SLC Punk!

It was a joy to watch this film and see myself and my wife. There we were watching the movie on one of our countless movie channels on our huge cable account while we ate popcorn in bed and she knitted. We were both hard core alternative kids in our youth and somehow ended up living in a high rent condo in Seattle with corporate jobs. The movie pretty much tells the story of every true intelligent punk. Why do you ask? Well, because those of us that were so hard core, were also into CHANGE. And the only way to change the world, is to live IN it. Be a part of it. We laughed at the end when we realized we were both just like the lead character. Anarchy is great for your youth. But anarchy for life is not going to lead you anywhere if you still want to LIVE. Rather, you need to get INSIDE the world to turn it inside out.

Bravo. Wonderful little film. High marks.

I really loved this movie. when i first saw it it got me interested in anarchy, after much researching on anarchy and true punk however, i found that slc did a poor representation as to what anarchy and punk meant. anarchy is not chaos as the film said, and anarchists hate neo-fascists for many more reasons than were stated. the hick thing could very well be true as i live in a huge hick town and they all hate me for no other reason than that i dress and believe differently from them. when it comes to entertainment, this movie is top notch, but if your looking for something that truly represents, go to a punk show, hang out with some punks, or, if you're lazy, (or live in a place minus a punk scene, aka mid west) then rent/buy Class of 1984.

Set in the early/mid 80's during the dawn of Punk Rock Music. Stev-o and Heroin Bob are your typical anarchist punks only problem is they live in Salt Lake City, Utah, a very religiously oppressive city where the locals look at punks as only devil worshippers. The film chronicles an entire day in the life of a punk, the realism is unmatched as the film is also guided by the narration of Stev-o who gives us a somewhat rational take on anarchist kids morals and intentions. Believe it or not Bob, Stev-o & Mike were College graduates that have loving families with successful careers. All had the urge to rebel against a system the only way the knew how, waste their college minds in order to keep this new found party going in hopes forever. Unfortunately all things comes to an end and in the case of sex, drugs, & rock and roll, it ends how it started, crashing and burning.

The punks we see in this film shows a take on liberating against conformity that was executed beautifully. The depiction of language, drug use, & violence though may not be for everyone but is the life blood of the Punk scene and was delivered on a silver platter. Matthew Lillard is fantastic in this film guided by his attitude and self righteous nature but shows glimpses of genuine humanity of a kid finding his place that comes to a head near the conclusion where he reaches a coming of age moment. A moment thats equally heartbreaking and liberating. Lillard takes us on a journey that we seemingly get lost in aided by his introspective monologues that really guide the film forward. The film really has a great message that most of us need to really look at the way we're living and if the crusade each of us is on is really worth the trouble.

Which, in this case is a good thing. I've seen the title before, found it vaguely interesting. However, without having heard anything about it, I wasn't going to chunk any money on it.

Then it came on cable, so I decided to give it a chance.

I've seen Matthew Lillard in about four movies, and so far he has been a single-note actor, always playing the ragingly obnoxious punk. Still, on that one-note he is amazingly convincing and impossible not to watch. Much like Jimmy Stewart or early Arnold Schwarzenegger, building fame on familiarity.

Christopher MacDonald gave the best performance I've seen him do as Steveo's dad. Very solid, sympathetic, and even likeable.

The movie itself mesmerized far more than I expected. I was transfixed from the beginning to end.

Acting and clothes were excellent, not a sour note in the entire lot. Plotting and scripting were very well developed. The movie kept me involved, interested, and ready to buy. Thank you for a great movie.

Matthew Lillard - what a surprise! I have always found him to be annoying, but in this film he was likeable and quite clever. "Stevo" is the blue-haired punk son of silly, over-hippified parents who went from mohawk to a more low-key look after graduation. He is obviously not stupid. He uses his audience-addressing monologues to amuse us and let us know exactly what's up, instead of merely whining at us or grinning and nudging us with his elbow. The kid is downright charming. And I appreciate the fact that he actually gets along with his parents, even while fighting against what they want. It's refreshing. I am in his age group (in the movie - 80's teenager) but I am not familiar with punk lifestyle, and now I feel like I have been exposed to something I've always found interesting, but never delved into before. Stevo goes through a bunch of changes and realizations, and by the end decides that you can "F--k stuff up more from within the system that outside it". And that being rebellious comes from inside, and not from your haircolor (even though blue hair is still cool). Great message, neat movie. Recommended.