Johnny Suede DVD Review:

Before Brad Pitt was ludicrously rich and famous he starred in this tale of a man with possibly the largest quiff ever captured on film – Johnny Suede. While everybody else has moved onto rap and punk, Johnny clings onto good ol’ rock and roll. Armed with his bouffant hair and the coolest pair of pointy suede shoes known to man, Johnny hopes to bag a record contract and his dream girl. But despite his ambition and his tough guy image, naïve Johnny finds it hard going.

Johnny could quite easily have come across as an arrogant half-wit with cartoon hair, but Pitt manages to make him endearingly dim. Although constantly posturing and boasting, Pitt always makes it clear that Johnny isn’t half as sure of himself as he wants others to believe.

After a rocky romance with what he thought was his dream girl Darletta (Alison Moir), down to earth Yvonne (Catherine Keener) teaches him the realities of relationships. Keener really stands out here as she swings from being fascinated then frustrated by Johnny.

There is surreal air to the film throughout with more than a hint of Lynch, and this produces some bizarre humour. Nick Cave’s performance as albino rocker Freak Storm is so strange it should definitely provide a few giggles.

In fact, although Johnny Suede might be a tad too oddball for some of Pitt’s admirers today, most should find something to enjoy along the way.

EXTRAS
Director Tom DiCillo gives a fascinating and candid commentary on his award-winning debut. This covers everything you could possibly want to know, from how they stumbled across Pitt after he’d wrapped on some film called Thelma and Louise, to a stressful encounter with Nick Cave and a wig. A photo gallery is also provided.



Natalie Hunt