Yoram Mandel Movies

Tom DiCillo directed this surrealistic black comedy starring Brad Pitt as Johnny Suede, a young man with an attitude and an immense pompadour, who wants to be a rock n' roll star like his idol Ricky Nelson. He has all the stylistic accouterments, except a pair of black suede shoes. And one night, after leaving a nightclub, like manna from heaven, a pair of black suede shoes falls at his feet. Soon afterwards, the recently completed Johnny meets Darlette (Alison Moir), a sultry bohemian whom he beds down for the night. In spite of Darlette's abusive boyfriend with a gun, Johnny begins to see Darlette everyday. But when Johnny is forced to pawn his guitar for rent money, Darlette mysteriously leaves him. Johnny's pal Deke (Calvin Levels) fronts him the money to get his guitar out of hock, and the two form a band. Depressed about Darlette's desertion, he wanders aimlessly, and he meets Yvonne (Catherine Keener), a woman much wiser than Johnny who teaches him that there are things in life much more important than a pair of black suede shoes. DiCillo based his independent comedy Living in Oblivion upon his experiences working with Brad Pitt on this film. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

It is never clear whether Frigyes is indifferent or just confused when, shortly after emigrating to New York City from Hungary, he leaves his family for the pleasures and gratifications of being a street bum. But as time goes by, it is clear that, if he wasn't confused to start with, he is now. A series of adventures with other drifters reach a dramatic conclusion when some thugs murder one of them, but Frigyes himself is rescued by his father-in-law. Despite the fact that his in-law is fresh off the boat, as it were, he is somehow able to track down the by-now stunned and hapless Frigyes amid the endless streets and avenues of the Big Apple. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide