River's Edge
Yes websites like Spout where people can make their own lists are great. I first heard about this movie while looking at someone's internet list of favorite movies that happened to also contain many of my personal quirky favorites.
But what really made me push this movie to the top of my viewing list was when I heard that Crispin Glover was coming to town with his super weirdo movie What Is It? I read that River's Edge was one of his most memorable performances, so I wanted to check it out before seeing him live and with his new movie. And I tell you what, it's definitely a memorable performance. Not that it's necessarily subtle or believable in certain ways, but it's certainly memorable. You feel as though Glover is a character himself, so instead of watching an actor play a character you kind of see a character play an actor.
It's no incongruous with the acting style of the rest of the movie either. There is something about the dialogue where the characters often say exactly what they are thinking almost like Hal Hartley or Jim Jarmusch films. I really love that kind of thing.
But then there's the main point of the movie, the way the characters react the news and viewing of the fact that one of their best friends Samson kills their other friend Jamie for no good reason. Their reactions are not what you would expect in a typical movie. It doesn't seem to fit logically. Why would Samson even tell his friends? Why is Layne so obsessed with risking everything to help a friend who doesn't even want to be helped and could care less? Why does no one else report the crime or even seem too bothered about it? After watching it, it seems more real than what you would logically expect.
With the shots of the dead teenage girl by the river and a mentally disturbed Dennis Hopper it has a bit of a David Lynch feel, but with a different kind of humor.
This seems like the most appropriate role I've ever seen for Keanu Reeves, except for maybe Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. For the same reasons, but maybe to different effects.
I was excited to see more of Crispin Glover after this, but after more encounters with him I haven't found him to be as interesting as I had first expected. For instance I just saw Rubin and Ed which was rather lackluster. But it might be worth it to just keep watching him over and over in this. I'm not sure if he can top himself here. Immensely quotable!
I don't really know if this even deserves to get a perfect score, but for some reason I feel completely compelled to rate it that way.
Oh yeah it's got a pretty good thrash metal soundtrack too.
Rating: 10/10