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Speedway Junky | Year: 1999 Classification: Action/Adventure Birthdate: 22071972 1972 Directed: - Nickolas Perry Actors/Actresses: - Jesse Bradford as Johnny - Daryl Hannah - Patsy Kensit Good effort, but not quite edgy enough This 1999 film didn't get wide distribution. That's too bad because it does have some good qualities. I tend to like trashy films depicting the seedy side of life. Speedway Junky is one of those. The writer/director Nicholas Perry did a pretty good job. But even with Gus Van Sant as one of the executive producers, it didn't quite come off as edgy enough. The film stars Jesse Bradford as Johnny, an army brat who has run away from home to become a race car driver. He's aiming for the NASCAR racing scene in Charlotte, North Carolina. The problem is that he only gets as far as Las Vegas where his money and all his possessions are stolen. Here, he meets up Eric, played by Jordon Brower, a young gay hustler who falls in love with Johnny. Even though Johnny is not gay, the two of them become friends, with Eric helping Johnny out of one scrape after another. Daryl Hanna is cast as a former prostitute who was a friend of Eric's late mother and helps out the boys. It's a good role for her and shows her acting ability. In fact, all the acting is really good and the relationship between the two young men portrayed well. I watched the film with interest but couldn't get into it. I just didn't seem real enough. And even though there were several erotic scenes and a peppering of violence, it all seemed like an overblown soap opera and I didn't feel any real emotion. It sure did try hard to be something more though. And I therefore recommend it just for its effort. This really is an enjoyable film with an underlying meaning. I know there have been some pretty harsh reviews of this movie, but I am going to disagree with a lot of them. I thoroughly enjoyed this feature. The underlying purpose of this movie is, no matter how bad things get (and they can get about as bad as possible in this movie), don't forget your dream. The basis story line has to do with Johnny, the main character running away from home to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional race car driver in North Carolina, naive young Johnny (Bradford) makes an ill-fated stop in Las Vegas, hoping to win a quick buck at the casinos. This bad plan turns out to be worse than Johnny ever imagined, when he gets a fast-track tour of the Vegas underbelly: in quick succession, he's robbed, propositioned by creeps, and beaten up. Penniless and depressed, Johnny meets Eric (Brower), a young gay boy who turns tricks to get by. Eric introduces Johnny to his posse of friends, who include Steve (Thomas), a young bisexual who is also a hustler; and Veronica (Hannah), a former prostitute who used to be friends with Eric's deceased mother. At first, Johnny has trouble trusting his debauched new friends; however, as time passes, he and Eric build a relationship and become very close. Eric helps initiate Johnny into the world of heterosexual street hustling, and Veronica helps teach Johnny how to give a woman pleasure. But problems arise as Eric's feelings for Johnny develop into something Johnny can't reciprocate: love and sexual desire. If you don't think too hard about the purpose of this movie, and simply enjoy it for the entertainment value, you will enjoy it more. If you try to read a lot into this one, you may be disappointed. Relax, and Enjoy! Excellent Acting, Dialogue, and Story - 'Junky' has it all! I read the synopsis of this movie and found it intriguing. But the cast was all over the map - the kid from 'Bring It On', Daryl Hannah, the middle-child from 'Home Improvement'. Could a dramatic movie with Johnathan Taylor Thomas playing a Las Vegas street hustler be any good? Yes. This movie has it all. There is the terriffic cast, young and experienced, all doing a great job. The story offers something completely new and different, and the dialogue gives this movie a very realistic feel. 'Speedway Junky' is down-to-earth and director Nickolas Perry allows the viewer to personally identify with each character. The more you watch this movie, the easier it is to see the film through each of the characters' eyes. Be sure to check out the commentary on this DVD - it's one of the most sincere ones I've ever lsitened to. Never quite believable Despite gritty subject matter, an attractive and competent young cast, and Gus Van Sant as executive producer, this film never quite comes together. Johnny, a naive 18 year old with dreams of becoming a race-car driver, finds himself alone and penniless in Las Vegas. He is taken in by a gay hustler named Eric and his unofficial adopted mother, and begins hustling himself in order to make enough money to finance his trip to North Carolina. During his stay, he learns the ropes of prostitution, meets plenty of strange and unsavory characters, and develops ambiguous feelings for Eric, who is in love with him. Unfortunately, neither the story or the characters are ever really quite believable, especially the unrequited love between Johnny and Eric. The problem may be that the film can't seem to decide whether it wants to be gritty and realistic or surreal and over-the-top. For a far superior portrayal of prostitution and ambiguous male sexuality, I'd recommend Gus Van Sant's own excellent "My Own Private Idaho". Buy Speedway Junky at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.com Jamster - the latest ringtones for your phone!  Search with Walhello on the Internet on Speedway Junky Search with the Priority Search Engine on Speedway Junky This page in other languages: Suomeksi | Nederlands | Deutsch
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