SLC Punk (1999) - Movie Review

Matthew Lillard, the crazy, rubber-faced guy from Scream jolts the screen again with S.L.C.Punk!, an enjoyably unconventional film about the two last punks in conservative Salt Lake City.

The movie follows around Stevo (Lillard) and Heroin Bob (Goorjian) as they try to explain just what they are all about. Lillard spends a lot of his time talking to the camera, differentiating between punks and posers, Utah and Wyoming, and capitalism and anarchism. The movie is by no means chronological, as the story flashes back to some earlier event that explains exactly what Lillard is saying.

S.L.C. Punk! is pretty unique in the way of direction, and it surprisingly has a good message at the end of it. Of course, that message might be partially covered up by the drugs, sex, and so forth, but at the same time that might help accentuate the theme.

On the downside, S.L.C. Punk! can become consumed in its own self promotion (and at the same time damnation) of punkhood, distancing the common viewer like me. The movie is fast but can also be boring, and it really doesn't have much of a plot. Some of the more serious scenes are watered down with sub par acting (although at the same Lillard fits his role perfectly).

All in all, S.L.C. Punk! is worth watching, but maybe only once.

Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.