Johnny Suede (1991)

Johnny Suede: Directed by Tom DiCillo. With Brad Pitt, Richard Boes, Cheryl Costa, Michael Luciano. A struggling young musician and devoted fan of Ricky Nelson wants to be just like his idol and become a rock star.

“Several years before his roles as the leader of a fight club, a backwards-aging man, and a Nazi-slaughtering redneck, Brad Pitt played the title role in Tom DiCillou0026#39;s u0026quot;Johnny Suedeu0026quot;. Johnny is man on skid row with ambitions to be the next Ricky Nelson. He already has a band, and even starts up a relationship with young Darlette (Alison Moir). But as his music career goes nowhere, she leaves him. Upon meeting the offbeat Yvonne (Catherine Keener), Johnny starts to wonder if maybe thereu0026#39;s more to life than trying to be a rock star.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI didnu0026#39;t find this movie to be any sort of masterpiece, but I still thought that it was worth seeing. More than just an early vehicle for Pitt – sporting an absurdly large pompadour – and Keener, it shows Johnnyu0026#39;s eventually having to recognize reality, especially given the world that he inhabits (the movie doesnu0026#39;t present a flattering look at Brooklyn).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere are also two supporting cast members playing roles totally the opposite of their most famous ones. Tina Louise, far removed from Ginger Grant, plays Darletteu0026#39;s manipulative mother. Samuel L. Jackson plays one of the band members. Ginger Grant co-starred with the guy who said u0026quot;mother—king snakes on a mother—king planeu0026quot; (although they donu0026#39;t share any scenes).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnyway, I recommend u0026quot;Johnny Suedeu0026quot;. A look at lost dreams – much of the movie is in fact made to look dreamlike, probably stressing the contrast between Johnnyu0026#39;s fantasies and reality – along with some very surprising stuff. Nick Cave appears as another man with a crazy hairdo. Tom DiCillo later directed u0026quot;Living in Oblivionu0026quot;, starring Steve Buscemi as a man going through hell trying to make a movie.”