In Bonnie & Clyde style, Bob Hughes (Matt Dillon) and his pack of thieves travel the Pacific Coast ripping off drugstores to maintain their high. Through their adventures we learn about Bob's technique, the police that are after them and the moral/philosophical issues surrounding junkiedom.
The cinematography of the film is great. Van Sant seems to try and put the camera into every possible crevice imaginable. At the same time, the Pacific landscape sets up great contrasts of natural and industrialized scenery.
Unfortunately, there is something extremely stiff about most of the performances. It seems as though everyone in the film was forced to strictly adhere to the script word's, comma's and all. In a scene where Matt Dillon talks to a rehab counselor, the viewer fells as though Dillon is acting to a mirror in his bedroom. Surprisingly, William S. Burroughs is one of the better actors in the film, playing an on again/off again 80-something junkie preacher. Although, I'm sure drug philosophy wasn't too much of a stretch for Burroughs.
In the end, this is one of the better criminal/junkie films out there. Expect Van Sant's boredom loving pacing and pay attention to a couple of shots that are eerily similar to later Tarantino-Aranofsky flicks.
The cinematography of the film is great. Van Sant seems to try and put the camera into every possible crevice imaginable. At the same time, the Pacific landscape sets up great contrasts of natural and industrialized scenery.
Unfortunately, there is something extremely stiff about most of the performances. It seems as though everyone in the film was forced to strictly adhere to the script word's, comma's and all. In a scene where Matt Dillon talks to a rehab counselor, the viewer fells as though Dillon is acting to a mirror in his bedroom. Surprisingly, William S. Burroughs is one of the better actors in the film, playing an on again/off again 80-something junkie preacher. Although, I'm sure drug philosophy wasn't too much of a stretch for Burroughs.
In the end, this is one of the better criminal/junkie films out there. Expect Van Sant's boredom loving pacing and pay attention to a couple of shots that are eerily similar to later Tarantino-Aranofsky flicks.