SubUrbia

Name: SubUrbia
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: February 7, 1997
Duration: 121 min
Rating: 63
Cast: Giovanni Ribisi, Steve Zahn

1997

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 22 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 22 Ratings

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Suburbia

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: February 7, 1997 | TV-MA

Starring: Giovanni Ribisi, Steve Zahn

Summary: Richard Linklater explores the lives of young Americans at a crossroads.

Director: Richard Linklater

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 121 min

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Critic Reviews

Janet Maslin

Mr. Bogosian's venomously funny play, which he adapted himself for the screen, is given warmth and generosity by Mr. Linklater, whose elegantly fluid direction and great skill with actors are accentuated by the play's spareness. Read full review

Peter Travers

The fierce and funny film version has been directed by Texan Richard Linklater (Slacker, Dazed and Confused, Before Sunrise) with rare grace and compassion. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Nevertheless, the cast of mainly unknowns is so good, and Linklater is so adept at playing them off one another, that the two-hour running time never seems overextended. Read full review

James Berardinelli

SubUrbia is about 95% dialogue, some of which is clever, but much of which is pointless. Read full review

Empire Trevor Lewis

It has a tendency to drift aimlessly and, having said all there is to say on the subject long before the two hours are up, loiters around when it really ought to have gone to bed. Read full review

David Sterritt

The picture often rambles as aimlessly as its characters, but its vivid depiction of alienation and self-destructiveness among suburban youth has much cautionary value. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh

A long, dark night o' slacker despair, courtesy of Richard Linklater and self-important blowhard Eric Bogosian. Read full review

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User Reviews

freeridearts

Mar 4, 2021

This is a great film. This is a great film. This is a great film. This is a great film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

imdbsupport

Feb 11, 2021

Writer-director teamings seldom mesh as smoothly or suggest so many creative affinities as does the one at the heart of subUrbia, a brooding, incisive comedy that blends the talents of helmer Richard Linklater and playwright Eric Bogosian.

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Trailesque

Jul 25, 2022

Director Linklater and writer Bogosian do a fine job with the film version of the latter's stage play. I wish he would write some more plays and/or screenplays. This is a robust slice of 1990s suburban disaffection/conflict/despair, focusing on a group of 17-22 year olds who hang aroundDirector Linklater and writer Bogosian do a fine job with the film version of the latter's stage play. I wish he would write some more plays and/or screenplays. This is a robust slice of 1990s suburban disaffection/conflict/despair, focusing on a group of 17-22 year olds who hang around outside a convenience store. There is a little mini-genre of these kinds of stories.

Main character Jeff's life is not going anywhere, and he appears to be on the verge of losing his artist girlfriend, who is planning her escape to New York City. Tim is the dark, tough drunkard of the group, Buff is the clown, and poor Bee-Bee is very depressed. They clash with Nazeer, the serious young Pakistani who manages the store. Things get turned upside down with the arrival (in a limousine) of Pony, who has left hanging out on the corner behind for success as a rock star. Tensions grow and some kind of violence seems imminent. The acting is very good (e.g. check out Zahn's stunts) and the story grows more powerful and interesting as it goes along.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Jun 13, 2020

I have the understanding that the script for this film was written first for a play, so the focus on the dialogues is pretty clear.
Although that's not surprising for Linklater either, but the dark tone of the plot is surprising yet is totally understandable considering the theme about theI have the understanding that the script for this film was written first for a play, so the focus on the dialogues is pretty clear.
Although that's not surprising for Linklater either, but the dark tone of the plot is surprising yet is totally understandable considering the theme about the American dream that just doesn't exist for that generation.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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61	#61 Best Movie of 1997
84	#84 Most Discussed Movie of 1997