SubUrbia (film)

For the 1984 film, see Suburbia (film).
SubUrbia

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Richard Linklater
Produced by Anne Walker-McBay
Screenplay by Eric Bogosian
Based on SubUrbia 
by Eric Bogosian
Starring Giovanni Ribisi
Steve Zahn
Nicky Katt
Parker Posey
Ajay Naidu
Cinematography Lee Daniel
Edited by Sandra Adair
Production
company
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Release dates
  • October 11, 1996 (1996-10-11) (New York Film Festival)
  • February 7, 1997 (1997-02-07) (United States)
Running time
120 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Box office $656,747[2]

SubUrbia is a 1996 American comedy-drama film written by Eric Bogosian, based on his play of the same name, and directed by Richard Linklater. It follows the relationships between a few young adults as they spend their time standing on "the corner" outside a local convenience store.

Bogosian based the story on his own experiences growing up in Woburn, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. The convenience store setting is based on the 7-11 in the "Four Corners" section of the west side of Woburn, and the high-school fight song that is sung in one scene is the actual Woburn High fight song ("Black and Orange" to the tune of "On Wisconsin").

Plot

Set in the suburban neighborhood of "Burnfield" in Austin, Texas, five young adults are in the daily habit of hanging out by a garbage dumpster on the corner of a local convenience store, occasionally taunting the foreign clerk, Nazeer Choudhury, who works there. The film's main character, Jeff, is an aimless soul unsure of his future. Jeff is dating Sooze, who has expressed the desire to leave Burnfield and become an artist. Jeff's best friends are Buff, and Tim, a troubled young honorably discharged military man who drinks too much and has a knack for shooting his mouth off. Sooze's friend Bee Bee is a recovering alcoholic who is invited to join the group.

One evening, an old friend of theirs, Pony, now a rock star, shows up looking to reconnect with them. Most of the group is glad to see him, although some of them are bitter and jealous of his recent success. Through actions and conversations they all contemplate what they want to do with the rest of their lives.

Cast

Soundtrack

Suburbia: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by various artists
Released February 7, 1997 (1997-02-07)
Label Geffen Records
  1. "Unheard Music" - Elastica & Stephen Malkmus
  2. "Bee-Bee's Song" - Sonic Youth
  3. "Bulletproof Cupid" - Girls Against Boys
  4. "Feather in Your Cap" - Beck
  5. "Berry Meditation" - U.N.K.L.E.
  6. "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" - Boss Hog
  7. "Cult" - Skinny Puppy
  8. "Does Your Hometown Care?" - Superchunk
  9. "Sunday" - Sonic Youth
  10. "Human Cannonball" - Butthole Surfers
  11. "Tabla in Suburbia" - Sonic Youth
  12. "Hot Day" - The Flaming Lips
  13. "Psychic Hearts" - Thurston Moore
  14. "Town Without Pity" - Gene Pitney
Other credited songs

Reception

The film earned a ranking of 64% on Rotten Tomatoes.[3] Roger Ebert gave the film a positive review giving the film 312 stars out of 4, calling it "dark, intense and disturbing".[4]

Awards

Ajay Naidu was nominated for Best Supporting Male at the 1997 Independent Spirit Awards but lost to Jason Lee.

Home media

The film has yet to be released on DVD or Blu-ray Disc, but is readily available on VHS, sporadically via Netflix instant streaming, iTunes, and Vudu.

References

External links

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