MovieChat Forums > SLC Punk! (1999) Discussion > 6/10: Conservative view of Punk that par...

6/10: Conservative view of Punk that partially borderlines realism.


6/10

In short: Seeworthy because of Matthew Lillard's acting (one scene in particular). A conservative view on Punk with decent character studies.
What Blow (2001) did for liberal views on narcotics, SLC Punk! does for conservatives but being less balanced doing so.

In longer: If you are into Punk this can probably be viewed as (a partial) mocumentary as it does not contain the depth as you can perceive in the movement. It puts focus on the negative sides of Punk and the only positive side being chaos and combradery so if you are a regressive (moderate or further right on the classical political scale) that views punk as failed individuals wasting their youth away you will get what you are looking for.

The cinematography is on point for the story (we also get the bounceback to a shot that was popular in alot of movies but particurarly in gangster movies - a u-turn car scene on a road, usually illustrating a turnaround or a shift in the storyline or ending an act). Costume also did a somewhat decent job.

Anarcism which as far as i know played a big part in punk is dead, this movie had nothing to do with that (neither what it portrays), most likely the opposite (the inability to deal with global threats is what killed anarchy and the inability for the movement to show the possibility of a peaceful status quo).

Pro's
• Acting
• Casting, especially the leads
• Cinematography is perfectly in line with the message
• Does differentiate between characters in Punk circles quite well

Con's
• Punk is one of the areas which often gets depicted as violent and bleak, as such this is unoriginal
• Does not aknowledge the value of civil disobedience which is one of the pillars of Punk


End notes:
Sentiment: you grow up to be your parents, there is "nothing" you can do about it. At parts it plays with a little deeper philosophical content as cycles of life (rebirth as the foundation for karma) but fails to pick it up for human development more than the storyline (if u live long enough you see yourself become the monster you fought... or your parent - knowing that you can easily avoid it).

Ignorance is only a bliss if you haven't reached awareness.
My imdb posts are getting altered.

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