's mother likes you then the woman does not. In the end Johnny says something and the girl throws him out.

The film maker is very clever with how he makes this movie. He does not let you know where he is going to go. He will dangle what looks like a opportunity in Johnny's face yet nothing will come of this opportunity. He runs into the most popular singer of the time, Freak Storm, and makes friends with him. He offers a record deal but nothing ever comes out of it. From what we see, Freak Storm just took his money and left Johnny with food poisoning.

Johnny protects a woman, Yvonne, from a peeping tom and strikes up a relationship with her. Yvonne is a very loving woman, someone that Johnny does not deserve. This brings back images of Clerks where the girlfriend is the one that cares for the main character yet the main character does realise it until it is too late. Johnny's low point is on his birthday as this is when his best friend walks out on him and he wonders on home only to be drawn away by a woman on the train. As I said, the film maker does an incredible job in twisting your perception of the movie around. It is difficult at times to see if it is a dream or not, but he will drop in a little hint, like a midget cowboy or a naked man, to let you know that something is wrong.

The dreams seem to play an important part in the movie because it seems to be a form of appearance and reality. Is what appears to Johnny is in fact another reality. When he is dying of food poisoning, he is rescued by both women, only one of the rescues is a dream. The dream is what Johnny wants while the reality is completely different. The end is very inconclusive and we are left to make of it what we will. As the narrator says, some say he got it back others say it was found on the side of the road outside of Delaware. The movie is left hanging and it is up to us to finish it.

Keener at her best

[jtur88 · 8/10 · 10 February 2001]

This is one of the very early films in which Catherine Keener appears, and if you are among her growing population of admirers, this film is amust see. Keener has never been better, except maybe in "Living in Oblivion". Aside from that, this film is about as forgettable as an offbeat film can be. Annoying at times, there are some bright spots in this film that make it worthwhile as a whole.

Cool

[karl_consiglio · 8/10 · 12 September 2007]

Definitely my favorite Brad Pitt movie, very cool. This film has a great humour all of its own that bounces against the bleak environment. Was good to see Nick Cave's cameo here, he is cool too. I very much appreciated the whole thing with the relationships with the first girl who soon dumps him and Yvonne who is now offering everything but unfortunately he has been scared. This film truly is a cross between Eraserfead and James Dean if you ask me, it has that Lynchian quality to it. This film got me laughing out loud which was great. Some good music in here too, timeless good music. this is a very entertaining film, it has the right tempo to keep you watching.

We Are The Champions

[valis1949 · 8/10 · 24 August 2010]

JOHNNY SUEDE is a very early role for Brad Pitt (he had just finished THELMA AND LOUSIE). yet he delivers a surprisingly nuanced performance as a clueless and childlike hipster. Many films of this nature boast a character who is in love with his own hipness, and delights in educating his contemporaries to this fact. Nothing can be farther from this than Pitt's take on Johnny. His reading of the character is so hesitant and tentative, as to be almost "challenged". Catherine Keener's character (who is introduced much too late in the film) becomes the driving force in the film, and attempts to show this carefully coiffed dandy what it might mean to be a man. A proper release of the film was held up because backers weren't sure his performance would connect with fans who were expecting a more polished Hollywood Heart Throb. Quirky and Mind-bending indeed. Excellent Commentary by Tom DiCillo.

Music, women and black suede.

[michaelRokeefe · 8/10 · 7 January 2010]

A black comedy from Tom DiCillo about a troubled young man, Johnny Suede(Brad Pitt), with a an attitude piled as high as his pompadour. Johnny desperately wants to be a rock n' roll star like his idol Ricky Nelson. He thinks he has the voice, the threads; but he lacks any outstanding talent and most of all...a pair of black suede shoes. One night like out of a dream, a pair of black suede shoes falls from the sky and they fit. Almost immediately Johnny's life becomes very complicated with women, money and forming a band with a guitar fresh out of hock. Maybe a gun and a liquor store could jump start a future. But there is the lack of a bullet. Just like Johnny's life becomes aimless without a true direction.

Filmed mainly in Brooklyn makes for a great atmosphere correlating with the action. This movie comes before Pitt is to be known around the world, so he can afford taking chances. He often plays with whats in his underwear and even dares to sing as the guitar work of Link Wray twangs throughout making a cohesive story. If you are one that finds interest in the formation of life inside original rock n' roll you'll find JOHNNY SUEDE funny, sympathetic and fun to watch. Fascinating soundtrack.

Others in the cast: Alison Moir, Catherine Keener, Calvin Levels, Nick Cave, Tina Louise and Samuel L. Jackson.

Haphazard Lynch inspired masterpiece?

[stephiedavenport · 10/10 · 8 May 2006]

Firstly can I just say that the acting in this film is dire, even Keener and Pitt act like planks of wood on screen. There is no feeling between the characters and they have a habit of standing completely still on the spot and it just looks uncomfortable. The synopsis is misleading as there isn't much music in the film but there is a startling cameo from Nick Cave, obviously under the influence whilst filming! There is even a parody of a Cave song, that Pitt sings later in the film. The original stage performance of this must have been a sight! A very thin looking Samuel L Jackson has a small role as a double bass player named 'Be Bop' who later goes to work on a cruise ship - his 2 minutes are priceless. The film is dotted with David Lynch inspired dream sequences which include windows smashing, naked men at bars and copious bleeding. The film even opens with a suitcase falling on a telephone box, opening to reveal a pair of suede shoes. Seeing really is believing, go and watch this film!