Slacker (1991)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Richard Linklater

Writer:

Richard Linklater (written by)

Release Date:

5 July 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Presents a day in the life in Austin, Texas among its social outcasts and misfits, predominantly the twenty-something set...

Plot Keywords:

Comb | Bum | Voyeur | Hit And Run | Car

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Richard Linklater	...	Should Have Stayed at Bus Station
Rudy Basquez	...	Taxi Driver
Jean Caffeine	...	Roadkill
Jan Hockey	...	Jogger
Stephan Hockey	...	Running Late
Mark James	...	Hit-and-run Son
Samuel Dietert	...	Grocery Grabber of Death's Bounty
Bob Boyd	...	Officer Bozzio
Terrence Kirk	...	Officer Love
Keith McCormack	...	Street Musician
Jennifer Schaudies	...	Walking to Coffee Shop
Dan Kratochvil	...	Espresso Czar / Masonic Malcontent
Maris Strautmanis	...	Giant Cappuccino
Brecht Andersch	...	Dostoyevsky Wannabe
Tommy Pallotta	...	Looking for Missing Friend (as Tom Pallotta)
Jerry Delony	...	Been on the Moon Since the 50's
Heather West	...	Tura Satana Look-Alike
John Spath	...	Co-op Guy
Ron Marks	...	Bush Basher
Daniel Dugan	...	Comb Game Player
Brian Crockett	...	Sadistic Comb Game Player
Scott Marcus	...	Ultimate Loser
Stella Weir	...	Stephanie from Dallas
Teresa Taylor	...	Papsmear Pusher
Mark Harris	...	T-Shirt Terrorist
Greg Wilson	...	Anti-Traveller
Deborah Pastor	...	Wants to Leave Country
Gina Lalli	...	Sidewalk Psychic
Sharon Roos	...	Devoted Follower
Frank Orrall	...	Happy-Go-Lucky Guy
Skip Fulton Jr.	...	Two for One Special
Abra Moore	...	Has Change
Lori Capp	...	Traumatized Yacht Owner
Gus Vayas	...	Cranky Cook
Louis Black	...	Paranoid Paper Reader
Don Stroud	...	Recluse in Bathrobe
Janelle Coolich	...	Shut-in Girlfriend
Aleister Barron	...	Peeping Kid
Albans Benchoff	...	Coke Machine Robber
Nigel Benchoff	...	Budding Capitalist Youth
Zara Barron	...	Coke Heist Accomplice
Kevin Whitley	...	Jilted Boyfriend
Steven Anderson	...	Guy Who Tosses Typewriter
Robert Pierson	...	Based on Authoritative Sources
Sarah Harmon	...	Has Faith in Groups
David Haymond	...	Street Dweller
John Slate	...	Conspiracy A-Go-Go Author
Scott Van Horn	...	Nova
Lee Daniel	...	GTO
Charles Gunning	...	Hitchhiker Awaiting 'True Call'
Tamsy Ringler	...	Video Interviewer
Luke Savisky	...	Video Cameraman
Meg Brennan	...	Sitting at Cafe
Phillip Hostak	...	Hit Up for Cigarettes
D. Angus MacDonald	...	Video Playing Store Security
Shelly Kristaponis	...	Shoplifter
Louis Mackey	...	Old Anarchist
Kathy McCarty	...	Anarchist's Daughter
Michael Laird	...	Burglar
Jack Meredith	...	Get-away Accomplice
Clark Walker	...	Cadillac Crook (as Clark Lee Walker)
Kalman Spelletich	...	Video Backpacker
Siqgouri Wilkovich	...	Slapping Boyfriend
John Hawkins	...	Choking Girlfriend
Scott Rhodes	...	Disguntled Grad Student
D. Montgomery	...	Having a Breakthrough Day
Mimi Vitetta	...	Teacup Sculpter
Susannah Simone	...	Working on Same Painting
Bruce Hughes	...	Card Playing Waiter
Keith Fletcher	...	Cafe Card Player #1
Eric Buehlman	...	Cafe Card Player #2
R. Malice	...	Scooby Doo Philosopher
Mark Quirk	...	Papa Smurf
Kim Krizan	...	Questions Happiness
Annick Souhami	...	Has Conquered Fear of Rejection
Regina Garza	...	Smoking Writer
Stephen Jacobson	...	S-T-E-V-E with a Van
Eric Lord	...	Doorman at Club
Kelly Linn	...	Bike Rider with Nice Shoes
Rachael Reinhardt	...	Cousin from Greece
Stewart Bennet	...	Sitting on Ledge
Kevin Thomson	...	Handstamping Arm Licker
Nick Maffei	...	Pixi-Visionary
Nolan Morrison	...	To Be Buried By History
Kyle Rosenblad	...	Going to Catch a Show
Ed Hall	...	Band Playing at Club
Lucinda Scott	...	Dairy Queen Photographer
Wammo	...	Anti-Artist
Marianne Hyatt	...	Late Night Pick-up
Gary Price	...	Watching Early Morning TV
Joseph Jones	...	Old Man Recording Thoughts
Kendall Smith	...	Post-Modern Paul Revere
Sean Coffey	...	Super 8 Cameraman
Jennifer Carrol	...	All-Night Partier
Charlotte Norris	...	Convertible Driver
Patrice Sullivan	...	Day Tripper
Greg Ward	...	Tosses Camera Off Cliff
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mike Enright	...	Bicyclist (uncredited)
Robert Jacks	...	Club Owner (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Linklater

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard Linklater		written by

Produced by
Richard Linklater	....	producer

Cinematography by
Lee Daniel

Film Editing by
Scott Rhodes

Casting by
Anne Walker-McBay

Production Design by
Deborah Pastor		(uncredited)

Production Management
Anne Walker-McBay	....	production manager

Art Department
Ron Marks	....	graphics
D. Montgomery	....	art department (as Denise Montgomery)
Deb Pastor	....	art department (as Debbie Pastor)

Sound Department
D. Montgomery	....	sound (as Denise Montgomery)
Bruce Murphy	....	sound stereo consultant
Fred Remmert	....	post-production sound engineer

Camera and Electrical Department
Abby Antweil	....	grip (as Abbey Antweil)
Scott Conn	....	key grip
Carlos Omar Guerra	....	grip (as Carlos Guerra)
Dennis Reynolds	....	grip
Scott Rhodes	....	grip
John Spath	....	grip
Clark Walker	....	assistant camera
Clark Walker	....	dolly grip
Ralph Watson	....	Steadicam operator
Tracey Holman Weaver	....	grip (as Tracy Weaver)
Tracey Holman Weaver	....	grip

Editorial Department
Bob Rogers	....	negative cutter

Other crew
Meg Brennan	....	script supervisor
Katie Cokinos	....	promotion/publicity
Clay Daniel	....	production assistant
Ethan Dunn	....	production assistant
Kerthy Fix	....	production assistant (as Kerthy Hearn)
Dan Kratochvil	....	production assistant (as Daniel Kratochvil)
Anthony Martin	....	production assistant
Jack Meredith	....	additional text
Noel Mitchell	....	production assistant
Tommy Pallotta	....	production assistant (as Tom Pallotta)
Michael Rigby	....	production assistant
Susannah Simone	....	production assistant
Laura Tabor	....	production assistant
Todd Walker	....	production assistant
John Pierson	....	producer's representative (uncredited)

Thanks
Caroline Adams	....	special thanks
Max Addison	....	special thanks
Paul Agemerien	....	special thanks
Hans Alehag	....	special thanks
Karen Arikian	....	special thanks
B.J. Armstrong	....	special thanks
Norm Ballinger	....	special thanks
Renee Barron	....	special thanks
Barbara Baruch	....	special thanks
Charles Arthur Berg	....	special thanks (as Charles Berg)
Jim Berry	....	special thanks
Rebekah Bogage	....	special thanks
David Chan	....	special thanks
Mark Coffey	....	special thanks
Maxi Cohen	....	special thanks
Gregory Cundiff	....	special thanks (as Greg Cundiff)
Bill Daniel	....	special thanks
Iris Davis	....	special thanks
Jerry Defrese	....	special thanks
Michael Diaz	....	special thanks
Werner Dütsch	....	special thanks (as Werner Dutsch)
David Ferrer	....	special thanks
Steve Fitch	....	special thanks
John French	....	special thanks
Arlene Garfield	....	special thanks
Bud George	....	special thanks
Joey Grundel	....	special thanks
Robert 'Mo' Harry	....	special thanks
Vance Holmes	....	special thanks
Jeff Hoppenstein	....	special thanks
Vincent Hostak	....	special thanks (as Vince Hostak)
Don Howard	....	special thanks
Clay Hunn	....	special thanks
Schyler Hupp	....	special thanks
Robert Jacks	....	special thanks
Marie Javins	....	special thanks
Steve Jones	....	special thanks
Nick Joost	....	special thanks
Tim Kerr	....	special thanks
Ted Kilian	....	special thanks
Tom King	....	special thanks
Richard Kooris	....	special thanks
Charles Krieger	....	special thanks
Jay Krieger	....	special thanks
Claire LaVay	....	special thanks
Mona Lee Fultz	....	special thanks (as Mona Lee)
Carol Lewellen	....	special thanks
Charles Linklater	....	special thanks
Diane Linklater	....	special thanks
Jacque Linklater	....	special thanks
Patricia Linklater	....	special thanks
Brian Locklin	....	special thanks
Robert Lowe	....	special thanks
Darryl Macdonald	....	special thanks
Karol Martesko	....	special thanks
Jason Martin	....	special thanks
Jennifer McCauley	....	special thanks
Nan Meltzer	....	special thanks
Rachael Moeller	....	special thanks
Shirley Montgomery	....	special thanks
Sid Moody	....	special thanks
Penny Moran	....	special thanks
George Morris	....	in memory of
Sheilah Murthy	....	special thanks
Chale Nafus	....	special thanks
Molly Omelchuck	....	special thanks
Tomas Pantin	....	special thanks
Jamie Panzer	....	special thanks
Ron Parks	....	special thanks
Roger Parthasarathy	....	special thanks
Susan Parthasarathy	....	special thanks
Tonie Perensky	....	special thanks (as Tony Perenski)
Kari Perkins	....	special thanks
Jeff Phillips	....	special thanks
John Pierson	....	special thanks
Steve Poe	....	special thanks
Jonny Pray	....	special thanks
Gary Price	....	special thanks
Lisa Qualls	....	special thanks
Ulla Rapp	....	special thanks
Nancy Raveling	....	special thanks
David Ray	....	special thanks
John Ridenour	....	special thanks
Edwin Roed	....	special thanks (as Edwin Reed)
Karen Rupert	....	special thanks
Steve Samuels	....	special thanks
Thomas Selsley	....	special thanks
Ferrell A. Shinnick	....	special thanks (as Ferrel Schinnick)
Art Silver	....	special thanks
Jeff Smith	....	special thanks
Kim Spears	....	special thanks
Robin Stanton	....	special thanks
Newman P. Stribling	....	special thanks
Evelyn Talmadge	....	special thanks
Randy Turner	....	special thanks
Scott Van Horn	....	special thanks
Nicholas Vroman	....	special thanks
Todd Walker	....	special thanks
Ray Washam	....	special thanks
Steve Wertheimer	....	special thanks
Britt Wilson	....	special thanks
Jim Wilson	....	special thanks
Barbara Zimmermann	....	special thanks (as Barbara Zimmerman)

Production Companies

• Detour Filmproduction

Distributors

• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Orion Classics
• Orion Home Video (video)

Other Companies

• Aaron's Used Auto Arts  special thanks
• Austin Community Television  special thanks
• Austin Film Society  special thanks
• Blue Bayou Entertainment (I)  special thanks
• Cedar Creek Studio  re-recording and mixing
• Continental Cab  special thanks
• Foodland  special thanks
• G.E.A.R.  special thanks
• GM Steakhouse  special thanks
• Ginny's  special thanks
• Great Texas Music Hall  special thanks
• Green Acres Co-Op  special thanks
• Greyhound Bus Lines  special thanks
• Half Price Books  special thanks
• Independent Feature Project  special thanks
• Interformat  titles
• Les Amis Sidewalk Cafe  special thanks
• NT Audio Visual  optical sound
• Quackenbush's Cafe  special thanks
• Roy's Taxi  special thanks
• Shiner of Austin  special thanks
• Southwest Alternate Media Project  special thanks
• Southwest Film Lab  special thanks
• Tamale House  special thanks
• Texas Pacific Film  special thanks
• Texas Theatre Supply  special thanks
• Varsity Theatre  special thanks
• Wheatsville Food Co-Op  special thanks

Runtime:

97 min | 100 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:G (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Detour Filmproduction

Trivia:

Was the movie that directly inspired Kevin Smith to become a filmmaker; inspired the movie Clerks. (1994).

Goofs:

Continuity: When the GTO guy arrives he places a few aluminum drink cans on the ground and they clearly sound empty. When he and Nova pick up the Hitchhiker Awaiting 'True Call', they give him one of the cans which is now full.

Quotes:

Old Man: When young, we mourn for one woman... as we grow old, for women in general. The tragedy of life is that man is never free yet strives for what he can never be. The thing most ferared in secret always happens. My life, my loves, where are they now? But the more the pain grows, the more this instinct for life somehow asserts itself. The necessary beauty in life is in giving yourself to it completely. Only later will it clarify itself and become coherent.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Donnie Darko (2001)

Soundtrack:

Little Black Sunrise

Genuine and deadpan deadpan and genuine

I walked into Richard Linklater's SLACKER not knowing for sure what to expect. I think that is the best way to experience this film. I wouldn't exactly put this film under 'Comedy', if I ran my own video store. I would invent the category 'Post-Film School Experimental Piece' and place it under that. Because that is just what it is, but don't let that repulse you. It is very interesting and has the power to warp you in what seems like one shot throughout a day and night in a college town of Austin, Texas.

The true life preserver of this film is the sure directorial hand and witty script of Linklater. I enjoy the matter-of-fact philosophy within the dialogue of Linklater movies, (DAZED & CONFUSED, BEFORE SUNRISE)it is especially heavy here. It's fun watching the weirdos in this movie, like the video-obsessed droid who prefers taped sequences over reality or the chick with Madonna's pap smear (eewww!!) But it's almost frightening when you come upon a character very much like yourself.

But the movie most successfully gives us a town populated by characters we actually believe are living their aimless life in front of us. Minute-by-minute plays that intricately connect into a long string of slacker beads. These characters belong to the counter-culture where neurosis comes naturally and there are hardly skeptics anywhere. Where conversations find the metaphysical levels of funny postcards.

Later in the future, we will trip upon this movie again and find it more as being a time capsule of the early 90s than a semi-experimental comedy by a director most known for his insights of the sub-culture living inside their own heads.