Click to read the article
Speedway Junky (2001)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:6
Fresh:2
Rotten:4
Average Rating:4.4/10
Synopsis: Running away from home to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional race car driver in North Carolina, naive young Johnny (Jesse Bradford) makes an ill-fated stop in Las Vegas, hoping to win a... Running away from home to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional race car driver in North Carolina, naive young Johnny (Jesse Bradford) makes an ill-fated stop in Las Vegas, hoping to win a quick buck at the casinos. This bad plan turns out to be worse than Johnny ever imagined, when he gets a fast-track tour of the Vegas underbelly: in quick succession, he's robbed, propositioned by creeps, and beaten up. Penniless and depressed, Johnny meets Eric (Jordan Brower), a young gay boy who turns tricks to get by. Eric introduces Johnny to his posse of friends, who include Steve (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), a young bisexual who is also a hustler; and Veronica (Darryl Hannah), a former prostitute who used to be friends with Eric's deceased mother. At first, Johnny has trouble trusting his debauched new friends; however, as time passes, he and Eric build a relationship and become very close. Eric helps initiate Johnny into the world of heterosexual street hustling, and Veronica helps teach Johnny how to give a woman pleasure. But problems arise as Eric's feelings for Johnny develop into something Johnny can't reciprocate: love and sexual desire. The film was executive produced by Gus Van Sant, director of DRUGSTORE COWBOY and MY OWN PRIVATE IDAHO, and Nikolas Perry definitely admires those films, aspiring to create here a similarly evocative sense of life on the dark, seamy side of youth. [More]
Starring: Jesse Bradford, Daryl Hannah, Patsy Kensit, Jonathan Taylor Thomas
Starring: Jesse Bradford, Daryl Hannah, Patsy Kensit, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Jordan Brower, Erik Alexander Gavica, Justin Urich, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen
Director: Nickolas Perry
Director: Nickolas Perry
Screenwriter: Nickolas Perry
Producer: Rodney A. Omanoff, Randall Emmett, George Furla
Composer: Stan Ridgeway
Studio: Regent Releasing
Reviews for Speedway Junky
Goes completely off track, falling apart in a welter of absurd twists, sentimental drivel and phony uplift.
Hard to watch -- not because of its unflinching realism, but rather for its mawkish reliance on every boy hooker flick from Midnight Cowboy to Johns.
A potent mixture of sentiment and grit, and it showcases the talents of its young principals.
It's My Own Private Idaho! Well, minus the story, the style and the smart script.
The film belongs to Jordan Brower, whose every appearance breaks one's heart, and makes some otherwise familiar material come alive.
More Movies
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 70% 70% | Where the Wild Things Are | 03/12 |
| 83% 83% | Paranormal Activity | 03/12 |
| 89% 89% | Zombieland | 03/12 |
| 76% 76% | The Informant! | 03/12 |
| | The Strength of Water | 03/12 |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- Speedway Junky at Rotten Tomatoes
- Speedway Junky at AskMen
Fresh Links
Featured

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.
Competitions

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection



Top Critic

